Well another summer has come and gone and our young people are heading back to school. Sunday School will be starting up again along with our Sunday morning adult Bible study between services. We will also be returning to our fall/winter/spring schedule on Sunday, September 11th with worship services at 8:30 and 11:00 on Sunday mornings. In many ways it is back to life as usual here at St. Mark's.

That's OK to a point, but it is also important for us to remember that we have not been called to be just a static and non-moving church. We have been called to action and to mission.

St. Mark's already participates in several forms of outreach through our support of the local food bank, Pastor Mario in Honduras, Vacation Bible School, chartering a Boy Scout troop and a Cub Scout pack and the community clothing cupboard to name just a few. These are all good causes worthy of our support. However, our work doesn't end there.

We live in a part of the world which functions for the most part without our Lord and Savior. Many of our friends and neighbors don't have a relationship with our living Lord and Savior. Many in our community go through life without the comfort that can only be found in the assurance of salvation. There is a lot of work to do here.

Growing up, one of my favorite hymns was "I Love To Tell The Story," number 390 in our green hymnal. It is still a favorite and it is also a reminder of what we are all called to do. We have been called to tell the story in word and in deed of Jesus and his love. It is good for us to "hear" the story and it is good for us to "study" and "learn" the story but it doesn't end there. It's time to "live" and "tell" the story.

May God richly bless you as we move into a new season, and may He be with you as you tell the wonderful story of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ to those around you.

Sunday
Contemporary service - 8:30 a.m.
Sunday School - 9:45 a.m.
Traditional service - 11:00 a.m
5th Sunday of any month - 10:00 a.m. service only
(followed by potluck dinner)

FIRST ARTICLE - I believe in God, the Father almighty, creator of heaven and earth.

MEANING: I believe that God has created me and all that exists. God has given me and still preserves my body and soul with all their powers. God provides me with food and clothing, home and family, daily work, and all I need from day to day. God also protects me in time of danger and guards me from every evil. All this God does out of fatherly and divine goodness and mercy, though I do not deserve it. Therefore, I surely ought to thank and praise, serve and obey God. This is most certainly true.

SECOND ARTICLE - I believe in Jesus Christ, his only Son, our Lord. He was conceived by the power of the Holy Spirit and born of the virgin Mary. He suffered under Pontius Pilate, was crucified, died, and was buried. He descended into Hell. On the third day he rose again. He ascended into Heaven, and is seated at the right hand of the Father. He will come again to judge the living and the dead.

MEANING: I believe that Jesus Christ, true God, Son of the Father from eternity, and true man, born of the virgin Mary, is my Lord. At great cost he has saved and redeemed me, a lost and condemned person. Jesus has freed me from sin, death, and the power of the devil - not with silver or gold, but with his precious blood and with his innocent suffering and death. All this Christ has done that I may be his own, live under him in his kingdom, and serve him in everlasting righteousness, innocence, and blessedness, just as Christ is risen from the dead and lives and rules eternally. This is most certainly true.

THIRD ARTICLE - I believe in the Holy Spirit, the holy catholic* Church, the communion of saints, the forgiveness of sins, the resurrection of the body, and the life everlasting. Amen. *as used here, meaning "universal".