Saint Mark Presbyterian Church

Saint Mark Presbyterian Church Where spirit and service come together! We strive to ensure our programs and facilities are accessible to all and to accommodate any special needs.

Saint Mark seeks to be an open and inclusive community of Christian faith pursuing the love of God and neighbor, while honoring the gifts of all people. We welcome persons of every race and class, ability or sexual orientation, including children and adults with disabilities and their families, who seek to grow more deeply in their relationship with God and serve others in the Spirit of Jesus Chri

st. Saint Mark belongs to the Presbyterian Church USA, yet we are ecumenical in spirit and share a common hope for mission and worship with all Christians. Our desire is to be a grace-filled community of Christ where spiritual growth and service come together in creative balance. We believe that you will find a home for your heart, friends for the journey, food for your mind and a place to serve others. Our core values describe the life we are seeking to live. We invite you to join us in the adventure of faithful living. A warm invitation is extended to you by the Saint Mark family. Everyone is welcome and our buildings are completely handicap accessible. We invite you to join us for Sunday worship!

05/29/2026

Leaning Toward Sunday
Sunday, May 31, 2026
By Pastor Jay Moses

So the story goes, Saint Angar, the so called Apostle to the North, established Christian contact in Sweden in the 9th Century. Through his interaction with the powers that be, Sweden began the path toward what was later called "Christianization" or rather for Sweden to become a part of "Christendom."

The ironic thing is today Sweden is seen as one of the most secular nations on earth, and those who profess the Christian faith rarely attend church. We live in a time where the rhetoric of being a Christian Nation is heard more than ever, and yet what can one piece together of what a "Christian Nation" is or what Christ's call really looks like from our vantage point in history.

Jesus says, "Go, make disciples of all nations..." in Matthew 28:16-20. On this coming Trinity Sunday, a high day of the church, we will ponder this passage together in times in which great discernment is asked for the sake of all people but also for Christ himself.

Hope to see you there

Pastor Jay

05/15/2026

Leaning Toward Sunday
Sunday, May 17th, 2026
By Pastor Jay Moses

I read books many times by looking at the footnotes. I can tell the literature that it is quoting and judge from there if the depth of discussion is one I want to engage in. When I look at the Beatitudes in Matthew 5 (Blessed are the Poor, Those who Mourn, Those who Suffer) I often wish there was a footnote of sorts to engage more in this beautiful litany.

I believe I have found a "footnote" of sorts in our Scripture for this Sunday: 1 Peter 4:12-14; 5:6-11. I share the brief outline of thoughts I gained from a first reading:

Advice in times of struggle:

Don’t be surprised
Christ suffers with you
The Spirit rests on you
God will lift you in time
Give your anxieties to God
God cares for you
You are not alone
It will be lifted
God will restore you
God will support you
God will strengthen you
God will establish you

There are some really beautiful exhortations here, many that seem to "riff" off of Matthew's initial themes. I look at this list, having been through trials of late myself, and am pulled to a certain phrase: "God will establish you." I'm grateful for it today, it's a place to root down. I ask you in the same way:

What is the phrase that you find meaningful to you in your situation today.

Grateful to share them together this Sunday, in solidarity, as we journey through these strange times together, or perhaps a time only you alone know about.

See you then,

Pastor Jay

05/08/2026

Leaning Toward Sunday
Sunday, May 10th, 2026
By Pastor Jay Moses

I've been on my share of Greyhound buses in my life, most of them at a young age. In those years I traveled the winding path between the two homes I was now given through the unique arrangement of divorce, winding over the hills of Santa Clara County upwards through the cities of Concord, Pleasanton, Livermore and upward to Modesto, Stockton and Davis, into what seemed like an abandoned lost city: the capital city of Sacramento.

I chose to live with my father for most of my early years, and so the wear and tear of saying goodbye to my mother at the noisy downtown San Jose Greyhound bus stop was a porous place, much like I think death must be like, in saying things of depth in brevity to those we love. My Mom could not explain my decision to journey north until the day she died. There were difficult times of anger with her over the choice I, at the age of 12, had made. Even worse were her tears, bitter and anguished tears.

In time she found resolve in a beloved story of hers; that of Hannah and her child Samuel. She reached into the Scriptures to which our family had been a custodian, even imperfectly, to find solid ground. "Hannah gave Samuel over to God" she would say, "Into God's keeping ... and I give you your choice and into God's hands as well." So, I have been ever since.

Our Scripture on this Mother’s Day is this same Scripture, 1 Samuel 1, a tender story told with beautiful and chosen words, resonating from deep below the surface the feeling of this mother and her pact with God. We ask for and seek the deepest things from God, even when our words, like Hannah's prayer, are inaudible to those close by.

I look forward to gathering with you.

Pastor Jay

Address

10701 Old Georgetown Road
Rockville, MD
20852

Telephone

(301) 530-0600

Website

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