Saint Mark United Methodist Church

The Message: "Splits" 2 Chronicles 16:1, NKJV

4th Sunday after Pentecost/Father's Day The Message: "Cool Dad" by Mr. Joe Luckett

Due to technical difficulties today's service will be posted immediately following service.

We are excited to be a part of this joint service today.

Blackout Day 2020 is a campaign organized to get people to buy Black and show the power of the Black dollar on Tuesday, July 7. It challenges people to avoid in...-store and online purchases, unless from a Black-owned business. #BuyBlack #BlackOutDay In addition to participating in #BlackOutDay2020, all are encouraged to observe a day of fasting and prayer for Black families, communities, clergy and the church. Some might be taking medication and it might be difficult to fast from food, but consider fasting from other things, that do not glorify God. We want to focus on unity and oneness, as Jesus prayed, John 17:21-23 The Message (MSG): "I’m praying not only for them But also for those who will believe in me Because of them and their witness about me. The goal is for all of them to become one heart and mind Just as you, Father, are in me and I in you, So they might be one heart and mind with us. Then the world might believe that you, in fact, sent me. The same glory you gave me, I gave them, So they’ll be as unified and together as we are I in them and you in me. Then they’ll be mature in this oneness, And give the godless world evidence That you’ve sent me and loved them In the same way you’ve loved me."

Reflection for Monday June15th 2020 Romans 1:18-20 The wrath of God is being revealed from heaven against all the godlessness and wickedness of people, who supp...ress the truth by their wickedness since what may be known about God is plain to them. For since the creation of the world God’s invisible qualities his eternal power and divine nature have been clearly seen so that people are without excuse. Another unarmed black man killed by law enforcement! I just don’t know what to say anymore? I am angry and outraged that they keep killing us. I am both physically and spiritually depleted, I’m at the end of my rope. Why can’t they stop killing us? Does God really care? But then I realize God does care about our frustrations and our feelings of defeat. So today I am asking God for His strength, and I’m going to focus on God’s expectations and purpose for my life. I believe God is directing us in order that together we may accomplish His work. God has work for us to do. Therefore don’t quit stay in the fight. Let us pray: Lord even at this moment as we struggle, we can still lift our eyes to our God who loves us. We can still lift our face to see God in the dark, still lift our voice to call out to you for help. Hear us, Lord. Amen. #blacklivesmatter #blackoutday2020

Reflection for Wednesday, June 10th, 2020 Proverb 3:3 Let love and faithfulness never leave you; bind them around your neck, write them on the tablet of your he...art. Love is profoundly political. Our deepest revolution will come when we understand this truth. (Bell Hooks) Racism at its core is a personal and social disorder rooted in the assumption that one race is superior to another. In one way or another racism affects all of us. Racism is a serious moral evil. It is a sin before God. Responding to the sin of racism must begin with each of us examining our own selves. We need to be open to God’s love because it is the only way to a change of heart. We should ask God to remove from us all traces of racism. We should avoid racial stereotypes, slurs, and jokes. We should correct any expressions or racist attitudes among our family members, friends, and co-workers. We should seek opportunities to know and learn from each other. Our goal should be to build substantive and lasting relationships with people of other races and cultures. Only then will people begin to hear the stories from other races and begin to understand their reality and their perspective on the world. Let us pray: God, sustain us through this long-overdue conversation on race. Gather us together and make us disciplined. Make us wise. Make us loving. Place a fiery commitment in each of us to love unconditionally. Burden us with your love, every day. May we build one another up as we tear down the walls of racism, white supremacy and anti-blackness. Amen. #blacklivesmatter #blackoutday2020

Reflection for Monday June 1st 2020 Lamentation 3:22-23 The steadfast love of the Lord never ceases; God’s mercies never come to an end; they are new every morn...ing; great is thy faithfulness. God’s mercies are new every morning when we wake up. God laments for the trouble we are facing as a nation. God appoints every day’s new mercies. In life there will always be trouble. Every day will have its own trouble and every day will have its own new mercies. Each is new every morning. Sometimes I wonder will we have the mercy we need to stand through this terrible time we are facing? Yes, we will. As we continue to stand with faith, hope and courage know that the Holy Spirit comes. When Holy Ghost power is needed, He will come. Don’t be afraid continue to stand and watch the Spirit move. Let us pray: Hear our cry, O God. Listen to our prayer. How long will we have to hide in our homes? How long will we have to march in the street for freedom? Everyday we see continuous suffering and death from two different pandemics. Panic and anxiety abounds. Our souls are weary Lord please hear our cries. So we lift up our eyes to you today hear us Lord. Amen.

