Salem’s Statesman journal ran a feature on labyrinths hosted by local churches. Saint Mark’s labyrinth, which was acquired last year, was one of the ones featured.

You can read the full article on the Statesman Journal’s Web site.

Our retreat theme is “Twelve Places to Listen for God,” to be presented by our retreat facilitator, Deb Mantey. Only 23 spaces are available, with registrations due March 25th. Registration forms are available in the west narthex, from the church office, and can also be downloaded from the church website. We hope you can join us!

Women’s Retreat Brochure & Registration Form  (pdf)

There will be a Shrove Tuesday Pancake Feast on Tuesday, Feb. 21st from 5:30 – 7:00 p.m. We will be serving the traditional Saint Mark pancake dinner and King Cake. There

will be a good will offering as this function serves as a fundraiser for the youth. Stick around after you eat to enjoy some fellowship and games! Hope to see you there

Ash Wednesday Services

Ash Wednesday this year is Wednesday, February 22nd. Saint Mark will worship with Holy Communion and Imposition of Ashes at both 12:05 noon and 7:00 p.m. If you are unable to attend worship but would like to receive ashes, please call the church office.

Following the concert will be a Valentine’s Day theme reception. Come, bring your friends and hear the pipe organ transform into the Mighty Wurlizter!

Parishioners celebrated with special music and readings in both worship services. Reconciling in Christ, a program of Lutherans Concerned/North America, recognizes Lutheran congregations that welcome lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) believers. A LCNA representative presented the congregation with a certificate, acknowledging St. Mark’s RIC status, and songs were sung that emphasized the welcoming theme, including Marty Haugen’s “All Are Welcome.”

Both services included the following Reconciling in Christ litany, which incorporates the congregation’s RIC statement:

Both services concluded with the hymn “Soon and Very Soon” as members of the congregation processed out of the sanctuary and gathered in front of the church’s sign where the RIC logo was added, next to the words “All Are Welcome,” as a signal to the community at large and as a reminder to ourselves that we must live out the welcoming statement. Voting to adopt RIC is not the end of a journey, rather, it’s a new beginning.

Pastor and company leading the congregation in “Soon and Very Soon”:

The Statesman Journal ran an article about Saint Mark’s Reconciling in Christ celebration in its November 26th edition (see St. Mark Lutheran welcomes gays, lesbians). The paper’s religion column published the day before included a mention of St. Mark’s RIC status, which drew several visitors to services. And Willamette University’s student newspaper, Collegian, also covered the RIC vote (see St. Mark’s opens its arms to the LGBT community).

The Reconciling in Christ (RIC) program, administered by Lutherans Concerned/North America, recognizes Lutheran congregations that welcome lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender believers.

The statement adopted by St. Mark goes beyond welcoming members of the LGBT community. It reads: “At Saint Mark Lutheran Church, we celebrate that Christ has made us one body with many members, all sharing in God’s grace and unconditional love. As a Reconciling in Christ congregation, we embrace all of God’s people, regardless of age, ethnicity, physical and mental abilities, marital status, sexual orientation, gender identity or economic circumstance. We believe we are all unique and worthy individuals created by God. We joyfully welcome you to join us in worship, prayer, study, service and fellowship.”

St. Mark is the first and only RIC Lutheran congregation in Salem.