St. Mark’s Celebrates “God’s Work, Our Hands”

Pamela Jensen and Matthew Fortin review information about Stephen Ministry. St. Mark’s Lutheran Church has a long history of service to the people of the greater Williamsport community. So, it was not a difficult task to create displays of ways to encourage members to explore service activities connecting them to life in Jesus Christ.

Using “God’s Work/Our Hands” as the theme of the Ministry Fair, coordinated this year by the Faith and Fellowship Committee and chaired by parishioner Vicki Haussmann, congregants had an opportunity not only to “acknowledge God’s grace for us” through these service projects, but also to become involved in “sharing that grace with others through sacrifice and service,” said The Reverend Brian D. Vasey, pastor.

Pastor Brian Vasey and Church Archivist, Gary Weber, look at some of the historical records related to St. Mark’s Lutheran Church. Displays included information about Stephen Ministry, the upcoming CROP Walk, shoebox ministry, parish outreach, worship and music, church archives, safety, and altar flowers, among others. The congregation also is actively involved in other community and church programs, including Lutheran World Relief, Family Promise, Shepherd of the Streets, Sojourner Truth Ministry, United Churches of Lycoming County food pantry, the Ronald McDonald House, and many additional opportunities.

During the Sunday morning worship service, Pastor Vasey reminded congregants that “Christ comes to us, and the work of God is shared with us so that we may share it with others. The work of God is the work of love.”

The Ministry Fair was in response to a churchwide initiative of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America to “celebrate who we are…one church, freed in Christ to serve and love our neighbor.”

Sally Bjornstad coordinates altar flowers for the church and provides information about church safety. Vicki Haussmann shares some of the materials from Samaritan’s Purse pertaining to the worldwide shoebox ministry in which members of the congregation participate annually.