Daily Devotions for St. Mark's Families
We grow into strong, healthy athletes when we exercise a little every day.
We grow into strong, healthy readers when we read a little every day.
We grow into strong, healthy Christians when we pray and talk about God a little every day.
This year, when we can’t gather in person for weekly worship and Sunday School, it is more important than EVER to develop daily practices to help build a strong, healthy spiritual life with our families at home!
To help you develop a daily faith practice for your family, St. Mark’s is offering a series of short daily videos (created with the help of many St. Mark's members, young and old) with stories and songs to help you grow spiritually strong with your family each and every day for the next several months.
We encourage you to intentionally set aside 5-10 minutes each day to view and discuss the daily video with your family. Pick a time that is realistic and sustainable for your family--breakfast, dinnertime, dessert-time, and bedtime are all good options! Grandparents , Godparents, and other Grownups--you could even share these videos with your grand/godchildren on a nightly bedtime Zoom!
Enjoy!
We grow into strong, healthy readers when we read a little every day.
We grow into strong, healthy Christians when we pray and talk about God a little every day.
This year, when we can’t gather in person for weekly worship and Sunday School, it is more important than EVER to develop daily practices to help build a strong, healthy spiritual life with our families at home!
To help you develop a daily faith practice for your family, St. Mark’s is offering a series of short daily videos (created with the help of many St. Mark's members, young and old) with stories and songs to help you grow spiritually strong with your family each and every day for the next several months.
We encourage you to intentionally set aside 5-10 minutes each day to view and discuss the daily video with your family. Pick a time that is realistic and sustainable for your family--breakfast, dinnertime, dessert-time, and bedtime are all good options! Grandparents , Godparents, and other Grownups--you could even share these videos with your grand/godchildren on a nightly bedtime Zoom!
Enjoy!
Part 1 Bible Stories for the Fall (Old Testament + the Birth of Jesus)
From “Children of God Storybook Bible” (COG), by Archbishop Desmond Tutu
Read by St. Mark’s Youth
Enjoy a short daily video with St. Mark’s youth reading aloud from the Children of God Storybook Bible,
then link to the complete biblical text for more in depth study as desired.
Read by St. Mark’s Youth
Enjoy a short daily video with St. Mark’s youth reading aloud from the Children of God Storybook Bible,
then link to the complete biblical text for more in depth study as desired.
11/1 ALL SAINTS DAY: The Creation, Genesis 1 (COG 8)
11/2 Adam and Eve, Genesis 2 (COG 12)
11/3 Leaving the Garden, Genesis 3(COG 14)
11/4 Noah’s Ark, Genesis 6-9 (COG 16)
11/5 Abraham Trusts God, Genesis 15, 17 (COG 18)
11/6 Strange Visitors, Genesis 18 (COG 20)
11/7 A Wonderful Dream, Genesis 25, 27-28 (COG 22)
11/8 Joseph is Sold into Slavery, Genesis 37 (COG 24)
11/9 Joseph Feeds & Forgives, Genesis 41, 45 (COG 26)
11/10 Moses is Saved, Exodus 2 (COG 28)
11/11 The Voice from the Burning Bush, Exodus 3-4 (COG 30)
11/12 Let my People Go, Exodus 7-15 (COG 32)
11/13 The 10 Commandments, Exodus 20 (COG 36)
11/14 The Story of Ruth, Ruth 1-4 (COG 38)
11/15 Samuel in the Temple, 1 Samuel 3 (COG 40)
11/16 King David is Anointed, 1 Samuel 16 (COG 42)
11/17 David & Goliath, 1 Samuel 17 (COG 44)
11/18 King Solomon and the Queen of Sheba, 1 Kings 3, 10 (COG 46)
11/19 Naboth’s Vineyard, 1 Kings 21 (COG 48)
11/20 Esther Saves Her People, Esther 1-10 (COG 50)
11/21 Isaiah Becomes God’s Messenger, Isaiah 1, 6 (COG 52)
11/22 Jeremiah the boy Prophet, Jeremiah 1, 18 (COG 54)
11/23 God Saves Daniel, Daniel 6 (COG 56)
11/24 Jonah and the Big Fish, Jonah 1-4 (COG 58)
11/25 An Angel Appears to Mary & Jesus is Born, Luke 1-2 (COG 60, 62)
11/2 Adam and Eve, Genesis 2 (COG 12)
