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Dear Friends,

One of the things that I cherish about our sacred scriptures is that they tell us stories of how God uses flawed, ordinary and unexpected people to accomplish amazing things. One of these folks is a man named Moses. He was a man with a difficult past. He was a man who lacked confidence when it came to fulfilling the purpose God had for his life. He was a man who had valid concerns when it came to his physical abilities.

Yet, despite it all, God still chose to use Moses and gave him everything he needed to accomplish the seemingly impossible. On Sunday morning, I plan to share what I feel was the greatest gift God gave Moses and gives to us as well. It is a gift that when used properly can change the course of human history today just as it did thousands of years ago.

I look forward to sharing more with you in worship.

In Peace and Gratitude,

Luke

Dear Friends,

This week in worship we will be looking at my favorite scripture passage in the entire Bible: The Walk to Emmaus. In this story, two of the disciples discover a better understanding of what Jesus’s life, death and resurrection meant for them and for the world through a very unexpected source.

So why is this story my favorite? Join us on Sunday and find out!

In Hope and Joy,

Luke

Dear Friends,

I want to thank our church staff and volunteers for putting together a wonderful outdoor service on Easter Morning. The music was moving, the flowers were beautiful, the food was delicious and hope was in the air. It was truly a team effort and many folks were working behind the scenes to make our time together special and meaningful. 

As we prepare to gather together again this Sunday, we will be looking at a story which takes place soon after Jesus’s resurrection. It is a story many of us are familiar with and a story where one of the disciples earns a nickname. That nickname is “Doubting Thomas.”

Often, Thomas gets a lot of flak from us in the church because of his doubt. But what if doubt isn’t always a bad thing? What if asking for what we need from God in order to believe is sometimes a good thing? Perhaps avoiding our doubt isn’t the answer to a deeper faith. Maybe, just maybe, it is HOW we use our doubt that makes all the difference…

I look forward to exploring this idea more with you in worship on Sunday morning. 

In Peace and Hope,

Luke

Dear MTUMC Friends,

My family and I are so thankful to be in ministry with you here at Mt.

Tam Church. We are also very excited to spend our first (of what we

hope will be many) Easters here in Marin among the amazing people

who make up this community of faith.

While the much-needed rain this week has been an answer to our prayers, I was also hoping that the storm system would pass before Sunday morning so we can continue to have our Easter Service outside.

I am happy to see that the latest weather report predicts that the rain will stop on Saturday and we should have a beautiful sunny Sunday morning to celebrate the resurrection together. Since our Easter service will be outdoors, please remember to dress in layers and also bring a hat or sun shade if you need one.

We are inviting you and your guests to bring a camping chair,

blanket or other seat that you find comfortable for an outdoor

setting. That being said, we will also have folding chairs available for anyone who needs one. In addition to music from our choir and a guest orchestra, we will also have goodie bags for the kiddos and the famous “Bubble Man” will be providing the entertainment during fellowship time. It promises to be a wonderful day together!

In Faith, Hope and Love,

Pastor Luke Ham

Dear Friends,

This Sunday kicks off Holy Week: The seven days leading up to Easter. It is my joy and privilege to let you know that we will start this time with a Palm Sunday worship service featuring the gifts and talents of some of our youth.

It promises to be a Sunday celebration that you won’t want to miss! As many of you long-time members know, Palm Sunday and Easter Sunday are times when we welcome many new visitors to our worship celebration.

In addition to newcomers, I am hoping that these services will also bring back some of the familiar faces that we haven’t seen since the start of the pandemic. As we prepare to welcome new visitors and old friends, I would invite you to consider signing up for one of our usher or fellowship-host slots. You can do so through the sign-up genius links that is found in the announcement section below.

Even if you cannot sign up for an ushering or fellowship slot, there is still something that you can do…. PRAY! I invite you to pray that those who visit our church for the first time will recognize the love God has for them and that we have for them.

I invite you to pray that those who are returning after

a long absence may feel welcomed back with open arms and smiling faces.

I invite you to pray that we might all fully recognize and appreciate the grace we have through our savior, Jesus the Christ. In addition to Palm Sunday and Easter Sunday, we will also have an in-person Maundy Thursday service and an online Good Friday experience.

You can find out more info about those services in the announcement section below.

Wishing you a happy and healthy weekend and I hope to see you soon!

In Peace

Luke

Dear Friends,

I hope this message finds you well. As we journey further into Spring, I am noticing that the days are growing longer, more folks are out jogging, young people are having baseball/softball practice in the green fields after school and there seems to be a renewed energy in the air. It is my hope that you are sensing this energy and are beginning to feel revitalized during this time as well.

As we prepare for another Sunday of worship together, we will be looking at a text from the Bible that reminds us of the importance of cherishing the important milestones and changes that occur in our lives. The text also serves as a sacred reminder to not take a single day we get with our loved ones here on this beautiful (and fragile) planet for granted.

If you will be joining worship via the online live-stream this week, please note that we will be celebrating the Sacrament of Communion together. Please have juice and bread ready at home if you would like to participate. I am also happy to bring communion to you during the week if you desire (just shoot me an email and we can set something up).

Have a great weekend and I hope to see you soon!

In Peace,

Luke