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The Chosen is the first-ever-multi-season TV show
about the life of Jesus.
Created outside of the Hollywood system, The Chosen
allows us to see Him through the eyes of those who knew him.
No matter where you are at in your journey with Jesus Christ,
this TV show is for you.
Please join us the next 8 Sundays at 10am in Race Parlor as we view Season 1 of The Chosen.
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Letter From Pastor Russ
God’s Grace and Peace be yours today!
Today we hear Good News! God offers to us forgiveness of all our sins. What greater news could there be in this world? To know that the God of heaven is offering us full and complete forgiveness of all our sins. There is only one catch! You must admit you are a sinner who needs forgiveness!
The only challenge we face is that we do not always understand what sin actually is! The dictionary defines sin as: “an offense against religious or moral law.” In order for a person to understand what sin actually is, it is necessary to understand God’s laws. Since we live in a Biblically illiterate society, it is almost impossible to convey “what is sin” to the general population. In a recent survey, almost 3,500 adults were asked to answer 34 basic questions about the Bible. The results revealed only about 20 percent could answer the questions correctly.
This follows the unfortunate trend seen in the understanding of the Bible in recent years. Over a period of six years the decline of trust in the Bible as declined steadily. The questions below were asked over a period of six years.
If we are not sure of the Bible has anything of value to share with us for our lives, then the following question and results are on par for where people are at in their spiritual understanding.
The sad truth is that most Americans no longer believe the Bible to be the inspired Word of God and therefore there is no need for it. If we set aside the Bible, then where do we go for our understanding of sin? The only option left is public opinion!
God does not work on the basis of consensus or public opinion. God is the one who stands as holy and unapproachable by any and all who are sinful. Since He is God, it is He who sets the standard, not us. To be holy and sinless is what is required to enter into His presence and be granted eternal life.
It does not take us long to understand we will never achieve that standard! Try as we may, holiness is out of our reach. We are sinful human beings, and thus we are destined to be rejected by God and cast away forever. This is our lot in life and eternity, save for the grace of God.
When we were lost and unable to save ourselves, Jesus came into this world to shed His blood on the cross to pay the price for our sin. Through simple faith, all Jesus accomplished is freely given to us.
John tells us; If we say we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. If we say we have not sinned, we make him a liar, and his word is not in us. (1 John 1:8-10)
To deny our own sinfulness is to reject the forgiveness God offers in Jesus. To confess our sins to God, asking for forgiveness brings the grace of God showering down upon us. To say we are not sinful and have no need for forgiveness is to deny the holiness of God and the sacrifice Jesus made on the cross for us.
As the people of God today, we can rest assured that God has heard our cry for forgiveness. We are forgiven, not because we are not sinful, or because we earned it for ourselves, but because God in His grace sent Jesus to be our Savior.
Thanks be to God for His grace and forgiveness in our Lord Jesus Christ.
Pastor Russ
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If you have any needs, or just need to talk,
please contact Pastor Russ at
pastorruss@loveroad.org or 432-553-3522.
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Please join us as Couples Connection starts
a new study,
The Grace Filled Marriage.
We will be meeting in Zumwalt Hall every Thursday at 6:30pm beginning on January 21st.
If you need childcare, please RSVP.
For more information please contact Joe and McKenna Darden
at jcd674@gmail.com.
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Church Funnies
How Do You Get To Heaven?
I was testing the children in my Sunday school class to see if they understood the concept of getting to heaven. I asked them, "If I sold my house and my car, had a big garage sale and gave all my money to the church, Would that get me into heaven?"
"NO!" the children answered.
"If I cleaned the church every day, mowed the yard, and kept everything neat and tidy, would that get me into Heaven?"
Again, the answer was, "NO!"
By now I was starting to smile. Hey, this was fun! "Well, then, if I was kind to animals and gave candy to all the children, and loved my husband, would that get me into Heaven?" I asked them again.
Again, they all answered, "NO!"
I was just bursting with pride for them. "Well," I continued, "then how can I get into Heaven?"
A five-year-old boy shouted out, "YOU GOTTA BE DEAD."
Children's Prayers
3-year-old James: "Our Father, Who does art in heaven, Harold is His name. Amen."
One particular four-year-old prayed, "And forgive us our trash baskets as we forgive those who put trash in our baskets."
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Financial Update
St. Mark's United Methodist Church
2020 General Fund Financial Results
Actual Budget Variance Prior Year
Total Income $788,941 $956,934 ($167,993) $854,692
Total Expense 803,397 931,350 127,953 946,043
Net Income (loss) ($14,456) $25,584 ($40,000) ($91,351)
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If you aren't comfortable with online giving, you can mail a check to:
5005 Love Road, El Paso, TX 79922.
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Need Prayer?
If you have a pressing prayer request that needs to be filled,
email Ruth Lindstrom and your request
will be prayed for right away!
You may also visit our website and fill out a prayer request there.
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This Week at St. Mark's
Wednesday, January 20th
9:30am Online Bible Study with Elaine Frisbie
6:00pm Online Wednesday Night Women's Bible Study
6:30pm Online and In-person Mark'smen Bible Study in the Choir Room
Thursday, January 21st
6:30pm Couples Connection in Zumwalt Hall
Sunday, January 24th
9:00am Contemporary Service in the Fellowship Hall
10:00am The Chosen in Race Parlor
10:00am Kinder -4th grade Sunday School in Zumwalt Hall
10:00am 5th-6th grade Sunday School in Walker Annex
10:00am Nudge Youth Sunday School in Pavilion on Silverwood
11:00am Traditional Service in the Sanctuary
Monday, January 25th
6:30pm Administrative Council Meeting in the Fellowship Hall
Tuesday, January 26th
1:00pm Pastor's Bible Class in Race Parlor
6:30pm Divorce Care in the Choir Room
6:30pm Grief Share in the Conference Room
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