First off, I want to thank you for the wonderful Christmas gift! I have already used a portion of it to buy an exercise bike.  Beth and I will find other uses for the gift and I am excited about that!  I also want to thank you for your prayer support this past year. You have been with me for the third time when I have needed adjustments to my meds for depression. I want to thank you for your encouragement as we move our mission forward. We have a community that is positive an

We may find the water a bit too deep for comfort. Maybe the waves are starting to look scary. Do we know how to swim?

When I ask this question, I am referring to our wellbeing.  How do we feel physically, mentally, emotionally, spiritually, financially, and socially.  Usually, these experiences are interconnected. One can be off, affecting other aspects of our life. Some of this is guided by our expectations of life. Are we about where we hope to be or not? Of course, then we might ask ourselves. “How are these expectations determined?” Whose standard of life are we choosing? The standard I

A couple of years ago, Pastor Mark expressed a desire to turn the parish house into a home for physically challenged individuals. After...

The video below is by a guy named Eric Sajdak of Merit Financial Advisors. We chose them to manage our investments because Chris had...

Last Sunday, Olaf Lidums shared some thoughts on music and the importance of music in our lives and in our worship. Martin Luther also...

“Create in me a clean heart Oh God, and renew a right spirit within me.” -- Psalm 51 “Father, forgive them they know not what they do.”...

As Pastor Mark and Beth prepare for a trip to Scotland, he reflects on the best way to approach new places and new people. #pastormarkfisher #stjohnelca #scotland #eyesofChrist #sharethepeace

Ed. note: last month, Sean Michael Jackman, our Director of Worship and Music, visited Leipzig, Germany for Bachfest as part of his...

Since making this realization, I find the words of Joni Mitchell running through my mind.

#Faith, #Peace, #Jesus, #Shalom, #SacredandLoved #innerpeace, #serenitynow #stjohnelca, #pastormarkfisher

When we think about what threatens society the most, we often assume it’s evil, but Dietrich Bonhoeffer believed that stupidity, not evil, is the greatest danger to humanity. #StJohnELCA #stupidity #Bonhoffer #Pastor Mark Fisher

#StJohnHouse #StJohnELCA

Rebecca Parker shares tips for Lenten fasting. #lent #fasting

I find the comfort of my car and my long commute serves as a sanctuary.

Several years ago, someone shared this with me. I thought perhaps you would appreciate it as well. A SPECIAL LENTEN FAST   Give up harsh...

As followers of Jesus, we are asked to be God’s hands and feet to share the Great Peace/Shalom. In reading the Gospels, Jesus brings hope...

It’s February 28th. When I was a kid – in Miami – I could never figure out why February had 28 days. I understood that 365 divided by 12...

In the beginning, there was darkness, then God created light.  So goes the creation story of Abrahamic religions. Before even making the...

Pastor Mark has suggestions about how to make the Serenity Prayer work in your life. #PastorMarkFisher #SerenityPrayer