St. Mark's Lutheran Church : Fargo

Today we celebrate 33 years of being a Reconciling in Christ congregation!! Help us celebrate by sharing some favorite St. Mark’s memories in the comments!

🌈 Where Have You Seen the Divine Shine? 🌟

Hey there, beautiful souls of Technicolor Ministries! As this week unfolds, we're curious: where have you spotted the radiant presence of the Divine, God, or the Great Queen at work? ✨🙏

In the small acts of kindness, the moments of connection, or the bursts of inspiration – we believe that the sacred is woven into the fabric of our everyday lives. 🌿🕊️

Share with us! Drop a comment below and let us know where you've witnessed the touch of the Divine this week. Whether it's in a stranger's smile, a whisper of encouragement, or the vibrant colors of nature, we're excited to hear your stories. 🌈💫

Let's celebrate these glimpses of grace and come together as a community that sees the sacred in the ordinary. Because in sharing, we multiply the joy and inspiration for us all. 💞🌟

Folks who love LGBTQ North Dakotans: consider submitting a clip, and please share this widely! I'm looking particularly for messages of support from folks of faith (lay and leadership) in ND.
National Coming Out Day is coming up on October 11th, and I would love to have as many clips as possible. Clips can be sent via messenger or email. - Pastor Micah

A wonderful family with incredible trans-parents asked me to draw this, so I did.

Quote of the Week:

“Compassion asks us to go where it hurts… it means full immersion in the condition of being human”

~ Henri Nouwen

Icon: “The Face of Christ: Compassion”
Signed Prints: kellylatimoreicons.com

Doing it for them

Do you have a new name? Has it been blessed yet?

Pastor Katy (they/them) would love to bless names on this upcoming Trans Day of Visibility! Send us your new name via message or comment on any of our socials and Pastor Katy will send you a video blessing. Your name will also be included in published prayers the following Sunday, April 2.

You don't have to be trans to participate! New name due to divorce? Decided to go by a new nickname? We'll bless those names too!

Looking for an affirmation of baptism under your new name? Drop us a line!

***rchurch

Worship for tomorrow, March 12th, is canceled due to inclement weather. Stay safe, everyone!!

Join us for worship tonight!! 5:45 at Micah’s Mission!!

This evening's worship service with Churches United is canceled due to weather.
Be safe, everyone!

The office is closed today due to inclement weather.
Stay warm!

Members and friends,
Due to inclement weather, this evening's Ash Wednesday service with Churches United has been canceled.

Stay warm!
- Pastor Micah

'"PRECIOUS GIFTS," by Pastor Joe A. Larson; February 19, 2023 — Transfiguration Sunday; based on Matt. 17:1-9 (text at end of post). (NOTE: This was Pastor Joe's farewell sermon.)
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As I reflected on today’s Gospel lesson, a memory from my childhood came to mind that I easily could have forgotten.

Mrs. Strand was my second-grade teacher. Mrs. Strand was young and pretty and kind. When I saw the movie Matilda, Miss Honey (Matilda’s teacher) reminded me of Mrs. Strand.

Mrs. Strand always had a compliment for me—whether it was how well I did at reading, or a math assignment, or just my smile. Mrs. Strand especially liked my drawings. She made me feel like every piece of artwork I created was a masterpiece.

So much so, that one day when I drew a picture of a horse’s head that came out perfectly—with a flowing mane and shining eyes, I decided to offer it to Mrs. Strand as a gift. With the idea in my seven-year-old head that I could just draw another one for myself.

But when I went home after school later that day and tried to do exactly that, I discovered a truth most artists know: you can never really re-create something beautiful. Because it never comes out exactly the same way. Which frustrated me so much that I started to cry. When my mom asked me what was wrong, she suggested that I simply ask Mrs. Strand to give me back my drawing. But I knew I couldn’t do that.

It was one of my earliest memories of giving away a gift that was precious to me for someone else to treasure and enjoy. An experience that still echoes in my soul. Something we artists do all the time. Just ask me about my exhibit that’s happening at the Spirit Room right now—with twenty-five of my precious paintings!

For anyone who makes things, creations like that can seem like they are part of your very being. Sacred mementos you want to treasure and never let go. Yet when you do—when you give one to someone you love, the gift brings all sorts of feelings, good and bad. Those are the kind of emotions I felt nearly 60 years ago with Mrs. Strand.

And those are some of the same emotions I’m feeling again here today with all of you.

For almost seven years, we have shared a lot of hopes and joys, celebrations and losses together. With me as your pastor and you as my congregation. Together we have created intangible gifts of faithful living that can’t be boxed up or saved other than within the memories our hearts and minds. Precious gifts that I believe have changed us and the world around us.

