Pastor Chuck’s Corner: February 2025

Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up. Therefore, as we have opportunity, let us do good to all people, especially to those who belong to the family of believers. (Galatians 6:9-10 NIV)

If you have lived in the Central New York area for any length of time, we appear to be in the middle of one of our old-fashioned winters. As I write this in late January, the snowbanks are high and the temperature is low. Spring seems like a long way off. So, assuming you are living most of your life indoors as I am, allow me to talk to you about some ways you might be able to put some of these long winters hours to use (and still be warm!).

Volunteers are the life-blood of the local church, including St. Mark’s. Let me start by expressing my heartfelt thanks to all of you who are already donating your precious time and resources to the ministries of our church. You are greatly appreciated! But like many churches, we need more people to help out. There are many opportunities to do so and if you will re-read the excerpt from St. Paul at the top of the page, you will notice that volunteering for the good of your own church community is very important.

Many of you are already aware of the wonderful ways St. Mark’s reaches out with God’s love to our community. What you may not be so aware of, however, are some of the places we need people to help to keep these ministries running.

For example, we gather food for the B’Ville Food Pantry each month. One way to volunteer would be to take all that we collect to the pantry on the first Tuesday of each month.

Another pressing need at St. Mark’s is in altar care. We are blessed to celebrate the Lord’s Supper every Sunday. As wonderful as this is, it does not occur without the help of volunteers. The wine/juice needs to be poured into cups and the bread put on a plate. At times the paraments (the colored cloths) around the altar need to be changed. The Sacristy Committee is in dire need of more volunteers. This is a great way to help your church, and it would take you about 30 minutes a week to do so. There are many other ways you can step up to help and in the near future I will be asking you personally to consider to do so and I thank you in advance for considering to say yes.

Be blessed and be a blessing,

Pastor Chuck