11/3 Leaving the Garden, Genesis 3(COG 14)
11/4 Noah’s Ark, Genesis 6-9 (COG 16)
11/5 Abraham Trusts God, Genesis 15, 17 (COG 18)
11/6 Strange Visitors, Genesis 18 (COG 20)
11/7 A Wonderful Dream, Genesis 25, 27-28 (COG 22)
11/8 Joseph is Sold into Slavery, Genesis 37 (COG 24)
11/9 Joseph Feeds & Forgives, Genesis 41, 45 (COG 26)
11/10 Moses is Saved, Exodus 2 (COG 28)
11/11 The Voice from the Burning Bush, Exodus 3-4 (COG 30)
11/12 Let my People Go, Exodus 7-15 (COG 32)
11/13 The 10 Commandments, Exodus 20 (COG 36)
11/14 The Story of Ruth, Ruth 1-4 (COG 38)
11/15 Samuel in the Temple, 1 Samuel 3 (COG 40)
11/16 King David is Anointed, 1 Samuel 16 (COG 42)
11/17 David & Goliath, 1 Samuel 17 (COG 44)
11/18 King Solomon and the Queen of Sheba, 1 Kings 3, 10 (COG 46)
11/19 Naboth’s Vineyard, 1 Kings 21 (COG 48)
11/20 Esther Saves Her People, Esther 1-10 (COG 50)
11/21 Isaiah Becomes God’s Messenger, Isaiah 1, 6 (COG 52)
11/22 Jeremiah the boy Prophet, Jeremiah 1, 18 (COG 54)
11/23 God Saves Daniel, Daniel 6 (COG 56)
11/24 Jonah and the Big Fish, Jonah 1-4 (COG 58)
11/25 An Angel Appears to Mary & Jesus is Born, Luke 1-2 (COG 60, 62)
Part 2 Stories of the Winter Saints (Advent through Epiphany)
From “Winter Saints”, by Melissa Musick Nussbaum and Judy Jarrett
Read by Mother Sylvia
Enjoy a short nightly story featuring one of the Winter Saints.
Note: Some very young children may find the stories of the saints somewhat frightening, as many saints experience danger and suffer violent deaths. If you are the parent of a very young child who is not quite ready for stories of saints, you might visit our Advent Storybook page for other nightly reading/devotional options to help you celebrate this season!
Read by Mother Sylvia
Enjoy a short nightly story featuring one of the Winter Saints.
Note: Some very young children may find the stories of the saints somewhat frightening, as many saints experience danger and suffer violent deaths. If you are the parent of a very young child who is not quite ready for stories of saints, you might visit our Advent Storybook page for other nightly reading/devotional options to help you celebrate this season!
11/26 Introduction: Creator of the Stars of Night
11/27 Introduction: Study War No More
11/28 Catherine Laboure
11/29 Dorothy Day
11/30 St. Andrew
12/1 Rosa Parks
12/2 Martyrs of El Salvador
12/3 Francis Xavier
12/4 Maruthas
12/5 Crispina
12/6 St. Nicholas
12/7 Ambrose
12/8 Anna & Joachim
12/9 Elijah
12/10 John the Baptizer
12/11 Franco
12/12 Juan Diego
12/13 Lucy
12/14 Hagar
12/15 Sarah
12/16 Woman of Zorah
12/17 Lazarus
12/18 Hannah
12/19 Elizabeth
12/20 Mary
12/21 Thomas
12/22 Dietrich Bonhoeffer
12/23 Wilfred
12/24 (CHRISTMAS EVE) Adam & Eve
12/25 (CHRISTMAS DAY) The Nativity
12/26 Stephen
12/27 St. John
12/28 The Holy Innocents
12/29 Thomas Becket
12/30 Naming our Days
12/31 Melania
1/1 Escape to Egypt
1/ 2 Basil & Gregory
1/3 Anna & Simeon
1/4 Elizabeth Ann Seton
1/5 Syncletia
1/6 Epiphany
1/7 Hymn 118: Brightest and Best
11/27 Introduction: Study War No More
11/28 Catherine Laboure
11/29 Dorothy Day
11/30 St. Andrew
12/1 Rosa Parks
12/2 Martyrs of El Salvador
12/3 Francis Xavier
12/4 Maruthas
12/5 Crispina
12/6 St. Nicholas
12/7 Ambrose
12/8 Anna & Joachim
12/9 Elijah
12/10 John the Baptizer
12/11 Franco
12/12 Juan Diego
12/13 Lucy
12/14 Hagar
12/15 Sarah
12/16 Woman of Zorah
12/17 Lazarus
12/18 Hannah
12/19 Elizabeth
12/20 Mary
12/21 Thomas
12/22 Dietrich Bonhoeffer
12/23 Wilfred
12/24 (CHRISTMAS EVE) Adam & Eve
12/25 (CHRISTMAS DAY) The Nativity
12/26 Stephen
12/27 St. John
12/28 The Holy Innocents
12/29 Thomas Becket
12/30 Naming our Days
12/31 Melania
1/1 Escape to Egypt
1/ 2 Basil & Gregory
1/3 Anna & Simeon
1/4 Elizabeth Ann Seton
1/5 Syncletia
1/6 Epiphany
1/7 Hymn 118: Brightest and Best
Part 3 Bible Stories (New Testament)
From “Children of God Storybook Bible” (COG), by Archbishop Desmond Tutu
Read by St. Mark’s Youth
Enjoy a short daily video with St. Mark’s youth reading aloud from the Children of God Storybook Bible,
then link to the complete biblical text for more in depth study as desired.
