Journey to Christmas

Advent Worship

Advent is the journey on our way to Christmas. 

Our Advent Sunday sermon series is Journey to Christmas. Pastor Bob and Pastor Eliezer will share how we can prepare our hearts to receive baby Jesus.
November 30 * December 7 * December 14 * December 21

Join us each Wednesday for a Bible study with Pastor Bob in Fellowship Hall at 6:15pm. We will focus on the scripture for the upcoming Sunday, examining the history, characters, context, and more!
December 3 * December 10 * December 17

December 14, 8:30am worship, come enjoy the St. Mark Chancel Choir and <i>Songs of the Nativity</i> with chamber orchestra.&nbsp;

December 14, 8:30am worship, come enjoy the St. Mark Chancel Choir and Songs of the Nativity with chamber orchestra. 

Choral anthems will usher in the promise of hope and joy of the season. Join us and enjoy this event supported by Fine Arts at St. Mark.     

Join St. Mark Kids on December 21, during 1010Worship,&nbsp;for their presentation of Away in a Manger!&nbsp;

Join St. Mark Kids on December 21, during 1010Worship, for their presentation of Away in a Manger! 

Our own preschool and elementary school kids will sing songs to celebrate the birth of Jesus during worship for a special festive service.  

Advent Daily Devotion

Join with St. Mark around a common Advent devotion. 

A daily devotion will be here each day of Advent.

Angel Gabriel, God’s Chosen Messenger “The angel answered, “The Holy Spirit will come on you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you. So the holy one to be born will be called the Son of God” (Luke 1:35).  

Expanded Devotion

Mary, Mother of Jesus “I am the Lord’s servant,” Mary answered. “May your word to me be fulfilled.” Then the angel left her. (Luke 1:38)  

Expanded Devotion

Angel Gabriel Brings Joy to the Elderly 9 The angel said to him, “I am Gabriel. I stand in the presence of God, and I have been sent to speak to you and to tell you this good news. 20 And now you will be silent and not able to speak until the day this happens, because you did not believe my words, which will come true at their appointed time.” (Luke 1:19-20)  

Expanded Devotion

Zechariah, Father of John the Baptist 13 But the angel said to him: “Do not be afraid, Zechariah; your prayer has been heard. Your wife Elizabeth will bear you a son, and you are to call him John. 17 And he will go on before the Lord, in the spirit and power of Elijah, …” (Luke 1:13, 17(a))  

Expanded Devotion

Elizabeth, Mother of John the Baptist “Why am I so honored, that the mother of my Lord should visit me?” (Luke 1:43)  

Expanded Devotion

Angel Gabriel Reassures Joseph “Joseph son of David, do not be afraid to take Mary home as your wife, because what is conceived in her is from the Holy Spirit. 21 She will give birth to a son, and you are to give him the name Jesus, because he will save his people from their sins.” (Matthew 1:20-21)  

Expanded Devotion

Joseph, Earthly Father of Jesus “When Joseph woke from sleep, he did as the angel of the Lord commanded him: he took his wife, but knew her not until she had given birth to a son. And he called his name Jesus.” (Matthew 1:24-25)  

Expanded Devotion

Caesar Augustus, the Arrogant Ruler “At that time the Roman emperor, Augustus, decreed that a census should be taken throughout the Roman Empire.” (Luke 2:1)  

Expanded Devotion

Innkeeper, the Unlikely Host  “And while they were there, the time came for her baby to be born. She gave birth to her firstborn son. She wrapped him snugly in strips of cloth and laid him in a manger, because there was no lodging available for them.” (Luke 2:6-7)  

Expanded Devotion

Manger Animals, the First Witnesses “This will be a sign to you: you will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger.’” (Luke 2:12)  

Expanded Devotion

Angels, God’s Announcers “13 Suddenly a great company of the heavenly host appeared with the angel, praising God and saying,  14 ‘Glory to God in the highest heaven, and on earth peace to those on whom his favor rests.’” (Luke 2:13-14)  

Expanded Devotion

Shepherds, Humble Evangelists When the angels went away from them into heaven, the shepherds said to one another, “Let us go over to Bethlehem and see this thing that has happened, which the Lord has made known to us.” (Luke 2:15)  

Expanded Devotion

Christmas Prophecies Come True “Therefore the Lord himself will give you a sign: The virgin will conceive and give birth to a son, and will call him Immanuel.” (Isaiah 7:14)  

Expanded Devotion

Luke, the Doctor of Details 3 Having carefully investigated everything from the beginning, I also have decided to write an accurate account for you, most honorable Theophilus, 4 so you can be certain of the truth of everything you were taught.” (Luke 1:3-4)  

Expanded Devotion

Simeon, the Elder And it had been revealed to him by the Holy Spirit that he would not see death before he had seen the Lord’s Christ. (Luke 2:26)  

Expanded Devotion

Anna, the Faithful Widow “Coming up to them at that very moment, she gave thanks to God and spoke about the child to all who were looking forward to the redemption of Jerusalem.” (Luke 2:38)  

Expanded Devotion

King Herod, the Monster of Christmas “When Herod realized that he had been outwitted by the Magi, he was furious, and he gave orders to kill all the boys in Bethlehem and its vicinity who were two years old and under, in accordance with the time he had learned from the Magi.” (Matthew 2:16)  

Expanded Devotion

Men Wise Beyond Their Years and Culture "Where is he who has been born king of the Jews? For we saw his star when it rose and have come to worship him.” (Matthew 2:2)  

Expanded Devotion

Angel Gabriel, God’s Protection “When they had gone, an angel of the Lord appeared to Joseph in a dream. ‘Get up,’ he said, ‘take the child and his mother and escape to Egypt. Stay there until I tell you, for Herod is going to search for the child to kill him.”’ (Matthew 2:13)   text

Expanded Devotion

Who Trained the Wise Men? “When they saw the star, they were overjoyed.” (Matthew 2:10)  

Expanded Devotion

John, A Voice Crying in the Wilderness  “And you, my child, will be called a prophet of the Most High;    for you will go on before the Lord to prepare the way for him,” (Luke 1:76)  

Expanded Devotion

Isaiah, the Messianic Prophet   “For to us a child is born, to us a son is given, and the government will be on his shoulders. And he will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.” (Isaiah 9:6)  

Expanded Devotion

Lessons from Advent Devotionals “All Scripture is inspired by God and is useful to teach us what is true and to make us realize what is wrong in our lives. It corrects us when we are wrong and teaches us to do what is right.” (2 Timothy 3:16)  

Expanded Devotion

Jesus, Our Savior God "Why were you searching for me?” he asked. “Didn’t you know I had to be in my Father’s house?” (Luke 2:49)  

Expanded Devotion

12 Days of Christmas to Epiphany “O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, the city that kills the prophets and stones God’s messengers! How often I have wanted to gather your children together as a hen protects her chicks beneath her wings, but you wouldn’t let me.” (Matthew 23:37; Luke 13:34)    

Expanded Devotion