Our Three Core Values

So do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.

Isaiah 41:10

“Grow & Go” Vision Update

Any congregation needs to have a set of “anchors” based on core values through which all ministries are analyzed and established.  Our Grow & Go vision has three such anchors:

            1) offering compelling worship

            2) growing healthy adults

            3) intentionally serving others in Jesus’ name

The additions and expansions to the 2014-2015 budget will reflect these anchors.  As we continue to strive for maximum Kingdom impact.   Will must continually ask the question, “What is the best way to …?”

Upcoming Series

A new year often brings new opportunities to help friends and family members on a spiritual journey.  One of the best things you can do is invite them to attend a worship service with you.  The next sermon series is designed to help believers experience a different quality of life and help others find new life in Christ.   I’m challenging you to bring at least one friend to the following series:

Three Fingers Point Back series – March 9

"It's not my fault, my parents didn't have a lot of rules."  "I think it is a dumb law anyway."  "It’s not that bad, everyone does that!"  Personal responsibilities.  We all have them. But we don't to claim them. Let's remember when we point the finger of blame at someone else, three point back.  It's time to stop the excuse-making. 

Praise Report

One of the goals for the Grow & Go vision at St. Mark is that by June 2016 we would have had 50 different people on a mission trip.  We currently have 28 people signed up for our Buffalo, NY mission trip, 3 partners who are planning on going to Haiti and one who just returned from Africa.  That’s awesome!  Thank for your prayers, support and involvement.

Another goal for Grow & Go vision was to have 500 people involved in community service in Jesus’ name.  As of January 2014, 286 people have been involved in community service.  Should have set higher goals!

See you this weekend as we continue ACTS: Be Part of the Movement series.

See you this weekend!

John 

What Makes a Great Leader Great?

If someone were to ask you what makes a great leader?  What would you say?  Mahatma Gandhi, Martin Luther King Jr., Winston Churchill, and Steve Jobs were all considered great leaders.  Why?  Vision, innovation, love, courage, energetic, transformational, servants?

Consider the example of the greatest leader of all time, Jesus Christ.  Philippians 2:3-8 says, "Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit, but in humility consider others better than yourselves.  Each of you should look not only to your own interests, but also to the interests of others.  Your attitude should be the same as that of Christ Jesus: Who, being in very nature God, did not consider equality with God something to be grasped, but made himself nothing, taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness.  And being found in appearance as a man, he humbled himself and became obedient to death - even death on a cross!"  A good leader is humble...like Jesus.  A good leader has courage...like Jesus.  A good leader has love...like Jesus.  A good leader prays...like Jesus.  A good leader listens...like Jesus.  A good leader is transformational...like Jesus.  A good leader means what he says and does what he means...like Jesus.

You may not consider yourself a leader, but you are.  If you are a teenager, grade schoolers are following you.  If you are a college student, high schoolers are following you.  If you are a parent, your children are following you.  If you are a co-worker, your fellow workers are following you.  If you are an employer, your employees are following you.  If there is anyone in your life looking up to you, you are a leader whether you realize it or not.

My prayer for all of us is that as we lead, we follow.  We follow Jesus who not only forgives us for our failures in leading, but also motivates us and exemplifies for us what leadership is all about.  Thank you for your humble leadership!  May God continue to give you strength to lead others closer to Him! 

I'd like to hear from you: What do you consider to be the greatest quality of a leader?

Update from the Lead Pastor

Be joyful always; pray continually; give thanks in all circumstances, for this is God's will for you in Christ Jesus.

1 Thessalonians 5:16-18 


Upcoming Series

A new year often brings new opportunities to help friends and family members on a spiritual journey.  One of the best things you can do is invite them to attend a worship service with you.  The next sermon series is designed to help believers experience a different quality of life and help others find new life in Christ.   I’m challenging you to bring at least one friend to the following series:

Three Fingers Point Back series – March 9

"It's not my fault, my parents didn't have a lot of rules."  "I think it is a dumb law anyway."  "It’s not that bad, everyone does that!"  Personal responsibilities.  We all have them. But we don't to claim them. Let's remember when we point the finger of blame at someone else, three point back.  It's time to stop the excuse-making. 

