St. Mark's Episcopal Church
A Community of Grace
We spread God's word,
love like Jesus,
enjoy worshipping together,
and help our neighbors.
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Sunday, February 23, 2025, Holy Eucharist Service at 8 & 10 AM
The service can be viewed live or on demand via the church's website, Facebook page, and YouTube channel.
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Lectio Divina: In Person Bible Study, Tuesday Mornings - UPDATE
There will be no Bible Study this Tuesday, Feb 25. The Lectio Divina conversation on Bishop Budde's book will be moved to March 4.
Join us for an in-person Lectio Divina Bible study, in Room 16 from 9:00
to 10:30AM. Lectio is a contemplative method of reading the Bible. We will listen to
an upcoming Sunday gospel lesson three times from different versions of the Bible
and respond to a reflection question after each reading. Our time includes
introductions, check-in, a break, and open discussion.
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Nan Peete's 40th Anniversary of Ordination
Rev. Canon Nan Arrington Peete, who served as a curate at St. Mark's, just celebrated the 40th anniversary of her ordination to the priesthood which actually occurred at St. Mark's like Robbin Clark's.
Shelby Forrest once said that she had convinced him to change his vote about a state initiative regarding housing that had civil rights implications.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nan_Peete
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Long-Term Renter at St. Mark's
I am happy to announce that we have acquired a long-term renter in Home Core Athletics. Their business provides physical education classes for school-age children who are being home-schooled. They will be using the Drew Soccer Field and the south end of our lower parking lot for a few hours each week. If you happen to drive through the parking lot on a weekday and see children playing, wave to them and make them feel welcome.
Carol Morgan, Venue Rental Coordinator
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"How We Learn to Be Brave" by Bishop Budde, Mar 4
Join us on Tuesday, March 4, 2025, from 9 to 10:30 AM in Room 16
We will use the method of Lectio Divina to guide our book discussion. Our process includes listening to the text, one another, and God in a three-stage conversation prompted by questions that bring us to a deeper and deeper revelation where text intersects with our own experiences. And consider joining us every Tuesday, from 9-10:30 AM, as we use Lectio Divina to explore the upcoming gospel text for Sunday. Read More Here.
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Coloring the Alleluias for Epiphany
Add color to an Alleluia during Epiphany. Please color an alleluia as a mediative practice during the service, hospitality hour, in the car, or at home. Our goal is 490! The wonderful number of times Jesus told Peter to forgive those who sinned against him, 70 times 7. Then bring your Alleluia back to church before Sunday, March 2, the last Sunday before the beginning of Lent. The Sunday School will lead the liturgy of the Burying of the Alleluias to mark the practice of refraining from Alleluias during Lent. Then at Easter, they will bring them back with a burst of joy.
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Men's Breakfast Potluck, March 8
The Men's potluck breakfast will be March 8 in the Parish Hall at 8AM. Bring your favorite dish. Not required to attend. A sign-up sheet can be located in the Parish Hall or see Dale Biggs.
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New Member Classes
Interested in becoming a church member? What to find out how to get connected? Do you have questions about Episcopal spirituality? Join the conversation on the second and fourth Sundays at 9AM: Mar 9 & 23.
We meet at 9am in the back conference room aka the Mason Webber Library located in the north office building through the doors by the presider chairs. All are welcome.
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St. Mark's Book Club, Mar 15
St. Mark's Book Club's next selection is Ta-Nahisi Coates' "The Water Dancer." We will meet in Sharon Muehlbacher's home on March 15th.
Coates is best known as a writer of essays and non-fiction books while also a contributor to The Black Panther comic series. Here, he ventures into speculative fiction that merges the genres of slave narrative, fantasy tale and quest adventure.
One reviewer writes that, "In prose that sings and imagination that soars," Coates tackles "one of America's oldest and darkest periods with grace and inventiveness."
Please contact Maggie Vizio at: bookclub@stmarks-upland.org
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Collecting Palms for Ashes
Palm fronds and woven crosses from past years’ Palm Sundays will be collected. They will be burned and the ashes used for the “Imposition of Ashes,” when the sign of the cross is made on a person’s forehead during the Ash Wednesday service on March 5.
