St. Mark's Episcopal Church

What are services like?
Our principal Sunday worship is the Eucharist, from the Greek word for thanksgiving. Also known as Holy Communion, the service allows us to express our thanks, week by week, for all of God's gifts, and to be changed more and more into Christ's likeness. Communion is absolutely open at St. Mark's. The altar is God's; it is not the possession of any institution or any individual. All people, without exception, are welcome to receive communion and to be nourished here. All who seek God in Christ's Body and Blood and desire communion with the Lord are welcome at the Lord's Table. There is room and an invitation for all. We believe that all ages can and should worship together. We welcome all children to receive Communion; the Episcopal Church does not require persons to be confirmed before they receive. Communion is a sacrament of inclusion. Children, especially, should not have the experience of being left out of the common meal. Parents may choose to bring very young infants forward for a blessing instead of Communion. Children are always welcome in worship and for those who wish, childcare is available at the 10:00 am service.

What is the community like?
St. Mark's is a Eucharistic Community trusting in and empowered by the Holy Spirit. We intend to worship together, to pray for one another, to share our lives with one another and to strive toward wholeness in body and spirit. We further intend to reach outside of ourselves to others as Christ's ministers and to give from what we have been given. St. Mark's is fully committed to realizing its philosophy of Celebrating God's Inclusive Love in every respect . In October 2004 we completed extensive renovations to Throw Open the Doors. This project not only created a more open and inviting worship and gathering space, but removed obstacles to those with physical disabilities who wish to participate in worship or answer a call to ministry.

What if I'm not a Christian?
There is no typical St. Marker. We each bring a unique story and background to the table, and our family is made of people from many backgrounds. When you step onto the church property you'll find a sign that says "these doors are now open to people of all faiths, or none." No matter what age we are, God empowers us to grow in grace. Through the years, God has blessed St. Mark's with a breadth of diversity and a growing commitment to inclusivity. All ages are active and involved in the life of the parish. Under the leadership of our Clergy, Wardens and Vestry, and with the gifts of many lay people of all ages, we have worked to develop many spiritual, educational and outreach programs. This year will hold a broad range of experiences and opportunities at St. Mark's for worship, prayer and spiritual growth, children, adults, service and outreach and involvement for people of all ages.