DO JUSTICE, LOVE KINDNESS AND
WALK HUMBLY WITH OUR GOD

Rev.Scott Opsahl Interim Pastor

Warm greetings to you and welcome to our website. There are many things that people look for in a church. Some are searching for a vibrant worship experience and strong Biblical preaching. Many want to make a difference by joining with other people of faith who are working for peace and justice in the world.  Some are looking for the safe and stimulating environment of a church family in which to raise their own family. Some simply desire to be a part of a warm, caring community where they are known and accepted for who they are. Others say that they need a stimulating intellectual environment where education in the faith is a lifelong opportunity and challenge.  If these are the characteristics of the church you are looking for, your search is over. Consider this your invitation to come and experience life at St. Mark’s. We will welcome you in our midst. And you will be glad you came.

Greetings from Scott

“There are many aspects of pastoral ministry that I truly love: creating and leading worship services, engaging the children with the stories of scripture, working with committees to  raise our vision of what the church can do, providing pastoral care during times of crisis, listening to people’s life-stories, and sharing our questions as we struggle to make meaning out of life. I am pleased that the Session has invited me to be your interim pastor and I am excited to be your companion as together we navigate the waters between “called” pastors. I welcome the opportunity to talk with each of you about your experience of St. Mark’s and your hopes and dreams for your life together. So please don’t hesitate to drop by the church to introduce yourself once I arrive or call and make an appointment so we arrange a time to get better acquainted. I love meeting new people!”

Scott's Biography

The early spiritual influences of my life came through a Disciples of Christ congregation our family attended when I was a child. It was there that I was baptized and nurtured in the Christian faith, but it was during my college years while attending University Presbyterian Church in Seattle that both my head and my heart found a spiritual home. After having become an active member of that congregation I was encouraged by the pastoral staff to consider going into the ministry. At the same time, and independent of their suggestions, I was beginning to feel an inner sense of call. Attending seminary seemed like a good first step to see if this call would be confirmed. It was while attending Princeton Theological Seminary and being engaged in the practice of ministry during an internship that my call to ministry was confirmed.

I was ordained by Seattle Presbytery in 1976 and served two different churches in North Puget Sound Presbytery. One was in a college community. The other was in a small town that was gradually becoming a suburb of Seattle. In the first church I learned the value of our connectional system. In the second church my gift for teaching was evoked.

In order to become a better teacher I enrolled in a Th.M. program at Columbia Theological Seminary in Decatur, Georgia so that I could study with Walter Brueggemann. Those rich years were followed by an eleven year pastorate in Dover, NJ, located within the New York City metropolitan area. During that time I was an active member of Newton Presbytery serving on the Committee on Ministry for eight and a half years.

In 2003 I felt led to return to the West coast. Without a call in hand I began a journey of faith, trusting that God was not only leading me away from something but also leading me to something. After relocating I fell into an interim position. It was a congregation with unique challenges but I found my gifts and experience had prepared me for this kind of work. In fact, I found the work very gratifying. At the end of that interim I came to the conclusion that God had called me to this congregation specifically during their time of transition. My next interim position further confirmed this new direction in ministry. Ten years ago I would not have imagined that I would become an interim pastor, but today I believe it is where God has called me to serve and where I feel I am best able to use my gifts for ministry. Thanks be to God!

You may read my Statement of Faith by clicking the link:  Statement_of_Faith.pdf

First Sunday of Lent is Blue Sunday! Bring a Friend!

February 26, 2012, 11:00 a.m., with Lisa Otey, piano and vocals; Diane Van Deurzen, vocalist; Hurricane Carla, tenor sax and vocals; also featuring: John Snavely, Calrinet; Mike Smith, drums and the Celtic Choir.

St. Mark’s is a More Light Congregation Welcoming ALL God’s Children

St. Mark’s is a More Light church whose session (governing board) has adopted a policy of welcoming all people -- including lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender persons -- into full participation and membership.  This includes the right to serve as ordained officers if called by God and elected by the congregation.  St. Mark’s is part of a network of More Light congregations in the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) who are working for full glbt inclusion and leadership throughout the denomination.  St. Mark's is the only More Light congregation in Tucson.

For more information: www.MLP.org.