This Week
Pastor Jim's Weekly Message
Do you know we are celebrating a very special day on Sunday? No, it is not Groundhog Day. It is the Feast of the Presentation of the Lord. Yes, I guess we could eat groundhogs as part of the feast but that is not the point.
This day celebrates Mary and Joseph bringing baby Jesus to the Temple for his dedication. There they meet Simeon and Anna who prophesied about Jesus being the long-awaited Messiah - not just for Israel but also for the Gentiles (that’s us).
We will delve more into this feast day on Sunday.
In fact, we will have a pre-feast on Friday. Join our youth from 5:00-6:30 for an all you can eat pasta dinner. It will be free will donation meal with all proceeds going to the youth mission trip this summer.
Pastor Jim
This Week’s Gospel: Luke 2:22-40
22 When the time came for their purification according to the law of Moses, [Mary and Joseph] brought [Jesus] up to Jerusalem to present him to the Lord 23 (as it is written in the law of the Lord, “Every firstborn male shall be designated as holy to the Lord”), 24 and they offered a sacrifice according to what is stated in the law of the Lord, “a pair of turtledoves or two young pigeons.”
25 Now there was a man in Jerusalem whose name was Simeon; this man was righteous and devout, looking forward to the consolation of Israel, and the Holy Spirit rested on him. 26 It had been revealed to him by the Holy Spirit that he would not see death before he had seen the Lord’s Messiah. 27 Guided by the Spirit, Simeon came into the temple; and when the parents brought in the child Jesus, to do for him what was customary under the law, 28 Simeon took him in his arms and praised God, saying,
29 “Master, now you are dismissing your servant in peace,
according to your word;
30 for my eyes have seen your salvation,
31 which you have prepared in the presence of all peoples,
32 a light for revelation to the Gentiles
and for glory to your people Israel.”
33 And the child’s father and mother were amazed at what was being said about him. 34 Then Simeon blessed them and said to his mother Mary, “This child is destined for the falling and the rising of many in Israel, and to be a sign that will be opposed 35 so that the inner thoughts of many will be revealed—and a sword will pierce your own soul too.”
36 There was also a prophet, Anna the daughter of Phanuel, of the tribe of Asher. She was of a great age, having lived with her husband seven years after her marriage, 37 then as a widow to the age of eighty-four. She never left the temple but worshiped there with fasting and prayer night and day. 38 At that moment she came, and began to praise God and to speak about the child to all who were looking for the redemption of Jerusalem.
39 When they had finished everything required by the law of the Lord, they returned to Galilee, to their own town of Nazareth. 40 The child grew and became strong, filled with wisdom; and the favor of God was upon him.
This Week at St. Mark's
Thursday, January 30 - Redner’s Food Recovery 8AM
Friday, January 31 - Youth Mission Trip Spaghetti Dinner 5PM, Girl Scouts 5:30PM
Saturday, February 1 - Property Work Day 9 AM, Luncheon for Russ McClellan at St. Gabe’s 3 pm
Sunday, February 2 - Church Service 9AM, Sunday School 10:30AM, Narcotics Anonymous 7PM, Girl Scout Leaders 7PM
Monday, February 3 - Redner’s Food Recovery 8AM, Smoking Cessation Class 1:15PM
Tuesday, February 4 - Boyer’s Food Recovery 2PM, Hopewell Love Community Dinner 5PM
Wednesday, February 5 - Bible Study 11AM, Mission 1st Meal 2:30PM, Outreach Meeting 6:30PM, District AA Meeting 7PM, AA & Al-Anon & Bag Pipes 7PM
Thursday, February 6 - Redner’s Food Recovery 8AM, Senior Group 9AM
Sunday, February 9 - Scout Sunday - Church Service 9AM, Sunday School 10:30AM, Narcotics Anonymous 7PM