2023 St. Mark's Cantata

St. Mark's Weekly E-blast

We gather, connect, and serve so all may experience the love of Christ.


By Rev. Lynn Bartlow

Lead Pastor


Have you ever noticed how a melody can bring scripture to life or keep a favorite Bible verse at the forefront of your mind? I’ve experienced this countless times. Even now, I can recite the books of the Bible because of a song I learned in grade school. Music has this amazing power to embed truth in our hearts in a way that words alone sometimes cannot. For me, songs are not only tools for memory but also companions in faith. There’s always a hymn or a tune running through my head, lifting my spirit, guiding my thoughts, or anchoring me in prayer.


Music plays a significant role in how we worship and grow in faith together. It connects us, inspires us, and helps us express our deepest gratitude to God. Here at St. Mark’s, we are so blessed by the many people who bring the gift of music to our congregation.


To those who provide music before worship on the Magee Campus, thank you for setting a tone of reverence and joy as we gather to connect with God and one another. To the volunteer band on the Sanctuary Campus, your dedication and talent help us celebrate the love of Christ in fresh and uplifting ways. To our choirs on the Magee Campus, who rehearse and lead us in song week after week, your ministry is a blessing beyond words.


This Sunday afternoon, I invite you to experience the fullness of this gift of music as we come together for our Christmas Cantata. This special event will showcase the musical talents of our congregation, telling the story of Christ’s birth in a way that words alone could never capture. Come and let the music draw you closer to the heart of Christmas. We will have a reception afterward, inviting everyone to connect with one another around the table.


Join me in giving thanks to God for the music that fills our worship, our hearts, and our lives.


See you soon,

Pastor Lynn

December 11 This week's dinner is Soup!

Dinner is served at 5:30, followed by Communion at 6 and our activities after. Come and join us as we sing all our favorite Christmas carols tonight.



Prefer to join us online? Use the zoom link below. Bring your own communion elements! 

https://dscumc.zoom.us/j/81074485416?pwd=QBaxQm2tB3AhW9ot1aSqW6ov2WOlhe.1

 

Meeting ID: 810 7448 5416

Passcode: 016308


Next week: Messy Church! Then, we will take a break until January 8.

Coming Up




A Memorial Service for Marsha Dean will be held on Saturday, December 14 at 11 am in the Magee Campus sanctuary with a reception following.

A choir will sing; if you would like to join the choir for this service, come to the choir room at 10:15 to rehearse.

This Sunday, December 15, is a busy day! In addition to our regular 4 services, please join us at:

The family of Samuelle Co invites you to celebrate her baptism Sunday at 11:30 am in the Magee Campus sanctuary. If you attend the 10 am service you have heard her talking lately in worship. Come celebrate her baptism!

THIS SUNDAY from 2-3 you are invited to an Empty House Open House at the Wesley House! Come see the bare bones of our space, before we fill it with furniture, fun, and friends! Many have asked if there are items the youth need or would appreciate! While there is absolutely no expectation of this, there are some things that we would love to get! Our wish list is available at https://a.co/gphisLB and we will have fun tags displayed throughout the classrooms with wishlist items! We are planning to have another Open House after the dust settles.

3PM 12/15 Magee Campus

Come experience this year's Cantata, a piece that brings Advent to life, capturing the season’s promise and the gradual dawn of hope. The work reflects the image of a small but determined light breaking through darkness—a symbol of Christ’s birth in Bethlehem. Receive this gift from our choirs and instrumentalists.

Reception following the Christmas Cantata. We are in need of finger foods for our reception immediately following the Cantata on Sunday, December 15. You can drop them off on Sunday morning or bring them in when you come to the Cantata. We hope you stay for the reception and talk to someone you haven't met yet. Let's show our community what a great group of people we are.

What happens when Christmas isn’t “merry and bright”? 

What do you do if your holidays aren’t “holly jolly”? 

The good news is that you aren’t the only one feeling that way! Join us for a service that acknowledges all the feelings that you may feel this season. We will use scripture, 

prayers, silence, light, and darkness to help us center our lives for the holiday to come. 

Christmas Eve Services

Invite your friends!

This year our service times have adjusted for simplicity and for our volunteers. Grab a postcard from the worship space to invite your friends, and plan to join us as we welcome the new-born King!

Magee Campus

11am Lessons & Carols

Let the story of Christmas be told with song and scripture. A soup and bread lunch will follow for anyone who would like to enjoy a meal around the Christmas table.

5pm Family Service

Join us for a family-friendly service including a no-rehearsal telling of the Christmas story. We will conclude with a blessing of our children, with a gift.

7pm Traditional Service with Choirs

Our choirs will lead us in a traditional worship with candles and Silent Night. Childcare will be offered during the service, and children are welcome.

9pm Traditional Service with Communion

Our final service of the night will feature silence and candlelight, communion and music, ending with Silent Night on our patio with the guitar.


Sanctuary Campus

5pm Family Service

Join us for a family-friendly service, led by our Praise Band. We will conclude with a blessing of our children and they will receive a small gift.

7pm “Unplugged” Service

A more reflective, acoustic worship service with hymns and scripture.

You are invited to purchase plants in memory or in honor of a loved one for the Christmas Season. These poinsettas and Christmas cactus will be added around the Christmas trees of our church to brighten our decorations. Poinsettias will be $17 and Christmas cactus plants will be $20.


Use a paper form on Sunday or click here to fill one out online.

Christmas Offering Invitation


Check out the video about our work at Nash Elementary School! WATCH VIDEO

This vital ministry isn’t just about numbers—it’s about love in action. It’s about the families who leave with full boxes and even fuller hearts. It’s about the volunteers whose time and dedication reflect the light of Christ.


When you give to our Christmas offering, you help make this ministry possible. Your gifts support not just food on tables but hope in hearts. Let’s continue to share the love of Christ with our neighbors in need.


Ready to give? Click here!

Year-End Notice for Donors

Please wait until you’ve received your year-end statement of giving to file your income tax return. Some donors may not be able to deduct certain contributions if they file a tax return before receiving their church contribution statement.For contributions to be deducted in 2024, they must be received at the church by December 31, 2024. (Please remember the office is closed December 25 – 29.) This means that a check deposited in the church offering in January of 2025 cannot be deducted in 2024, even if it is backdated to 2024. This also includes on-line donations that are not processed prior to December 31, 2023. Please plan a couple of days ahead when making an electronic contribution for this year. One exception—checks that are written, mailed and postmarked in 2024 are deductible in 2024 even though not received until 2025. Thank you!

SUNDAY WORSHIP SCHEDULE

8:30 and 10 a.m. Traditional service in Magee Campus sanctuary and child care in Rm 15

10 a.m. Modern service at Sanctuary Campus with Children's Sunday School and childcare

10 a.m. Magee Campus youth and children's Sunday School (except fifth Sundays) and childcare

11:30 a.m. Traditional service at the Sanctuary Campus

 

Both 10 a.m. worship services are live-streamed on Sundays on our website or on YouTube UMC St. Mark's AZ. You can also watch the service at a later time. 


Office Hours – 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Mon-Thurs, closed Friday - Sunday

Holiday Closure: We will be open regular business hours on December 23-24.

We will be closed December 25-29, and January 1-5.

Staff may be available by appointment during those days.


Our monthly Messenger newsletter (for December) is available here: LINK

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