Today I wonder if Peter in our Gospel lesson might have had similar feelings about his experience with Jesus. After all, Peter has just had a mountain top epiphany that most of us will never come close to having in our lives here on earth. In that dazzling vision, Peter—along with his buddies James and John—see Jesus transfigured before their eyes.

I can understand why Peter is confused and suggests making booths for Jesus, Moses and Elijah. Making booths was part of their Jewish tradition during Sukkot, also called the Feast of Tabernacles. A holiday that remembers the wandering of Moses and the people of Israel in the wilderness for 40 years. Here, Peter wants to do something similar. He wants to hold on to this beautiful moment and preserve it forever.

Building inspiring shrines on holy places is something we artists have done for centuries. Which is exactly what later Christians did, when they constructed what’s called the Church of the Transfiguration on Mount Tabor—the site traditionally associated with this Gospel story.

Which isn’t surprising. It’s a very human act to try to contain a divine mystery. Building an altar freezes a sacred moment in time. Designing a sanctuary isolates the holy to one place. Constructing a church or synagogue tells the people of God where they should gather.

For Peter, however, the transcendent experience ends before he figures out a way to build a structure. All he has left is the unforgettable memory. And its lasting impact on his soul. And his overwhelming feelings. And his own limited words.

Of course, if you look at the history of the Church, a lot of time and money and ministry has been put into the construction and care of churches and cathedrals. But if we’re not careful, altars and sanctuaries can become the focus and even a hindrance to our vision of what really makes up the Kingdom of God—or as some of us q***r pastors call it, “Kin-dom of God.”

Here at St. Mark’s we learned that lesson a long time ago. Ten years ago St. Mark’s sold its original building. And that experience transformed this congregation. That event could have been the death knell of St. Mark’s. Certain people thought it would be exactly that. But God had something else in mind.

Initially, St. Mark’s moved down the street to worship at Elim Lutheran. Which is where I found you seven years ago, when you called me as your pastor.

I still remember my first visit. Charlie and I drove up from Minneapolis. When we arrived, we parked our car in Elim’s parking lot, which we noticed right away is also the parking lot for the Northern Lights Strip Club. We looked at each other and laughed. And knew right away this was going to be “interesting!”

One of the first tasks I saw that needed to be done was to find a new place to worship. Which sounds easy, but let me tell you, it was not. I looked at over forty different sites! And yet the experience of searching was wonderful. For it led me to meet people I would never have met if I had just sat praying inside a church office.

It also helped me more clearly see where Jesus is calling us in this world today. For I believe that God’s presence is not limited to Sunday worship. Eventually we ended up at Prairie St. John’s—at a former Catholic convent chapel. And a couple years later we had to move again.

To our final destination here at Temple Beth El. I remember how our Synod office told me that someone had asked them, “Can a Lutheran church do that—I mean, is it OK for them to worship at a synagogue?”

And of course, St. Mark’s couldn’t stop there. For now you have called a transgender pastor. And I know Pastor Micah is going to be a fabulous minister—who will lead you in finding new ways to be a community where all are truly welcome.

Yes, my beloved St. Mark’s people, we have been through a lot together. And now it’s time for one more change. It’s time for me to leave.

I don’t know about you, but inside I feel like that little second-grade kid who was so proud to give away the best drawing he ever created to his favorite teacher and friend. While at the same time I’m overwhelmed with intense feelings of love and regret, sadness and joy, gratefulness and grief.

Like most pastors, I hope that you will remember a lot of my sermons, but I also know you probably won’t. But I do hope that you will remember me preaching about how God is most revealed in the stories of our everyday lives—that the real transfiguration of Jesus and the story of the Gospel happens outside the walls of churches and religious institutions. That God’s grace is most present in authentic living.

Henri Nouwen, a Dutch Catholic priest and theologian, used to talk about how the sacred often becomes most real in the human act of loving—even when life is difficult and painful. Nouwen once wrote these words, which seem so appropriate to me today:

“Every time we make the decision to love someone, we open ourselves to great suffering, because those we most love cause us not only great joy but also great pain…. When the child leaves home, when the husband or wife leaves for a long period of time or for good, when the beloved friend departs… or dies … the pain of the leaving can tear us apart. Still, if we want to avoid the suffering of leaving, we will never experience the joy of loving. And love is stronger than fear, life stronger than death, hope stronger than despair. We have to trust that the risk of loving is always worth taking.”*

Beloved ones, like Nouwen, I believe experiences like that are moments of transfiguration for you and me. Moments that give us comfort and courage and faith, when life feels weary and tedious and hopeless.

Moments that I have experienced with all of you. Moments that are precious gifts of grace.

Which I will cherish forever. And never forget. Thanks be to God. Amen.

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*Henri Nouwen, “Love and the Pain of Leaving,” Bread for the Journey: A Daybook of Wisdom and Faith (Harper One, San Francisco, 1996) p. 272.

