Monthly Message | September

Grace and peace to you friends.

This month, St. Mark hosts one of its biggest community events — the Free Book Fair and Costless Closet, happening September 20. The event had me thinking about reading and this idea that people don’t read as much these days. I don’t know if that is true or not. It doesn’t appear to be true at St. Mark! We have an active book club that meets monthly and has become a wonderful ministry at the church.

What may be true for many is that rather than reading an entire book or long article, we may just want the headline or the bullet points of a story, maybe pick up CliffsNotes that summarize a book. Do they still have CliffsNotes? Our reading habits in society have generally changed and have us reading something until we get the gist of it and then move on to whatever is next. I am guilty of doing that at times as much as anyone. We save time that way, but we lose so much in not reading or knowing a whole story. We miss details that help give context; descriptions that may help us see ourselves in a story, or see someone we know, or gain a different perspective.

Which brings me to the Bible. If someone asked you to give them the gist of the Bible, what would you say? We could say it’s about God’s love for the world and what God did through coming to us as Jesus. If that is all we know about the Bible, that is good, but we miss so much when we don’t go into more of this great book, of this story of love and redemption. We miss the ups and downs of this relationship between God and us. We miss the context of Jesus and what he said during his ministry, what he did before his death in showing and telling people about God’s way. We miss seeing ourselves and our neighbors in this story. Who hasn’t felt unsure of what God may be calling us to, just as Moses and Jeremiah and others were? Who hasn’t misunderstood something Jesus said, just as all of his disciples did? Who hasn’t felt lost or lonely, just as many of the people Jesus came in contact with during his time on Earth? Reading beyond the headlines and CliffsNotes versions helps us have faith in and know Jesus even more, and that he came to not just heal and free people who lived two thousand years ago, he came for you, for me to heal us, free us, save us, and pour out his love for us.

Spending more time in scripture and reading and discussing it is always good. If that is something you are looking to do, there are scripture readings for the week in Sunday’s worship bulletin. Or try a Faith Explorers class that take place 9:30 Sunday mornings beginning September 14. Or join the viewing and discussion of the series, The Chosen, which will start in October. Or schedule more time on your calendar and put it in ink! Or you can always reach out to me, especially if there is something you would like to do a small group study/discussion on, and we can look to make it happen.

We have this gift of scripture that God invites us to spend time with, wrestle with, and that helps deepen our relationships with God and with one another.

Go in peace. Christ is with you!

Pastor David