Read by St. Mark’s Youth
Enjoy a short daily video with St. Mark’s youth reading aloud from the Children of God Storybook Bible,
then link to the complete biblical text for more in depth study as desired.
1/8 Epiphany, Matthew 2 (COG 64)
1/9 Christ in the Temple, Luke 2(COG 66)
1/10 Baptism of Jesus, Matthew 3 & Luke 3 (COG 68)
1/11 Jesus in the Desert, Matthew 4 (COG 70)
1/12 Wedding at Cana, John 2 (COG 72)
1/13 Jesus Goes Fishing, Luke 5 (COG 74)
1/14 Beatitudes, Luke 6 (COG 76)
1/15 Jesus Blesses Children, Mark 10 (COG 78)
1/16 Good Neighbor, Luke 10 (COG 80)
1/17 The Law of Love, Mark 12 (COG 82)
1/18 Disciples Learn to Pray, Luke 11(COG 84)
1/19 Lost Sheep, Luke 15 (COG 86)
1/20 Jesus Feeds the Crowd, John 6 (COG 88)
1/21 Jesus the Healer, Luke 5 (COG 90)
1/22 Jesus Restores Sight & Gives LIfe, Mark 5, 8 (COG 92)
1/23 Zacchaeus, Luke 19 (COG 94)
1/24 Loving Father & Son Who Came Home, Luke 15 (COG 96)
1/25 Jesus Calms the Storm, Luke 8 & Matthew 8 (COG 98)
1/26 Sharing God’s Plan, Matthew 25 (COG 100)
1/27 The Transfiguration, Matthew 17 (COG 102)
1/28 A Woman’s Love for Jesus, John 12 (COG 104)
1/29 Jesus Becomes a Servant, John 13 (COG 106)
1/30 Last Supper, Matthew 26 (COG 108)
2/1 Trial & Death of Jesus, Matthew 26-27 (COG 110)
2/2 Jesus is Alive, Luke 24 & John 20 (COG 112)
2/3 The Good News, Acts 1 (COG 114)
2/4 The Coming of the Holy Spirit, Acts 2 (COG 116)
2/5 The Disciples Spread the Good News, Acts 2-4 (COG 118)
2/6 Paul Follows Jesus, Acts 9 (COG 120)
2/7 The Promise of a New Earth, Revelation 21-22 (COG 122)
1/9 Christ in the Temple, Luke 2(COG 66)
1/10 Baptism of Jesus, Matthew 3 & Luke 3 (COG 68)
1/11 Jesus in the Desert, Matthew 4 (COG 70)
1/12 Wedding at Cana, John 2 (COG 72)
1/13 Jesus Goes Fishing, Luke 5 (COG 74)
1/14 Beatitudes, Luke 6 (COG 76)
1/15 Jesus Blesses Children, Mark 10 (COG 78)
1/16 Good Neighbor, Luke 10 (COG 80)
1/17 The Law of Love, Mark 12 (COG 82)
1/18 Disciples Learn to Pray, Luke 11(COG 84)
1/19 Lost Sheep, Luke 15 (COG 86)
1/20 Jesus Feeds the Crowd, John 6 (COG 88)
1/21 Jesus the Healer, Luke 5 (COG 90)
1/22 Jesus Restores Sight & Gives LIfe, Mark 5, 8 (COG 92)
1/23 Zacchaeus, Luke 19 (COG 94)
1/24 Loving Father & Son Who Came Home, Luke 15 (COG 96)
1/25 Jesus Calms the Storm, Luke 8 & Matthew 8 (COG 98)
1/26 Sharing God’s Plan, Matthew 25 (COG 100)
1/27 The Transfiguration, Matthew 17 (COG 102)
1/28 A Woman’s Love for Jesus, John 12 (COG 104)
1/29 Jesus Becomes a Servant, John 13 (COG 106)
1/30 Last Supper, Matthew 26 (COG 108)
2/1 Trial & Death of Jesus, Matthew 26-27 (COG 110)
2/2 Jesus is Alive, Luke 24 & John 20 (COG 112)
2/3 The Good News, Acts 1 (COG 114)
2/4 The Coming of the Holy Spirit, Acts 2 (COG 116)
2/5 The Disciples Spread the Good News, Acts 2-4 (COG 118)
2/6 Paul Follows Jesus, Acts 9 (COG 120)
2/7 The Promise of a New Earth, Revelation 21-22 (COG 122)
Part 4: Bible Stories for the 40 Days
In Lent, we invite people of all ages at St. Mark’s to take time to immerse themselves more deeply in these foundational stories of our salvation history by reading (or hearing or watching) a bible story each day.
