Celebrating 186 years of Service

Announcements and Celebrations

Celebrating Mother Sue York, this Sunday, at both Services and special Social Hours.

Please consider this sign up list for food, drinks, and volunteers. Please drop items off at St. Mark's on Saturday, August 3rd, from 10 am- 1pm. This helps our party setup team know what they need to get to add.

Financial contributions to her traditional gift "purse" are welcomed via any of the church payment methods, with memo line "Mother Sue." Thank you.

We'll have another special treat this Sunday, with beautiful altar flowers. They were given by Mother Sue and Roger York and Chuck and Becky Bocskey in honor of their 60th wedding anniversaries on August 22nd and 23rd. Isn't that a lovely coincidence?

Events

Jesus Christ Superstar

August 16 at 6:30 p.m.

August 17, 2:00 p.m. and 6:30 p.m.

Want to be inspired? Want to grow spiritually? You won’t want to miss Jesus Christ Superstar. This exciting production is by the VERY talented kids and adults of St. Andrew’s and St. Mark’s. There is no admission charge, but a freewill donation will be taken. Call Monique at 616-890-1164 for more information.

From Your Ministries

Do You Want to Stay “In the Know” with Vestry Activities? Great!

Vestry Person of the Day: Bring your questions or ideas to the Welcome Desk, to Dan McDonald or Brian Topolewski after the 8:00 a.m. Service, or Carmela McIntire after the 10:30 a.m. Service.

The Vestry also welcomes any parishioner to Vestry meetings that are held on the fourth Tuesday of each month (with the exception of July) at 6:30 p.m. Vestry Minutes from each previous month’s meetings are always posted on the bulletin board next to the main entrance.

Children's Formation in Summer: Four-year-olds through 4th graders will join their parents for the beginning of the service. Make sure to get a special activity bulletin on your way in! Following the Gospel reading, children are invited to exit the Sanctuary for a lectionary lesson in St. Mary's Chapel and game time in the garden (weather permitting) before returning to the Service for Eucharist. Children under four are welcome in nursery care, in the pews or soft-play area.

Downtown Food Pantry: We so appreciate all your contributions and urge you to continue helping if you can. The Downtown Food Pantry’s Director, Becky Stein-Wells, suffered a stroke earlier this summer and can use our help and prayers as she continues to recover. See below for the needed food items for the month, although all food items are appreciated and used! Just bring your cans or boxes to church with you and leave them by the basket just inside the Sanctuary doors. ~Outreach Ministry

Safety and Security Monthly Ministry Update

Tourniquets can help save lives, if done correctly: Find out! You never know when summer adventures may be interrupted by injury.

Is Education for Ministry (EfM) for You? EfM offers you a small, mentored group setting for college level study of our Christian tradition. EfM is for adults of any age, and no prior knowledge of scripture or theology is required. The four-year curriculum fosters spiritual growth through study, reflection, prayer and worship. It develops a theologically informed, reflective and articulate laity. Contact the church office or Doug Karsen for more information.

Church Finance Information

As we enter the summer months, we kindly ask for your continued support through pledges and offerings. Additionally, the financials are available for your review on the bulletin board. Thank you for your ongoing support of St. Mark's mission and ministry!

All staff, Vestry and volunteers in contact with vulnerable youth or adults must re-certify with Safe Church every 3 years. For the online, self-directed platform, reach out to Kate or Jeff for instructions.

Zoom opportunities for this training are forthcoming from the diocese.

Be the Help & Grow Our Community!

St. Mark's partners with Westminster's Downtown Food Pantry. Items needed for August are personal care items: shampoo, conditioner, deodorant, razors, toothpaste and brushes.

St. Mark's Volunteers:

St. Mark’s relies upon a significant volunteer effort to fulfill its mission – within the congregation and in the community. There is an online form to see volunteer opportunities you can fill out to alert staff and ministry leads. If you prefer a more personal option, do not hesitate to reach out to Mike or Kate, 616-456-1684. Thanks to all our ongoing volunteers!

New to St. Mark's? Welcome!

Sunday Services at 8:00 a.m. and at 10:30 a.m. (recorded live)

Healing Prayer during Holy Communion, near the piano in the South Transept

Mid-week Eucharist at noon on Wednesdays from September-May

St. Mark's Episcopal Church is a growing, welcoming, and affirming community of faith in a vibrant urban community. In our worship and in our service to the community, we proclaim that all people are worthy of God's love. We celebrate and uphold the dignity of all people whose ethnicity, cultural heritage, and denominational traditions are examples and celebrations of God's love. We welcome visitors and parishioners from all social, political, and educational backgrounds, and all abilities, sexual orientations, and gender identities. We affirm all people and celebrate diversity, as we work to fulfill God's love for all people as a community of faith.

Parking and Restrooms on Sundays

Please respect the handicap parking spaces at St. Mark’s, especially on Sundays. These are needed by many parishioners.

Consider the free metered parking on Pearl, Ionia, Lyon, Fountain and other streets near the church. The small Kendall College lot across Division from the church is available when the gate is open. Paid options include the upper and lower levels of the GRCC building on Fountain Street, and the Ellis Parking Lot at 210 Ionia just west of Lyon Street. For Sundays only, white validation tickets for the Ellis lot can be found from an usher or greeter.

Main floor restrooms are limited. The second floor has additional restrooms.

Sunday Children's Opportunities

During the 10:30 Service, in the Lower Level.

For more info and to volunteer, contact the church office.

Grand Rapids Episcopal Youth

For info on virtual and in-person youth group meetings as well as events and activities, contact Jeff Brown, Director of Youth Ministries at jeffatgrey@gmail.com