Easter Worship: April 9, 2023
Easter Sunday
Scripture: John 20:1-18
Sermon: “The Mystery of the Resurrection”
Belief takes many forms. How do you believe in the resurrection of Jesus? Do you believe it as a historical fact, interesting but irrelevant to your life today? Do you believe it as a surprising, mysterious event, a moment when God revealed himself to humankind? Maybe you haven’t ever thought about it. Come and consider Jesus’s resurrection with us this Sunday at 11:00 am!
Holy Week and Easter Services
Holy Week and Easter Services
Come and worship.
Holy Thursday Worship Service
6:30 PM
We will celebrate communion and remember Jesus’s crucifixion.
Easter Celebration
11:00 AM
We will begin with worship in the sanctuary. Bring flowers for the blooming of the cross. After worship we will go to the Fellowship Hall for our Easter Potluck Feast. If you are able to bring food to share, please drop it off in the kitchen before worship.
Worship: April 2, 2023
Passion / Palm Sunday
Scripture: Matthew 26:14-25
Sermon: “If I Betray Him?”
What are the rewards for betraying a friend or a teacher? Why betray someone? As we enter into Holy Week and remember the patient suffering of Jesus, we invite you to come, consider and worship. Our worship service begins at 11:00 am.
Worship: March 26, 2023
Fifth Sunday of Lent
Scripture: John 11:1-45
Sermon: “If the Light Is in You”
If the light is in you…. Think about that for a moment. What does it feel like to have light within you? What does it mean to have light within you? Sometimes we need to hear about our faith in a fresh way. Come, this Sunday with an open heart to hear anew about the Light of the world.
Worship: March 5, 2023
Second Sunday of Lent
Scripture: John 3:1-17
Sermon: “Must Be Born Again”
“Are you born again?” Too often Christians pose this question as a test. It acts like an insider’s question, testing the other person to see if they are also part of one’s group. But when Jesus first spoke about being born again, he was using the term to help someone see beyond his current faith. What does Jesus mean when he says “You must be born again”?
For the Journey of Acts
“Save yourselves from this corrupt generation” (Acts 2:40).
As Peter and 120 followers of Jesus were baptized by the Holy Spirit in the name of Jesus, Peter began preaching. This is the core point of his sermon: “God has made this Jesus, whom you crucified, both Lord and Christ” (2:36). This message became the core message of the early church. Peter continues, “Repent and be baptized, every one of you, in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins. And you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit” (38). “Save yourselves from this corrupt generation” (40). In this message, my heart always becomes burning and fast beating as I am directly hearing Peter’s loud and brave voice address those in front of him. I pray that you can also feel as I do.
Peter’s shouting, “save yourselves from this corrupt generation,” implies two meanings. It is judging that their religious faith, society and tradition are corrupted. It also implies, by “save yourselves,” to repent and be born again in the Spirit of Jesus. Paul also proclaimed this message of salvation as new creation: “If anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has gone, the new has come!” (2 Corinthians 5:17). The first church was begun by those whose hearts were burning and beating through the baptizing with the Spirit of the risen Jesus. I pray that you can experience this dynamic heart of the early church.
At that time, the church had not any theological structure or religious system yet. It was in a primitive state with burning hearts. But the early church began dynamically. This is the original church. I pray that St. Mark’s has this vital spirit, this dynamic heart. May the Holy Spirit of Jesus be with you in this journey of the early church.
“They devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and to the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer” (Act 2:42).
– Rev. Yong Sub Sim
During Lent we are journeying with the early church by reading the book of Acts. Here is a bookmark that you can use to track the daily readings: Lent 2023.