Reflection for Sunday May 24th 2020 Psalm 100:2 Serve the Lord with gladness! Come into his presence with singing! This is the day that the Lord has made, let... us rejoice and be glad in it. From the rising of the Sun to the going down of the same, God is worthy to be praised. God is an awesome God. It’s Sunday morning time to give Him all the praise! This is what I know: God is still winning and our enemies are still losing and we have the victory. Sickness is still losing. Depression is still losing. Coronavirus is still losing. Heartache is still losing. Trouble is still losing. Because if God be for us, who can be against us? No matter what you are facing today, we serve a God who is bigger than every problem, more powerful than every adversary and His Grace is sufficient to meet all of our needs. Whatever you are going through, know that you serve an awesome God! So get up be thankful and give God the praise. Let us pray: Lord, I choose to praise and worship you today. You know how to break through the difficulties of life. I choose not to be overwhelmed with circumstances, but instead I choose to behold your beauty and greatness. I choose to say blessed be your Holy name. You are my victorious God. In Jesus name we. Amen.

Reflection for Friday May 1st 2020 Philippians 4:7 And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jes...us. Reinhold Niebuhr wrote the Serenity Prayer as a humble way to remind us to surrender to the Lord, to give up the things we cannot control and trust God to provide just what our hearts need. Serenity is the state of being calm, peaceful, and untroubled even during the Coronavirus pandemic. Listen to the words of the Serenity Prayer: God, grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change; courage to change the things I can; and wisdom to know the difference. People in 12 step-based recovery fellowships pray this prayer to remind ourselves to surrender to God because we have no power or control to change things, but God does. When praying the Serenity Prayer, it challenges us to let go and let God. Dive deeper into the words of the Serenity Prayer today. Put your soul into the communication you’re having with the Lord and fully surrender your will and you ways to His. Let us pray: Dear God, please help us to lean and depend on you. We need your peace and serenity in everything we face today. In Jesus’ name we pray, Amen.

Reflection for Holy Communion Sunday May 3rd 2020 As the coronavirus pandemic continues, we are tempted to let fear and worry take over. Holy Communion Sunday i...s usually a time reflection and remembrance of what Christ has done for us instead we may feel disconnected from our faith. I want to share with you a simple two-word phrase that has encouraged me: Be still. Exodus 14:14 When Moses was attempting to reassure the Israelites he told them; The Lord will fight for you; all you need to do is be still. Consider where we are and where we want to be on a Communion Sunday but during this chaos all around us we can’t be together. Why then is God beckoning us to be still? Because; God’s has got this. God will direct our actions, thoughts, and prayers if we let Him. Our God is mightier than this virus, so He has a plan. Remember who is in control during these troubled times. Not the virus, but God. Whether in your bedrooms, backyards, watching online services or praying quietly in your favorite chair, this Holy Communion Sunday let us remember what Jesus Christ has already done for us, He has freed our hearts to be still and wait on Him. Let us pray: Lord, gather us to you in our time of trouble. Help us to be still and look to you for assurance and hope. Be with the sick in a powerful way, and guide and comfort our leaders, doctors, nurses and first responders during this pandemic. In Jesus Name we pray, Amen.

We might be getting the hang of this virtual Bible study, yet, I still can’t wait until it’s back in person at Saint Mark United Methodist Church! There were o...ther people, but I don’t think I’ve got all the names, but it was great to see you all! Thanks, Pastor Gary Bernard Williams end First Lady, Myrna Jefferson-Williams. #MinorProphets #Mika7 #TrustInTheLord #RepentAndReturn Caption: Micah 7:18-19 Who is a God like you, who pardons sin and forgives the transgression of the remnant of his inheritance? You do not stay angry forever but delight to show mercy. You will again have compassion on us; you will tread our sins underfoot and hurl all our iniquities into the depths of the sea.

Getting for Worship and Holy Communion on tomorrow. Join us right here on Facebook Live at 10am. I’m praying for our people to stay home and be safe and healthy.... Also praying for all my colleagues and their ministries as well. Don’t buy the lie it’s safer at home so stay in and watch us. Post you photos of your home communion set tomorrow. See more

Thank you for worshipping online with Saint Mark UMCLA I pray that something was said today that helps through the week.

Reflection for Monday May 4th 2020 Psalm 37:25 I have been young, and now I am old; yet I have not seen the righteous forsaken, nor their descendants begging b...read. Grace and Peace be unto you from God our father and our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. Every time we turn on our TV or go online, all we see and hear is bad news. But we serve a God who is still in the blessing Business. During this time of the Coronavirus, I have learned that I need to feed my spirit with more of God’s Word. If All I take in everyday is bad news. Bad news about our economy, our world, our community and our people then I get anxious, worried and fearful. So I have made up my mind to stay positive. I am going to stay hopeful. I am going to still see: The Goodness of The Lord in the land of the living. I hope you can stay encouraged today in your relationship with God and I pray that you will continue to support our mission and ministry to pour into your life, each and every day. Please stay safe, healthy and at home today. Let us pray: Lord we first want to thank you for how you kept us from harm’s way. We thank you for uplifting us. We thank you for renewing our faith. We thank you for this opportunity to have this prayer time with you and we exalt your Holy name. In Jesus’ name we pray, Amen.