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Dear Mt. Tam Church,

This Sunday at 10:30 am, we gather for worship on an especially meaningful day in the church year: Baptism of the Lord Sunday. As we remember Jesus’ baptism in the Jordan River, we will also take time to remember and celebrate our own baptisms.

Baptism is not only something that happened to us once in the past. It is something that continues to shape who we are and how we live. Through baptism, we are named and claimed by God, and we are joined to a community far bigger than ourselves. Baptism connects us across time and geography to people we may never meet, yet whom we call siblings in Christ.

During worship, we will share a moment of recognition and remembrance for all who are baptized, along with a special blessing and gift for those who were baptized here at Mt. Tam Church. It will be a sacred opportunity to give thanks for the grace that continues to hold us and send us into the world.

Because baptism binds us together as one body, it also calls us to carry one another in prayer. This week, we are especially mindful of our siblings in Minneapolis, where recent violence and loss of life have caused deep pain and fear. Bound together by the same baptismal waters, we pray for justice, truth, transparency, and peace to prevail. We hold close all who are grieving, searching for answers, and longing for healing, trusting that God’s presence remains near.

I hope you will join us for this meaningful Sunday of worship, reflection, and renewal. Come as you are and be reminded that you belong to something wider, deeper, and more hopeful than you might imagine.

Take care,

Pastor Luke

Friends,

This Saturday holds two somber moments in the life of our community. At 1:00 pm, friends of James McCray are invited to gather in the sanctuary as we give thanks for his life and lift up his loved ones in prayer in the wake of his passing.

Later that same day, at 4:00 pm, all are invited to gather in the sanctuary for our annual Longest Night Service. This gentle and contemplative service is for those who are carrying grief, weariness, or quiet sorrow during the holidays. If this season feels heavy, this service is for you.

On Sunday morning at 10:30 am, we will gather for worship on the Fourth Sunday of Advent. Our centering theme for the day comes from the Apostle John who wrote that “Perfect love drives out fear.” Together we will light the candles of Hope, Peace, Joy, and Love, reminding one another that God’s love is the strongest force in the entire universe.

Whether you come carrying joy or worry, or something in between, you are welcome here. This season is not about having it all together. It is about showing up, lighting candles in the darkness and trusting that love still has the final word.

I hope to see you this weekend.

Take care,

Pastor Luke

Dear Friends,

I hope this week has brought you moments to breathe, to notice the lights going up around town, and to feel the promise of this Advent season settling into your spirit. I also hope that you will be able to join us this weekend for one of our most joy-filled worship services of the year which features our annual Children’s Christmas Pageant.

Our kids have been practicing, imagining, laughing and learning the story of Jesus’ birth in their own wonderfully creative way. Every year, they remind us that the good news first came through the voices of the young, the overlooked and the unexpected. Their telling of the story becomes a gift of joy we get to receive together.

After the pageant, we will turn to Mary’s song from Luke’s first chapter, where her voice rises with courage and hope. In a world that felt uncertain, she sang of God’s mercy stretching from generation to generation. On this Sunday of Joy, her song invites us to trust that even in our own unsettled times, God is still at work, still lifting up, still bringing light.

I look forward to seeing you this Sunday as our children lead us into the heart of this season. Come ready to smile. Come ready to sing. Come ready to let joy find you.

Take Care,

Pastor Luke

Dear Friends,

I hope this week finds you well as we move closer to Thanksgiving.

This Sunday at 10:30am, I invite you to join us for worship at Mt. Tam Church as we celebrate Reign of Christ Sunday. This is the final Sunday of the liturgical year, a day when we pause and remember that our deepest identity and truest allegiance are found not in power, politics, or possessions but in the way of Jesus. We will reflect together on the humility, compassion, and grace of Christ and how that shapes the way we are called to live, love, and respond to our world.

As part of our annual tradition during this Thanksgiving season, Sunday’s offering will be shared with the SF Marin Food Bank, supporting their ongoing work of providing food and dignity to neighbors across our region. This includes our partnership with them in distributing food here at the church every Tuesday morning. Your generosity helps ensure that no one around us goes hungry, especially during the holidays when the need is often greater.

Whether you have been part of the church community for years or you have just begun exploring faith with us, you are welcome.

See you soon,

Pastor Luke

Dear Mt. Tam Church,

This Sunday at 10:30am, we gather for a very special morning of worship. Not only will we reflect on the well-known story of Zacchaeus from the Gospel of Luke, but we will also dedicate our 2026 plans for giving as an act of faith, gratitude and commitment to God’s work through our church.

My sermon this week is titled “What is Your Why?” Together, we will explore what Scripture says about the why of giving. Using Zacchaeus as our guide, we will consider how generosity is an especially powerful response to God’s grace.

I look forward to sharing more with you on Sunday!

See you soon,

Pastor Luke

Dear Mt. Tam Church, This Sunday at 10:30am, I hope you’ll join us in person or online for a sacred and meaningful day of worship together. We will observe All Saints Sunday, a time when we remember and give thanks for the lives of those who have gone before us. You are invited to bring a photo of a loved one you would like to honor. These pictures will be placed on the altar as a visible reminder that we are surrounded by a great cloud of witnesses. We will also share in Holy Communion, a celebration of Christ’s presence among us and the gift of grace that connects us across time and space. After worship, at 12:00pm, we will hold our Annual Church Conference. This is an important gathering in the life of our church family. It is a time to reflect, give thanks, attend to some business and look ahead. Everyone is invited and welcomed to share their voice. It will be a full and meaningful Sunday. I hope to see you there! Take care, Pastor Luke . P.S. Don’t forget that this is “fall back” Sunday. Be sure to set your clocks back one hour on Saturday night and enjoy a little extra rest before worship.