Lesson 3: What God Intended for Adam and Eve

Here, delve into the story of the Garden of Eden. Grasp God’s purpose in creating humans as beings that are both material and spiritual. Consider the significance of the god-like role given to Adam to name other creatures. Learn how woman was created as a counterpart (and even rescuer) of man, and how the creation story accounts for a world that is not what God intended.

Lesson 2: The Genesis Creation Story

Look at the creation of humanity according to Genesis Chapter 1, and in particular, how we interpret the idea that humans were made in the image and likeness of God. Then learn about the unique seventh day—the Sabbath—and how the Sabbath was also a day of creation. Investigate the intriguing question of the authorship of the first five books of the Old Testament, known as the Pentateuch or Torah.

Join us today for a visit from Mar-Lu-Ridge Lutheran Camp Staff!

St. Mark’s helps to support two Lutheran camps: Mar-Lu-Ridge in MD and Caroline Furnace in VA. Come and meet Sarah Lefler, executive director, and Amy Sowers Mamb, associate director, of Mar-Lu-Ridge on Sunday, February 9. Sarah and Amy will tell us a little about the camp during worship and also be with us for both our 9:46 and 11:06 Crowd adult forums. All are welcome. Parents are especially encouraged to come and learn about the camp.

From the webpage, https://www.mar-lu-ridge.org

Mar-Lu-Ridge is a year-round outdoor ministry of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America.

Situated in the beautiful Catoctin Mountains of central Maryland, the camp ministers through summer camp, retreats, our conference center, and a variety of programs offered throughout the year.

In addition to their traditional summer camp sessions, they also offer many specialty camp sessions including, but not limited to: adventure, arts, horseback, Night Owls, Civil War, and space camps.

We begin our study of the Old Testament as led by Robert D. Miller II, who is an Ordinary Professor of Old Testament at The Catholic University of America. He received a PhD in Biblical and Near Eastern Studies from the university of Michigan and is a life member of St. John’s College of Cambridge.

Lesson 1: The Old Testament as Literature

Consider the historical and literary contexts of the Old Testament, and take an overview of this course. Then study the events contained within the first six days of creation. Fr each day, note what was created, how God evaluated it, and how the events of the days are interconnected. Also, observe how the events establish an elaborate pattern and what that pattern meant to ancient Israelites.

The focus this week is on the emotion of restlessness with the Book of Psalms as our guide. The second week is entitled "Outrage: When Your Heart Is Filled with Revenge" using Psalm 150:1–6.

Learn how and why to praise God at any place, any time, and in all ways.
We should praise God no matter what we are going through. So long as you have breath, praise God for who he is and what he does, in any and every possible way.

The focus this week is on the emotion of restlessness with the Book of Psalms as our guide. The second week is entitled "Outrage: When Your Heart Is Filled with Revenge" using Psalm 137:1–19.

Learn to forgive when you want to fight back.
God doesn't expect us to pretend our outrage isn't real. He does expect us to resist the temptation to return evil for evil, to work for reconciliation, to leave room for his wrath, and to overcome evil with good.

What is The Life Center of St. Mark’s? Check out it’s web page HERE … and join us today to learn more about it! In coordination with Fairfax County’s FACETS, The Life Center sponsor’s week of hosting St. Mark’s Hypothermia guests. Come to hear more of the work of The Life Center.

The focus this week is on the emotion of restlessness with the Book of Psalms as our guide. The second week is entitled "Restlessness: When You Still Haven't Found What You're Looking for" using Psalm 42:1–11.

Learn the cause of—and cure—for our incessant inner hunger.
We will all feel restless until the consummation of the kingdom of God, but we can find contentment until then by putting our security in Jesus.

DUE TO THE CHRISTMAS HOLIDAYS, THERE WILL BE NO CLASSES TODAY—WE WILL RESUME NEXT SUNDAY, JANUARY 5. MERRY CHRISTMAS AND HAVE A BLESSED AND HAPPY NEW YEAR!

Classes will resume on January 5. See you then!

The focus this week is on the emotion of abandonment with the Book of Psalms as our guide. The second week is entitled "Uncertainty: When You're Not Sure of Your Next Move" using Psalm 19:1–14.

Learn how to make wise decisions when the path ahead is unclear.
How can we ascertain God's will for our lives when we are unsure of what he wants? The Psalms helps those struggling with uncertainty to find God's direction for their lives.

DUE TO THE CHILDREN’S CHRISTMAS PAGEANT AT 10:00 AM, THE 9:46 CROWD WILL NOT MEET THIS SUNDAY—SEE YOU NEXT WEEK!

Due to the Thanksgiving Holiday weekend, both The 9:46 Crowd and The 11:06 Crowd sessions are cancelled. See you next Sunday!

The focus this week is on the emotion of abandonment with the Book of Psalms as our guide. The second week is entitled "Disappointment: When Your Dreams Die" using Psalm 107:1–43.

Learn how to handle the pain of what might have been.
How we can find peace when our dreams have been shattered? Psalm 107 offers hope to those disappointed with life.

The focus this week is on the emotion of abandonment with the Book of Psalms as our guide. The second week is entitled "Depression: When Darkness Is Your Closest Friend" using Psalm 88:1–18.

Learn to live victoriously when just living is hard.
The Psalms help show us how we can find hope in even the deepest depression. In times of depression, we must cry out to God.

The focus this week is on the emotion of abandonment with the Book of Psalms as our guide. The second week is entitled "Contentment: When Your Soul Is at Rest" using Psalm 62:1–12.

Learn to find serenity, regardless of the circumstances.
Psalm 62 offers ways to find inner rest despite our outer circumstances. The secret of contentment is looking to God rather than your circumstances to give you fulfillment and peace.

