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St Mark Lutheran Church |
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I was glad when they said to me, ‘Let us go to the house of the Lord" |
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What We Believe |
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Vicar John Rutz and his wife Julie with their children |
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Our Pastor and our Vicar |
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Pastor John Telloni Vacancy Pastor |
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The congregation of St Mark is served by Pastor John Telloni and Vicar John Rutz. Pastor Telloni serves St John in Massillon, Ohio and St Mark as the Vacancy Pastor. Vicar John Rutz serves both congregations, but primarily serves St Mark under the care of Pastor Telloni. Pastor John has been serving the church for 30 years, 20 of which have been at St John, Massillon. Vicar John comes to St Mark from Concordia Theological Seminary, Fort Wayne, Indiana. |
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We believe that the Bible is God's inspired word, and it is the source and guide for our values and for our understanding of who we are, where we fit, and what our purpose is in life. It is the Bible, God's Word, that helps us understand our need for forgiveness and salvation from the bonds of our sinfulness. It is in the Bible that we learn of God's only-begotten Son, Jesus Christ, who says that "God wants all to be saved." Yet, we also believe, teach and confess that the only path to eternal life (heaven) is through faith in Jesus as our Savior, who lived, died and on Easter rose from the dead to earn forgiveness and life for us. It is the Holy Spirit who gives us faith, and enables us to believe and to be heirs of eternal life. It is that same Holy Spirit who challenges us and enables us to live as saved children of God. Our Christian actions, which flow out of recognition of God's love for us in Jesus, in no way help us merit God's love or blessing, but are faith-response to God's love for us. |