October 25th, 2026 – Festival of the Reformation

Raymond Hulett Leave a comment

Sermon for 10/25/26:

Observation of the Festival of the Reformation (10/31): Our Gospel reading for this Sunday is from the 11th chapter of St. Matthew’s account. I love this passage because of the poetic way the Lord describes the stubbornness and resistance of the Jews who refused to believe not only His testimony of Himself but also John the Baptist’s. We can feel His frustration, a frustration we often feel ourselves as we encounter the same stubbornness and resistance from those in our own lives. Nevertheless, this also should comfort and encourage us to endure..

The Holy Gospel according to St. Matthew, the 21st chapter:

[Jesus said], “From the days of John the Baptist until now the kingdom of heaven has suffered violence, and the violent take it by force. For all the Prophets and the Law prophesied until John, and if you are willing to accept it, he is Elijah who is to come. He who has ears to hear, let him hear.

“But to what shall I compare this generation? It is like children sitting in the marketplaces and calling to their playmates,

“‘We played the flute for you, and you did not dance;
we sang a dirge, and you did not mourn.’

For John came neither eating nor drinking, and they say, ‘He has a demon.’ The Son of Man came eating and drinking, and they say, ‘Look at him! A glutton and a drunkard, a friend of tax collectors and sinners!’ Yet wisdom is justified by her deeds.”

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Announcements:


*Pastor will be at the Monster Mash on Main St. in Ferndale on Wednesday, October 28th, from 5-8PM for Trunk-or-Treat. In addition to treats for the kids, there will be information for St. Mark’s and material for people to take if they are interested. Pray that we might catch a few eyes and perhaps have some visitors in the near future!

*Next Sunday, 11/1, is All Saints’ Day in which we will have the remembrance of those who have died in Christ during the prayers of the Church. If there is anyone you would like us to remember, please send them via the Prayer Request form.

*Next Sunday, 11/1, is also the end of DST. Be sure to set those clocks that need it back an hour!

*Next Sunday, 11/1, we will also be receiving the Gomersall into membership by Profession of Faith. Please commit them to your prayers, and join us to welcome them into our fellowship officially!

*Advent is fast approaching with “soup suppers” at 6 PM and an evening service at 7 PM starting Wednesday, December 2nd. Come and share a warm meal with us and feed your soul with the Word of God!

This Week’s Sign

This resource is not intended to discourage anyone from gathering in person around God’s Word and Sacraments. Matthew 18:20 and Hebrews 10:25 make it clear that God’s Divine Service is meant to be experienced physically with other Christians. To that end we invite you to join us for our current offerings of fellowship, study, and worship, and to stay tuned for additional opportunities:

*Family Bible Study at 9:00 AM on Sundays: We continue in our study of Titus chapter two as we consider how it is that we are able to do any good works, what motivates or prompts us to do good works, and what are the good works that we are to do?

*Divine Service at 10:30 AM on Sundays: November 1st, 2026 is All Saints’ Day. Our Gospel reading is Matthew 5:1-12.

If you’re not within driving distance of Ferndale CA, we encourage you to use the Church Locator at LCMS.org to find a church near you so you can gather in person with the communion of saints in your area.

October 20th, 2026

Raymond Hulett Leave a comment

Sermon for 10/18/26:

20th Sunday after Trinity: Our Gospel reading for this Sunday is from the 21st chapter of St. Matthew’s account where our Lord warns the Pharisees with a most ridiculous parable: Workers in a vineyard actually think that they can receive the inheritance due the son of the owner by killing the son! But that’s not how an inheritance works, and the Pharisees rightly answer Jesus that the owner will destroy those wicked workers and hand things over to faithful ones. Yet the do not see how this relates to the promises of the Messiah their Lord had entrusted to them.

The Holy Gospel according to St. Matthew, the 21st chapter:

“Hear another parable. There was a master of a house who planted a vineyard and put a fence around it and dug a winepress in it and built a tower and leased it to tenants, and went into another country. When the season for fruit drew near, he sent his servants to the tenants to get his fruit. And the tenants took his servants and beat one, killed another, and stoned another. Again he sent other servants, more than the first. And they did the same to them. Finally he sent his son to them, saying, ‘They will respect my son.’ But when the tenants saw the son, they said to themselves, ‘This is the heir. Come, let us kill him and have his inheritance.’ And they took him and threw him out of the vineyard and killed him. When therefore the owner of the vineyard comes, what will he do to those tenants?” They said to him, “He will put those wretches to a miserable death and let out the vineyard to other tenants who will give him the fruits in their seasons.”

