|
|
HomeAbout UsActivities - What's New at St. MarkActivities & Events - MonthlyAreas of ServiceCalendar of ActivitiesChristian EducationChurch CouncilChurch StaffCommunity ServicesContact UsDartballDirections / Local News / WeatherFellowship ActivitiesFellowship OpportunitiesFun Page - Games & InformationGarden NewsGiving / DonatingHeavenly ResidentsKids for Christ (KFC) Youth Ages 3-12Kingdom WeekendLinks - Information / Videos & MoreLutheran Youth Organization ActivitiesMilitary - Serving Our CountryMissionsMonthly Memo'sMusicOf Special InterestOpen Market FairPastor's PenPicture GalleryPulpit Players"Rockers"Scholarship Fund/KorenskySermons / Worship With UsSmall Groups ActivitiesTestimonialsVicar's VoiceWhat Is A LutheranYouth Activities PicturesSt. Mark ELC, Worth - Blog
|
Mark served in the United States Navy for twenty-two years working primarily in
navigation, retring as a Chief Petty Officer. He is married to the former Chie Furuichi, from Osaka, Japan. They have two children; Kato (7) and Moe (4) [pronounced
Mo- eh].
03-15-09 Vicar Mark Fischer "Trust" To listen to Vicar Mark's sermon, click the link above.
Vicar Mark Fischer “…the Advocate, the Holy Spirit, whom the father will send in my name,will teach you everything…” John 14:26
The Grand Teton Mountains are spectacular, and in the summer of 1964, my grandparents took my sister and me camping. The route we followed was the classic American vacation with stops at the Gateway Arch in St. Louis, Truman and Eisenhower presidential libraries in and around Independence, Missouri. Grandpa took us to his boyhood home in Kansas where we visited the grave of his father. The Great Plains are spectacular and remind me of the sea, although not back then. Rising majestically ahead, we began to see them. They looked like clouds to me, those snow covered peaks rising skyward beckoning us onward. We stopped briefly in Jackson Hole, Wyoming for lunch and then rendezvoused with my father’s cousin. We set up camp and discussed the activities of the next few days. We would fish, hike, see wildlife and on a personal note, I would develop my habit of rock-hounding. My dad’s cousin had three sons, all older than me. The first morning, I went fishing with my grandfather and as we returned (empty-handed) we met the boys. They were excited and asked me if I wanted to see a real live beaver. We ate our breakfast and then marched off down the trail. Sure enough, just there alongside the river bank was a beaver nestled under a tree branch. We observed it briefly but the boys had another agenda that morning… to swim across the river! Now the river, to my eyes from the shoreline was swift, narrow and barely ankle deep (that’s how I saw it as Grandpa and I fished earlier that day). The boys stood waist deep inviting me to join them a few feet from the shore. I stepped into the ice cold stream, then another step and soon I was huddled next to my new cousins. The second oldest turned to me and asked if I had ever swam across a river before. “No” I replied. He dove in and swam until he stood up on the other shore, only he had been swept downstream a hundred or more yards away. Next the youngest went, and like his older brother made the far shore. The oldest turned to me and said, “Mark, it’s your turn.” I said, “I think I’ll stay here.” He said “I‘ll be right behind you.” I took a deep breathe and swam like never before… I could feel the torrent carrying me, I was frightened beyond description. It was all I could do but kick my legs and swing my arms madly about. Then I felt the firm hands of my cousins plucking me from the current and allowing me to stand among them. “Wow!” I shouted, wiping the remnants of the river from my face. I had done it! Going back would be easier and less frightening. The word “Advocate” from our text is derived from the Greek verb parakaleo, and literally means ‘to call beside’. The lesson I learned that day was that others had gone before showing me the effects of the forces upon us as we enter the stream that is life. These challenges are easier to navigate when others show us the way or walk with us. There was also a wise and experienced person beside me or near enough to reach out to and be comforted by, this I have learned is how the Holy Spirit is with us.
I have learned much from you during these past eleven months. I will remember you as I depart and continue in my candidacy
for ordination. You have loved me beyond all of my fears. I have been swept up in the torrent of ministry and you are there
with me on the far shoreline as we complete this portion of our relationship. I have learned that it’s all about relationship. “Do
not let your hearts be troubled,and do not let them be afraid.” John 14:27b Click Here: Anchors Aweigh - The American Military Band Click Here: Listen to Exodus 47 - Inside Out Click here to view Video: The Debonair Giant: A Conversation with Dr. Joseph Sittler ______________________________________ rtrtrtrtrtrtrtrtrtrtrtrt ____________________________________
Music Playing: The Presence of the Lord is Here by Byron
Cage
Click Here: Justin & Kari on Facebook Vicar Justin faithfully served the people of St. Mark from August 2007 to August 2008. Justin graduated from LSTC on Sunday, May 17th, 2009. He and Kari will be leaving to serve the people of Bolivia in August. Justin will be ordained at his home church in North Carolina the end of May.
My Departure… “For I am already being poured out like a drink offering, and the time has come for my departure.” – 2 Timothy 4.6 + + + Dear Sisters and Brothers of St. Mark,
The Lord be with your spirit. Grace be with you. – 2 Timothy 4.22
Justin and Kari are to be commissioned as missionaries on August 23rd. They will be leaving for Bolivia on August 25th. Christological Memory - View / Download Sabbath Memory - View / Download Resurrection Memory - View / Download Eschatological Memory - view/download To hear a message by Justin click one of the links below. |
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
