Blessed are you who care for the children and young adults in our midst. You who encourage them in their walk of faith, listening to their questions and hearing their ideas, exploring what it means to be a child of God. For the lessons and activities you plan, bring out their creativity and gifts, and thereby show these young ones what it looks like to share in the love of God.
Blessed are you who share your love of music with instruments and songs. You who encourage and lead us to make a joyful noise unto the Lord. For the anthems of the choir, the organ preludes and postludes, the musicians who step in to accompany and lead us in song, and for the congregation lifting their voices with beautiful harmonies of song.
Blessed are you who serve the Lord behind the scenes in this community of faith, in the Vestry, in the Altar Guild, and on the various committees of the parish. For your leadership and passion that help to inspire us in worship and move us to action for the poor and vulnerable in the world.
Blessed are you who grieve in the wake of a loved one’s death. For gathering in the presence of the Lord to give thanks for their life and for the joy of loving and sharing life with them. For the comfort of friends who help carry that burden of sadness to the cross, where we remember that Christ’s love conquered death and welcomes our beloved home in your nearer presence.
Blessed are you who organize meals for the hungry in order that they may have a place to gather from the cold and enjoy a hot meal in the company of others. For the compassion extended and the joy received in bringing a joyful balm to their weary souls.
Blessed are you who gather to be a holy presence at the ICE facility in Burlington, bearing witness to God’s love for the human beings living in this foreign land, seeking safety from harm at home. For this gathering that provides a beacon of hope to the ones being treated unjustly. May that light also shine into the darkened hearts of those who guard them there and awaken a love for God and all humanity.
Blessed are you, the faithful congregation of St. Mark's, who gather here in this sanctuary, bringing your hearts for God and grace for one another. You welcome both friend and visitor alike, sharing gifts of prayer and peace, being spiritually fed at the Table of the Lord, in order to go out and serve so many in need in the name of the Lord.
For all these blessings and many more, O God, we give thanks to you! Amen.
Excerpt from Sunday's (2/1/26) sermon on the Beatitudes (Matt 5:1-12)