Due to the HOLIDAY BAZAAR from 9:00 to 1:00 PM today in the Fellowship Hall, both The 9:46 Crowd and The 11:06 Crowd sessions are cancelled today. Please visit and support our women as they sell hand-crafted and donated goods and foods—the monies collected are then distributed among various church and community activities.

The focus this week is on the emotion of abandonment with the Book of Psalms as our guide. The second week is entitled "Anger: When Your Back Is Against the Wall" using Psalm 79:1–13.

Learn to keep anger from being destructive.
Anger is a natural, God-given emotion, which, though potentially harmful, can be used constructively. The Psalms give us examples of godly ways to express anger.

The focus this week is on the emotion of abandonment with the Book of Psalms as our guide. The second week is entitled "Gratitude: More than Just an Attitude" using Psalm 136:1–26.

Learn to be thankful for all things at any place and any time.
Your life will overflow with gratitude when you're convinced of God's love for you and are reminded of his love through creation, your salvation history, and his current provision for you.

The focus this week is on the emotion of abandonment with the Book of Psalms as our guide. The second week is entitled "Fear: When You're Scared Senseless" using Psalm 55:1–23.

Find peace when you are afraid.
Whether it's a physical, emotional, or spiritual battle, we've all fought fear. The good news we gain from the Psalms is that we can learn to handle fear rationally and with confidence.

No classes today due to the Special Congregational Meeting at 9:30 AM in the Santuary. Please come to express your thoughts on the topic and make your vote count!

Please join the St. Michaels Youth Endowment Board for a special presentation at the 9:46 Adult Forum on Sunday, September 29 in the Green Room.

There will two main speakers at this forum as we will hear from Joseph Triolo on his new position with the ELCA Metro DC Synod Board and also from Grace Casola, our new youth leader. There will also be some information provided on the St. Michaels Youth Endowment Fund and the Mission Endowment Fund. Please join us in the Green Room at 9:46 AM on September 29.

Refreshments will be served!

The focus this week is on the emotion of abandonment with the Book of Psalms as our guide. The second week is entitled "Abandonment: When You Feel Alone" using Psalm 22:1–31.

Find strength when you feel forsaken.
When we feel abandoned, we should be honest about our pain, but we should also look to community and to God to find strength. Psalm 22 shows us how to do that.

The 9:46 Crowd and The 11:06 Crowd will resume this week, September 15, beginning a twelve-lesson study entitled “Psalms: Managing Our Emotions.”

The focus will be on a different emotion each week with the Book of Psalms as our guide. The first week is entitled “Joy: A Time To Dance” using Psalm 33:1–22.

Learn to rejoice in the past, present, and future.
We think joy is dependent upon our circumstances, but the Psalms help us realize that we can find joy in every circumstance.

Join the congregation for a potluck Brunch in the Fellowship Hall between the 10:00 AM and 12:00 NOON services. Enjoy a reconnecting experience with your fellow St. Mark’s members and make new friends as well as greeting old ones!

** SPECIAL CONGREGATIONAL MEETING! **

WHAT ... SPECIAL CONGREGATIONAL MEETING, duplicate meetings so you may attend either
WHEN ... At 9:45 AM and 11:15 AM on Sunday, September 1
WHERE ... St. Mark’s Sanctuary
WHY ... To approve funds for Initial Architect Fees for Our Facilities Upgrades

The MOTION: The members of St. Mark’s authorize a fixed $28,000 expense from the Capital Improvement Fund for the following architect services:

(1) Design options that would consider narthex level ADA compliant bathrooms, nursery, and kitchenette locations:

• as part of the courtyard (while preserving the courtyard legacy)

• as part of an expansion of the narthex towards the bell tower (which will also bring a more open and lighted narthex)

• as part of an additional floor above the existing lounge area

(2) A design option for curbside/covered parking access to the narthex door.

(3) Design visuals/renderings and associated rough order cost estimates for each design option so that the council and congregation can consider and determine the the most appropriate and cost-effective path forward.

NOTE: The price of follow-on architect support for construction drawings and contractor selection will be negotiated once the congregation selects the final design.

Practicing the Presence of God

Join us on Sunday, August 25 at 9:46 AM or 11:06 AM for a presentation and conversation led by Yvette Moy on deepening our awareness of God’s ever-present activity in and through us. Yvette will be using The Practice of the Presence of God by Brother Lawrence as the foundation for this event.

The Practice of the Presence of God, by Brother Lawrence

Brother Lawrence was a man of humble beginnings who discovered the greatest secret of living in the kingdom of God here on earth. It is the art of “practicing the presence of God in one single act that does not end.” He often stated that it is God who paints Himself in the depths of our souls. We must merely open our hearts to receive Him and His loving presence.

As a humble cook, Brother Lawrence learned an important lesson through each daily chore: The time he spent in communion with the Lord should be the same, whether he was bustling around in the kitchen—with several people asking questions at the same time—or on his knees in prayer. He learned to cultivate the deep presence of God so thoroughly in his own heart that he was able to joyfully exclaim, “I am doing now what I will do for all eternity. I am blessing God, praising Him, adoring Him, and loving Him with all my heart.”

This classic, available at your favorite retailers, has given both blessing and instruction to those who can be content with nothing less than knowing God in all His majesty and feeling His loving presence throughout each simple day.

Today we continue our “Jesus and the Early Church” studies with the Rev. Dr. Gordon Moyes in a 30-minute DVD presentation of “Timothy and Titus.”

Today we continue our “Jesus and the Early Church” studies with the Rev. Dr. Gordon Moyes in a 30-minute DVD presentation of “James and Jude.”

Today we continue our “Jesus and the Early Church” studies with the Rev. Dr. Gordon Moyes in a 30-minute DVD presentation of “Stephen the Martyr.”