Jesus said to them, “Have you never read in the Scriptures:

“‘The stone that the builders rejected
has become the cornerstone;
this was the Lord’s doing,
and it is marvelous in our eyes’?

Therefore I tell you, the kingdom of God will be taken away from you and given to a people producing its fruits. And the one who falls on this stone will be broken to pieces; and when it falls on anyone, it will crush him.”

Subscribe to our Sermons at St. Mark’s podcast!
How to Listen to a Sermon

Announcements:


*Pastor and his family will be set up for “Trunk or Treat” on Halloween and are hoping to get a spot at the Monster Mash on Main St. on Wednesday, October 28th as well. More details as we get closer, but come by and see us if you can!

*Advent is fast approaching with “soup suppers” at 6 PM and an evening service at 7 PM starting Wednesday, December 2nd. Come and share a warm meal with us and feed your soul with the Word of God!

This Week’s Sign

This resource is not intended to discourage anyone from gathering in person around God’s Word and Sacraments. Matthew 18:20 and Hebrews 10:25 make it clear that God’s Divine Service is meant to be experienced physically with other Christians. To that end we invite you to join us for our current offerings of fellowship, study, and worship, and to stay tuned for additional opportunities:

*Family Bible Study at 9:00 AM on Sundays: We continue in our study of Titus chapter two as we consider how it is that we are able to do any good works, what motivates or prompts us to do good works, and what are the good works that we are to do?

*Divine Service at 10:30 AM on Sundays: October 25th, 2026 is the observance of Reformation Day. Our Gospel reading is Matthew 11:12-19.

If you’re not within driving distance of Ferndale CA, we encourage you to use the Church Locator at LCMS.org to find a church near you so you can gather in person with the communion of saints in your area.

Return of the Sermon Podcast and Other Updates!

Raymond Hulett Leave a comment

Sermon for 10/11/26:

19th Sunday after Trinity: Our Gospel reading for this Sunday is from the ninth chapter of St. Matthew’s account where our Lord begins the healing of a paralytic by first forgiving his sins. This draws disdain from some of the scribes who accuse Him of blasphemy, but He vindicates Himself by also healing the man, revealing to the crowd that He has the authority to do both as the God-Man. More than that, He shows Himself to be God in the way that He accomplishes His will: He speaks and what He speaks becomes reality. This is the way God has worked from the beginning and still works today for us.

The Holy Gospel according to St. Matthew, the ninth chapter:

Getting into a boat [Jesus] crossed over and came to his own city. And behold, some people brought to him a paralytic, lying on a bed. And when Jesus saw their faith, he said to the paralytic, “Take heart, my son; your sins are forgiven.” And behold, some of the scribes said to themselves, “This man is blaspheming.” But Jesus, knowing their thoughts, said, “Why do you think evil in your hearts? For which is easier, to say, ‘Your sins are forgiven,’ or to say, ‘Rise and walk’? But that you may know that the Son of Man has authority on earth to forgive sins”—he then said to the paralytic—“Rise, pick up your bed and go home.” And he rose and went home. When the crowds saw it, they were afraid, and they glorified God, who had given such authority to men.

Subscribe to our Sermons at St. Mark’s podcast!
How to Listen to a Sermon

Announcements:

*The website update is almost complete! As noted above, the sermon audio podcast is active once again. It will usually be uploaded on Sunday evenings, and included in the post on most Monday evenings.

*Pastor and his family will be set up for “Trunk or Treat” on Halloween and are hoping to get a spot at the Monster Mash on Main St. on Wednesday, October 28th as well. More details as we get closer, but come by and see us if you can!

*Advent is fast approaching with “soup suppers” at 6 PM and an evening service at 7 PM starting Wednesday, December 2nd. Come and share a warm meal with us and feed your soul with the Word of God!

This Week’s Sign

This resource is not intended to discourage anyone from gathering in person around God’s Word and Sacraments. Matthew 18:20 and Hebrews 10:25 make it clear that God’s Divine Service is meant to be experienced physically with other Christians. To that end we invite you to join us for our current offerings of fellowship, study, and worship, and to stay tuned for additional opportunities:

*Family Bible Study at 9:00 AM on Sundays: We continue in our study of Titus chapter two as we consider how it is that we are able to do any good works, what motivates or prompts us to do good works, and what are the good works that we are to do?

*Divine Service at 10:30 AM on Sundays: October 18th, 2026 is the 20th Sunday after Trinity. Our Gospel reading is Matthew 21:33-44.

If you’re not within driving distance of Ferndale CA, we encourage you to use the Church Locator at LCMS.org to find a church near you so you can gather in person with the communion of saints in your area.