Praise Report

One of the goals for the Grow & Go vision at St. Mark is that by June 2016 we would have had 50 different people on a mission trip.  We currently have 28 people signed up for our Buffalo, NY mission trip, 3 partners who are planning on going to Haiti and one who just returned from Africa.  That’s awesome!  Thank you for your prayers, support and involvement.

Another goal for Grow & Go vision was to have 500 people involved in community service in Jesus’ name.  As of January 2014, 286 people have been involved in community service.  Should have set higher goals!

See you this weekend as we continue ACTS: Be Part of the Movement series!

John Parlow

Why Go to Church?

<sup>Have you ever heard or maybe thought, "I can be a Christian without Church"? As I pondered this question recently I went back to God's Word for answers and here is what I found. 

42</sup> They devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and to the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer. ⁴³ Everyone was filled with awe, and many wonders and miraculous signs were done by the apostles. ⁴⁴ All the believers were together and had everything in common. ⁴⁵ Selling their possessions and goods, they gave to anyone as he had need. ⁴⁶ Every day they continued to meet together in the temple courts. They broke bread in their homes and ate together with glad and sincere hearts, ⁴⁷ praising God and enjoying the favor of all the people. And the Lord added to their number daily those who were being saved. (Acts 2:42-47)

This is the first instance in which the Bible talks about new believers after Jesus ascended into heaven. With a world to witness to and good news to share they found strength and power in God’s Word and the community of believers. Did you catch the difference it made for them?  

⁴²They devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and to the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer. ⁴³ Everyone was filled with awe, and many wonders and miraculous signs were done by the apostles.

Support and Belief is fostered in the community those early Christians enjoyed. The apostles were doing miracles and verified the message of the New Testament believers. Jesus is real and is their Savior and even though they faced a huge, unbelieving world they could rely on God’s love received through each other. They lived in a community where they were known and loved and celebrated and transformed. On those days when they most wanted to give up, they could lean on their God and their group the most.

⁴⁴ All the believers were together and had everything in common. In a Community group they Shared Purpose. It is not that they suddenly were cookie cutter personalities but in their close knit community they connected because they shared the same focus and purpose. They together believed they were the flesh and bones church that followed the direction of its head, Jesus.

⁴⁵Selling their possessions and goods, they gave to anyone as he had need. The sky was the limit to the love they were willing to share with each other. In Community that is focused on God’s glory and his kingdom you can do amazing things beyond what you may have thought possible because you have others to Push your Limits. They can give you encouragement and support so that we are not content with mediocrity.

⁴⁶ Every day they continued to meet together in the temple courts. They broke bread in their homes and ate together with glad and sincere hearts, ⁴⁷ praising God and enjoying the favor of all the people. This was not a once a week social club, this was a lifestyle. This church did not only meet at the building of worship, they met in their homes. They lived life together. It was not drudgery but Genuine Joy as they continued to connect because they knew what they were doing had significance to their primary audience, God.

And the Lord added to their number daily those who were being saved. Take a moment to ponder what it would be like for our church to live this list out regularly. People were being saved daily – just by observing and finding about who these groups held so dear! There was no magic formula and no persuasive gimmicks; they simply loved God and loved others. By God’s blessing it was contagious.

I think often times people get frustrated with the church organizations they grew up with because they've lost sight of who that church is created by and for. Jesus loves his church and knows they gain strength and encouragement from gathering together regularly (not just Sundays) to listen to his Spirit talk to them through his Word. Invest your time and energy into getting to know some other Christians on Sundays and throughout the week. It's amazing the difference it makes in your faith walk.

Is this something you've noticed? Is this something you've wrestled with?