The Parable of Jesus, According to the St. Mark Confirmation Class

One of the great joys of ministry at St. Mark is teaching our confirmation students. This group of seventh and eighth graders meets every Wednesday to connect with one another and learn about faith, scripture, and life in the church. This year, our confirmation students have been working their way through the Bible. 

We recently moved into the New Testament, studying the story of Jesus and how it is told in the four gospels. Last week, Pastor Chad asked the confirmands to draw pictures of the most important moments in Jesus’ story. A few students drew crosses. One drew a nativity. Another drew a beautifully detailed depiction of the Last Supper. All of these moments and more are vital to Jesus’ story, as well as our faith, and it is amazing to see how different aspects of the story resonate with different people. How we tell a story says as much about us as it does about the events we attempt to describe.

This past Wednesday, the students and Pastor Katrina talked about Jesus’ parables. After the discussion, she asked the confirmands to write their own parable about Jesus. As they worked together to write the parable, she asked them if we could share their writing with the congregation, and so it is with their permission that we share “The Parable of Jesus, According to the St. Mark Confirmation Class.”

There was man, who name is Jesus, he was very compassionate. Some people like him, he had a group of friends but many people did not like him. He did not care about social class, he cared a lot for the lowly and the poor. He always accepted others but he was not always accepted. 

Even though he was hated, he loved everyone so much that he was crucified for everyone’s sin. But he came back! He proved to the people who hated him, that they were wrong. They now believe in him. 

Now people tell his story all the time.

How would you tell the story of Jesus in your own words? If you could only tell that story with a single sketch, what moment of his life would you draw?  

Peace,

Pastor Chad and Pastor Katrina

How are You?

I recently purchased a new devotional book titled, Go For It, Boldly Live the Life God Created For You, by Melissa Horvath. The first devotion is titled “How Are You?” which is a valid question that we ask people we encounter almost every day. In the devotion she comments on how we ask strangers and friends, how are you and typically the response is good, how are you?  But do we ever ask someone, how are you really?  And if we ask that, are we prepared for the answer? When we ask for an honest and raw answer, we may hear that someone is sad, angry, hurting, etc.  Or we could hear that they are doing great and amazing.  We are allowed to have and feel all the emotions. 

Earlier this week I was really struggling.  I was struggling with feeling sad and angry.  I was also struggling with feeling helpless, I felt there was nothing I can do for the people in Venezuela. That helpless feeling continues today as my heart breaks for the people in Minnesota. There is nothing I can say or do that will change things for the family of Renee Nicole Good, who died after being shot by an ICE agent.  Perhaps some of you feel the same way? 

I have found myself at a loss for words to pray.  My body is noticing my struggles.  I am restless, numb, tired, and overwhelmed.  But I am grateful for colleagues and theologians who have posted prayers for me to read.  Today I found a prayer that I needed to hear from Kelly Sherman-Conroy who is a Native Theologian.  Perhaps you need it too.  Here is her prayer…

Creator God,
We bring You what our bodies are holding.
The grief we can’t name.
The anger that tightens our chests.
The fear that won’t let us rest.
We ask for permission to set some of this down.
Not because it doesn’t matter,
but because we are not meant to carry it alone.
Breathe peace into our nervous systems.
Soften what has clenched.
Release what has been held too long.
Hold the lives that were lost.
Hold the families who are grieving.
Hold the communities who are tired of surviving.
Today, teach us how to rest without guilt,
to release without forgetting,
and to care for one another gently. Amen.

Yours in Christ,

Pastor Katrina Steingraeber