GOSPEL LESSON: Matthew 17:1-9 (NRSV)
Jesus took with him Peter and James and his brother John and led them up a high mountain, by themselves. And he was transfigured before them, and his face shone like the sun, and his clothes became dazzling white. Suddenly there appeared to them Moses and Elijah, talking with him. Then Peter said to Jesus, “Lord, it is good for us to be here; if you wish, I will make three dwellings here, one for you, one for Moses, and one for Elijah.” While he was still speaking, suddenly a bright cloud overshadowed them, and from the cloud a voice said, “This is my Son, the Beloved; with him I am well pleased; listen to him!” When the disciples heard this, they fell to the ground and were overcome by fear. But Jesus came and touched them, saying, “Get up and do not be afraid.” And when they looked up, they saw no one except Jesus himself alone. As they were coming down the mountain, Jesus ordered them, “Tell no one about the vision until after the Son of Man has been raised from the dead.”

Check it out!!

First openly transgender pastor called to guide Lutheran church in North Dakota “Historically the church hasn’t been kind to transgender people. A lot of churches still aren’t kind to transgender people," pastor Micah Louwagie said. "But St. Mark's has given me a lot of hope.”

The church office is closed today due to inclement weather.
Be safe and stay warm!

Please join us this coming Sunday, February 19th, as we give thanks - in worship and during coffee hour - for the ministry of Pastor Joe Larson, as he concludes his call as pastor of St. Mark's. There will be spoken tributes, brownies and cupcakes, and opportunity for personal sharing during coffee time after worship.

Here's the video of yesterday's service of installation of Pastor Micah. Thanks be to God for their ministry among us!

February 12, 2023 Worship Service Permission to podcast / stream the music in this service obtained from ONE LICENSE, License A-726218. All rights reserved. COPYRIGHTS:Psalm - Reprinted from ...

Want to learn more about how to show support for our trans and q***r youth in light of what's happening in the ND legislature. Come to the online Solidarity Saturday gathering tomorrow at 10 am. https://bit.ly/SolSatSpring2023

REGISTER TODAY! February’s Solidarity Saturdays program is titled “What the legislature is and isn't doing to prioritize the needs of North Dakota's youth,” with featured speaker Ryan Nagle, assistant executive director of North Dakota United. https://bit.ly/SolSatSpring2023

Here's the video of our Reconciling In Christ Service from this past Sunday, January 29, 2023. St. Mark's has been welcoming towards LGBTQIA+ individuals for 32 years! Thanks, Pastor Micah, for a wonderful sermon!

January 22, 2023 Worship Service Permission to podcast / stream the music in this service obtained from ONE LICENSE, License A-726218. All rights reserved. COPYRIGHTS:Psalm - Reprinted from ...

Take Action: ND School Meals Legislation The North Dakota Legislature will soon consider two important pieces of legislation regarding school meals. Together these school meal bills add up to a big step forward for North Dakota’s legacy; ensuring all kids get a hot meal while they are at school. Contact your state legislators TODAY! Let ...

Spread the word about this event tomorrow evening being organized by Project RAI for parents of trans/q***r youth in working together to support our trans/q***r youth in our community and state:
https://www.facebook.com/events/1248092186051824/?post_id=1248119042715805&view=permalink¬if_id=1673901816003912¬if_t=feedback_reaction_generic&ref=notif

Join us for our 10 am worship tomorrow at Temple Beth El Synagogue (809 11th Ave S, Fargo). The service will also be livestreamed at: https://youtu.be/jkCidiOy_6A. The bulletin is posted at: https://www.stmarkslutheranfargo.com/worship.html.

Here's the video of this morning's worship service (Jan. 8, 2023). We were blessed to have Pastor Micah with us for the first time!

January 8, 2023 Worship Service Permission to podcast / stream the music in this service obtained from ONE LICENSE, License A-726218. All rights reserved. COPYRIGHTS:Psalm - Reprinted from ...

Join us in welcoming Pastor Micah Louwagie tomorrow at our 10 am worship at Temple Beth El Synagogue (809 11th Ave S, Fargo)! We will celebrate the beginning of their ministry with us with a special coffee hour after worship. The service will also be livestreamed at: https://youtu.be/DZ_UaUzs7-M. The bulletin is posted at: https://www.stmarkslutheranfargo.com/worship.html. We are excited for this new phase in St. Mark's history and ministry together!

Here's the video of this morning's worship service, the first Sunday of Christmas. Happy New Year to everyone!

January 1, 2023 Worship Service Permission to podcast / stream the music in this service obtained from ONE LICENSE, License A-726218. All rights reserved. COPYRIGHTS:Psalm - Reprinted from ...