Good Morning,
Welcome to your online worship from St. Mark’s for Sunday, October 15, 2023.
First, I would like to express my gratitude to the Chancel Guild and to all donated and helped with the decoration of the church for Harvest Thanksgiving, last Sunday. We were wonderfully surrounded by the symbols of the bounty of God’s generosity and the blessings of this season’s harvest. Thank you!
This Sunday is our annual Ministry Faire. The Ministry Faire is not only a celebration but also an exhibition of the numerous ministries and groups at St. Mark’s that shape our church community and empower us to spread the Good News of Jesus Christ. Volunteering with these ministries and groups offers a fulfilling way to put our Christian faith into practice and to demonstrate our gratitude to God for the many blessings bestowed upon each of us.
Today’s Opening Sentence
May the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ enlighten the eyes of our hearts, that we may know what is the hope to which he has called us. – See Ephesians 1.17, 18
Today’s Reading – Matthew 22:1-14
Once more Jesus spoke to them in parables, saying: “The kingdom of heaven may be compared to a king who gave a wedding banquet for his son. He sent his slaves to call those who had been invited to the wedding banquet, but they would not come. Again he sent other slaves, saying, ‘Tell those who have been invited: Look, I have prepared my dinner, my oxen and my fat calves have been slaughtered, and everything is ready; come to the wedding banquet.’ But they made light of it and went away, one to his farm, another to his business, while the rest seized his slaves, mistreated them, and killed them. The king was enraged. He sent his troops, destroyed those murderers, and burned their city. Then he said to his slaves, ‘The wedding is ready, but those invited were not worthy. Go therefore into the main streets, and invite everyone you find to the wedding banquet.’ Those slaves went out into the streets and gathered all whom they found, both good and bad; so the wedding hall was filled with guests.
“But when the king came in to see the guests, he noticed a man there who was not wearing a wedding robe, and he said to him, ‘Friend, how did you get in here without a wedding robe?’ And he was speechless. Then the king said to the attendants, ‘Bind him hand and foot, and throw him into the outer darkness, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.’ For many are called, but few are chosen.”1
Your Online Message and Prayers
Click on the above image to view our online worship on YouTube.
Reflection questions for the week:
- What are three things in your life that you are grateful for today, and how can you express your gratitude for them this week?
- Reflect on a moment from this week when you showed love to someone. How did it make you feel, and how can you continue to choose love in your daily interactions?
- In a recent conversation, did you practice humility by listening more than speaking? How did this affect the interaction, and how can you improve your listening skills?
- Reflect an instance where you extended a helping hand or showed compassion to someone in need. What was the impact, and how can you continue to demonstrate compassion in your community?
This week music is again provided by Ryan Van Dijk, our Music Director, and our guest organist Roger Bayley. Thank you to them both for their ministry of music!
A continued reminder that if you are at all uncomfortable being in-person for worship, or if you are not feeling well, please join us here online.
Thank you again for joining with your parish family in our online worship today.
Find out how you can support our ministry and good work in the community here.
God Bless you and have a blessed week. Be well!
Peace,
The Rev’d Canon Rob Park
- Scripture quotation is from the New Revised Standard Version Bible, copyright © 1989 National Council of the Churches of Christ in the United States of America. Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.