Younger Children and Families: Click the Story Name after each date below to link to videos of St. Mark’s members telling/reading abridged versions of each bible story for children (most of these retellings come from: “Bible Stories for the 40 Days” by Melissa Musick Nussbaum, Illustrations by Judy Jarrett)
Older Youth & Adults: Click the Scripture Reference after each story name below to read the more complete story in the biblical text.
2/17 ASH WED: Creation (Genesis 2)
2/18 Adam & Eve in the Garden (Genesis 3)
2/19 Abel and Cain (Genesis 4: 1-16)
2/20 Noah’s Family (Genesis 6:11-9:19)
Full Week Lent 1
2/21 The Tower of Babel (Genesis 11:1-9)
2/22 God Calls Abram (Genesis 12, 15, 17)
2/23 Sarah Laughs (Genesis 18:1-15, 21:1-7)
2/24 The Binding of Isaac (Genesis 22:1-18)
2/25 Rebekah at the Well (Genesis 24)
2/26 Twins-Jacob & Esau (Genesis 25: 19-34)
2/27 Jacob Dreams of the Ladder of Angels (Genesis 28:10-22)
Full Week Lent 2
2/28 Leah and Rachel (Genesis 29:1-30)
3/1 The end of the many colored coat (Genesis 37)
3/2 Potiphar’s wife (Genesis 39)
3/3 Joseph and the Dreams (Genesis 40-41)
3/4 The Great Family Reunion (Genesis 42-43)
3/5 Three Women Save Baby Moses (Exodus 1-2:10)
3/6 The burning bush (Exodus 3)
Full Week Lent 3
3/7 Crossing the Red Sea (Exodus 7-15)
3/8 Quail in the Camp (Exodus 16)
3/9 Meeting God on Mt. Sinai (Exodus 19-20)
3/10 Deborah, Judge of Israel (Judges 4-5)
3/11 The Death of Samson (Judges 13-16)
3/12 Naomi and Ruth (Ruth)
3/13 Hannah Prays for a Child (1 Samuel 1:2–2:21)
Full Week Lent 4
3/14 The Anointing of Young David (1 Samuel 16)
3/15 A Child Brings Down a Giant (1 Samuel 17)
3/16 The Queen of Sheba Visits Solomon (1 Kings 10:1-13)
3/17 The WIdow’s Kindness (1 Kings 17)
3/18 Jonah in the Great Fish (Jonah)
3/19 Jeremiah in the Cistern (Jeremiah 38)
3/20 Valley of the Dry Bones (Ezekiel 37)
Full Week Lent 5
3/21 Job’s Troubles (Job 1-4)
3/22 Job’s Questions (Job 42)
3/23 The Fiery Furnace (Daniel 3)
3/24 Susanna’s Trial (Susannah )
3/25 Daniel in the Lion’s Den (Daniel 6)
3/26 Judith Saves her people (Judith 8-16)
3/27 Esther Saves her people (Esther)
Holy Week
3/28 PALM SUNDAY The Stones Would Shout! (Luke 19: 28-40)
3/29 A Woman Anoints Jesus for Burial (Matthew 26:6-13)
3/30 Jesus Washes Everyone’s Feet ( John 13: 1-17)
3/31 Judas Leaves (Matthew 26:17-30)
4/1 MAUNDY THURS Peter Gets Scared (Matthew 26:33-35, Mark 14:29-31, Luke 22:33-34 , John 18:15-27)
4/2 GOOD FRIDAY Storybook: Love on Another (John 18:1-19:42)
4/3 HOLY SATURDAY Storybook: Easter by Fiona French (Matthew 26-28, Mark 14-16, Luke 22-24:12)
4/4 EASTER DAY
Younger Children and Families: Click the Story Name after each date below to link to videos of St. Mark’s members telling/reading abridged versions of each bible story for children (most of these retellings come from: “Bible Stories for the 40 Days” by Melissa Musick Nussbaum, Illustrations by Judy Jarrett)
Older Youth & Adults: Click the Scripture Reference after each story name below to read the more complete story in the biblical text.
