Bringing All We Have to the Altar

It was such a gift to gather this fall and reflect together on our common life. Rooted in Christ, Living Generously has given us a rich starting point for imagining the role faith has in our daily lives. We cannot be generous people if we don’t have a foundation that is deep, and as Christians we claim that rootedness in Jesus Christ.

What I’ve loved about our conversations is that our connections at St. Mark’s are both deep and wide. We share a love of community life, whether it’s fellowship, study, making music together, or serving in our city. We begin by worshiping together; our common prayer is what gives us the chance to be the Body of Christ in all these other ways.

This Sunday is a special opportunity to liturgically enact those connections and gather to hear about the common life we share during our pledge ingathering and parish meeting. The parish meeting, at 9:15 a.m. in Gish Hall, is a chance to reflect on the past year, affirm this year’s vestry slate and look to the future. It’s an important time to hear from our Senior Warden, Jane Williams, our Treasurer, Jill Vassar, and me as we reflect together on what makes us St. Mark’s. During the meeting, a special ministry report will give you a look at the new VBS model we incorporated this summer which expanded to include a music camp in the afternoon. We had a record-breaking number of children, youth, and adult volunteers! And of course, as we do every year at the parish meeting, there will be pie and cheese straw tasting! 

Please make time to come and hear about our parish, affirm the slate of new vestry members, and thank those who are completing their service. Though it is always my preference to see your faces in person, the meeting will be streamed and recorded for those who might not be able to attend.

The ingathering of our pledges during worship is also very significant. Even if you pledge online, there will be intention cards for you to bring forward for a blessing at the altar. Recently, we’ve spent a great deal of time talking about stewardship and what it means to care for all God entrusts to us. Offering our financial support to St. Mark’s for the coming year is a piece of that. We offer our time and talent, and we support many communities that are worthy of our care. I hope that our support of the church is foundational.

Personally, giving generously to St. Mark’s is an important part of my spiritual practice. It is a monthly way I name my own reliance on God’s providence for what I need. It is a way for me to add my own giving to that of our community, so we continue to have a vibrant presence in our city. We are modeling to our children that supporting our community is important. The physical action of bringing our pledge cards forward to the altar is always deeply moving to me; then we return to the altar to receive the very presence of Christ in the bread and the wine.

I hope you will join us and help us embody together what it means to be Rooted in Christ, Living Generously. 

Peace, Beth +