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Newsletter — July 24, 2022 July 24th, 2022

On Tuesday, July 19, 47 U.S. House Republicans joined their votes with all the House Democrats in voting for a bill titled, “Respect for Marriage Act.” The name is, as you might expect, something of a misnomer because it formally overturns the, “Defense of Marriage Act” of 1996 and …

Newsletter — July 17, 2022 July 17th, 2022

Come one, come all. The Gallants have issued their yearly invitation and you are invited! At 3:00 on Saturday, July 30th the Gallants serve us hamburgers, hotdogs and all manner of fixins for such items. If you haven’t been to one of their picnics yet, it’s a lot of fun for the kids (with an …

Newsletter — July 10, 2022 July 10th, 2022

July 4th has come and gone, and it reminds us of our liberties and how thankful to God we should be for them. But some of those liberties seem to be up for debate. You may have heard of Coach Joe Kennedy. But then again, maybe not. Perhaps the good news of his religious liberty …

Newsletter — July 3, 2022 July 3rd, 2022

This past Wednesday evening at the prayer meeting, we read Psalm 85, which is very relevant to us as we consider the victory God granted in overturning Roe v. Wade. Here are verses 1-4: Lord, you were favorable to your land; you restored the fortunes of Jacob. You forgave the …

Newsletter — June 26, 2022 June 26th, 2022

The Supreme Court released the leaked opinion from May, overturning Roe v. Wade and Casey v. Planned Parenthood. When the leak happened, Politico.com called it, “a full-throated, unflinching repudiation of the 1973 decision which guaranteed federal constitutional protections of abortion rights …

Newsletter — June 19, 2022 June 19th, 2022

As announced last week, nominations for elder and deacon were received by the session. Jeff Kernodle and Randy Sadler accepted their nominations, were examined by the session and are heartily recommended to you for election to office. The election for these officers will be held on July 17.

Newsletter — June 5, 2022 June 5th, 2022

As we sing psalms and historic hymns today, both in our hymn sing and worship service, it is helpful to reflect on what many in the modern western church might consider our “odd” choice in musical style. Can we not simply “get with the times?” Music and musical style …

Newsletter — May 29, 2022 May 29th, 2022

The shooting at Uvalde elementary school is a tragedy. We grieve with those who grieve. We mourn with those who mourn. For many of us, it is almost impossible to contemplate what fathers, mothers, brothers, and sisters of those who lost their lives are facing. As we try to understand this …

Newsletter — May 22, 2022 May 22nd, 2022

Here’s an exercise in contrasts: Elizabeth Amy Eaton, presiding bishop of the ELCA (the liberal Lutherans) Tweeted this past week, “While the leaked court draft does not represent the Supreme Court’s ruling in its final form; nevertheless, it contradicts this church’s teaching. This …

Newsletter — May 15, 2022 May 15th, 2022

Fifteen years ago, in the spring of 2007, Pastor Rich Lusk presided over a Lord’s Day service, during which six charter families took vows and were received into membership of the newly formed St. Mark Reformed Church. In God’s providence, for various reasons having to do with jobs …

Newsletter — May 8, 2022 May 8th, 2022

This past week, as you must surely now be aware, an opinion draft leaked from the Supreme Court of these United States. The topic: The overturning of Roe v. Wade. Leaving aside questions about the integrity of the court and the trust of the clerks and aids who serve there (or even the Justices …

Newsletter — May 1, 2022 May 1st, 2022

For May, our Hymn of the Month is All Praise to Thee, My God, This Night written by Thomas Ken (set to music by Thomas Tallis). Ken lived from 1637 to 1711 and throughout that time he was a pastor, chaplain at Winchester College, chaplain to Princess (later to be queen) Mary, and bishop …