Faith Journey
What is Faith Journey?
Faith Journey is a pathway to spiritual growth and renewal that is patterned after Christ's way of welcoming people into community. It takes its shape from one of the earliest forms of Christian faith formation that is known to many as the 
“catechumenate”. It includes an open-ended time of inquiry where your stories and questions set the framework for discussion, followed by times of Bible reflection, renewal, and discernment that link visitors at St. Mark’s with members of the congregation who also want to grow in faith and affirm their Christian calling. Overall, we spend about twelve weeks together.
Participants can choose to meet with a Wednesday group at 6:00 p.m. A simple meal is served starting at 12:15 p.m. A simple meal is served at both gatherings. Childcare is always available in the nursery, and activities for older children are offered on Wednesdays.
A Time to Share Faith Stories, Ask Questions and Get Acquainted
The first Faith Journey gatherings offer a time to get acquainted with others who are new to St. Mark’s and a time of inquiry where the questions you bring form the basis of our discussions. People who are new to the Christian faith or returning to faith find this to be a great starting point, as do life-long Christians who are coming from active membership in another church. The truth is, all of us live with unique life circumstances and questions of faith that we bring to God on a daily basis.
Of course, there may not be an easy answer to every question, but we will do our best to address them together in the light of our Christian faith and experience. In this way, we help each other grow in faith as we journey together.
A Time to Hear God’s Word Together
Following the time of inquiry, participants will be joined by members of our congregation who journey with them as “faith companions”. Each week, we will take time to hear the Word of God together and then reflect on how it is speaking to us today.
This is not a “new member class” or a series of lessons on what it means to be a Lutheran. It is an encounter with scripture and with other people who are seeking to know God more deeply. Another common name for this is “lectio divina” (holy reading).
Hearing scripture together in this way also deepens our appreciation for what it means to be a community in Christ.
A Time to Explore the Lutheran Way of Life
As we continue our journey together, we will take time to explore Lutheranism as a way of seeing, a way of hearing, a way of teaching, and a way of following. We often use a book by Dan Erlander called “Baptized We Live” or another by Don Johnson called “Praying the Catechism”.
Following this, all those who would like to join our congregation will be welcomed into membership through baptism or affirmation of baptism for those already baptized.
Then, the Faith Journey continues as we consider the unique vocation that each one of us has as a disciple of Jesus Christ.
A Time to Focus on Daily Discipleship
“A person’s vocation is where their deep joy meets the world’s deep need.”
Frederick Buechner
In the last stage of our journey, we will allow time for each person to reflect on his or her own unique calling to live and serve in the way of Christ.
Our goal at St. Mark’s is to engage every member in transformational ministry. By this, we mean ministry that connects us to God’s work of changing the world around us and opens us to be changed by God in the process.
As we consider how each one of us is being called to serve at this particular time in our life, the goal will be to connect our deep joy with the deep needs of others.
During this time, some of our congregational leaders will also share their own stories of how God is engaging them in ministry that matters.
If you have any questions about this Faith Journey, please contact Pastor Jan Ruud by phone at 253-752-4966 or by email at: jruud@smlutheran.org.