2/17 ASH WED: Creation (Genesis 2)
2/18 Adam & Eve in the Garden (Genesis 3)
2/19 Abel and Cain (Genesis 4: 1-16)
2/20 Noah’s Family (Genesis 6:11-9:19)
Full Week Lent 1
2/21 The Tower of Babel (Genesis 11:1-9)
2/22 God Calls Abram (Genesis 12, 15, 17)
2/23 Sarah Laughs (Genesis 18:1-15, 21:1-7)
2/24 The Binding of Isaac (Genesis 22:1-18)
2/25 Rebekah at the Well (Genesis 24)
2/26 Twins-Jacob & Esau (Genesis 25: 19-34)
2/27 Jacob Dreams of the Ladder of Angels (Genesis 28:10-22)
Full Week Lent 2
2/28 Leah and Rachel (Genesis 29:1-30)
3/1 The end of the many colored coat (Genesis 37)
3/2 Potiphar’s wife (Genesis 39)
3/3 Joseph and the Dreams (Genesis 40-41)
3/4 The Great Family Reunion (Genesis 42-43)
3/5 Three Women Save Baby Moses (Exodus 1-2:10)
3/6 The burning bush (Exodus 3)
Full Week Lent 3
3/7 Crossing the Red Sea (Exodus 7-15)
3/8 Quail in the Camp (Exodus 16)
3/9 Meeting God on Mt. Sinai (Exodus 19-20)
3/10 Deborah, Judge of Israel (Judges 4-5)
3/11 The Death of Samson (Judges 13-16)
3/12 Naomi and Ruth (Ruth)
3/13 Hannah Prays for a Child (1 Samuel 1:2–2:21)
Full Week Lent 4
3/14 The Anointing of Young David (1 Samuel 16)
3/15 A Child Brings Down a Giant (1 Samuel 17)
3/16 The Queen of Sheba Visits Solomon (1 Kings 10:1-13)
3/17 The WIdow’s Kindness (1 Kings 17)
3/18 Jonah in the Great Fish (Jonah)
3/19 Jeremiah in the Cistern (Jeremiah 38)
3/20 Valley of the Dry Bones (Ezekiel 37)
Full Week Lent 5
3/21 Job’s Troubles (Job 1-4)
3/22 Job’s Questions (Job 42)
3/23 The Fiery Furnace (Daniel 3)
3/24 Susanna’s Trial (Susannah )
3/25 Daniel in the Lion’s Den (Daniel 6)
3/26 Judith Saves her people (Judith 8-16)
3/27 Esther Saves her people (Esther)
Holy Week
3/28 PALM SUNDAY The Stones Would Shout! (Luke 19: 28-40)
3/29 A Woman Anoints Jesus for Burial (Matthew 26:6-13)
3/30 Jesus Washes Everyone’s Feet ( John 13: 1-17)
3/31 Judas Leaves (Matthew 26:17-30)
4/1 MAUNDY THURS Peter Gets Scared (Matthew 26:33-35, Mark 14:29-31, Luke 22:33-34 , John 18:15-27)
4/2 GOOD FRIDAY Storybook: Love on Another (John 18:1-19:42)
4/3 HOLY SATURDAY Storybook: Easter by Fiona French (Matthew 26-28, Mark 14-16, Luke 22-24:12)
4/4 EASTER DAY