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Men's Coffee Fellowship - Wednesdays, 10:30AM
Meet at Starbucks located at the Colonies Crossroads, 1943 N Campus Ave, Unit D, Upland, 91784. For info, contact John Flasher.
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Attention Knitters and Crocheters
If you wish to be of service to St. Mark's and the wider community, the Fiber Arts Guild makes prayer shawls and men's lap robes for those who are sick or facing difficult situations. We also make baby blankets for those celebrating an addition to their family. For More Information...
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Children & Youth Ministries | |
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Children's Chapel
Children from the ages 3-10 are welcome to attend the children’s chapel at the fount of the church on the south side. We begin at 9:50 AM with sign-in, and lessons begin at 10 AM. Your child will join you for communion.
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Youth Group News
Saint Mark’s youth group is open to all young people in 6th grade and up and meets every first and third Sunday of the month in Room 18 after the 10:00 AM service. We are reflecting on various aspects of Christ’s teaching and working on our skit to explain how best to use the trash, recycling, and composting receptacles during the coffee hours and special events. Please join us.
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Haiti Partnership Update
Thanks to your support of the Haiti Partnership, especially at the end of 2024, we were able to send a second check this year for $3000 to our partners at St. Andre, Trianon, for teacher salaries. Our last check covered the end of the salaries in arrears for last school year and this check will cover payroll for approximately the first three months of the current school year, September, October, November 2024. We owe much gratitude to the teachers who have continued to teach despite the back pay that is owed to them, and we commit to trying help our partners get up-to-date after a long five years of never quite catching up! It is your generosity that has made this possible. The school families at St. Andre are, as you know, primarily subsistence farmers, and they are still unable to get their crops to what used to be the large central markets in Port-au-Prince, so money is in very short supply in Trianon. This is the story all over rural Haiti -- schools are open and children are learning because of dedicated teachers, partners who support to the best of their ability, and a lot of prayers.
Photos of teachers from 2023:
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Blood Drive, March 20
Thursday, March 20, 1-7PM, Parish Hall. The Red Cross will be testing potential blood donors A1c. Please visit RedCrossBlood.org to schedule an appointment.
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Helping Hands Hot Meal Ministry
Can you provide a meal for a parish member? You don't need to be a gourmet chef - just a person with compassion. You can cook or call UberEATS. Please contact Jennifer Stone at helpinghands@stmarks-upland.org
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Fulfilling a directive from The Episcopal Church’s General Convention, the church’s corporate organization has fully divested from fossil fuel investments.
Proposed by the Executive Council Committee on Corporate Social Responsibility (CCSR) and approved by the 81st General Convention in June, Resolution A029 calls for the Domestic and Foreign Missionary Society (DFMS) “to divest fully and finally from all companies in fossil fuel industries by December 31, 2024,” and to reinvest those assets.
“As chair of CCSR, I am grateful that our church has followed through on this commitment to the care of God’s creation—this Earth we all share,” said Sarah Lawton, committee chair. “In all our work, CCSR will continue to consider our investments in terms of our deeply held values as a church. We encourage other church bodies with investments to do so as well.”
Read more in the Public Affairs press release and an Episcopal News Service article.
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Sustainable Communion Cups: Epiphany Experiment
This Epiphany we will be experimenting with sustainable communion cups for the Eucharistic wine. These will still be personal cups of wine that will be distributed via the communion cup trays held by the Eucharistic ministers at the altar. However, these cups are made of food-grade quality stainless steel and are lead and BPA free instead of plastic and can be reused. Please be aware of lipstick when drinking from the reusable communion cup.
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God is Love, Let Heaven Adore Him | |
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Love Divine, All Loves Excelling | |
Deanery 6, Diocese and Beyond | |
Deanery 6 Lenten Series and Quiet Day | |
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2025 Estimate of Giving aka Pledge: Counting Blessings
Many thanks to the 63 individuals and households who registered their pledges for 2025. We have about 140 individuals and households on record. Please prayerfully consider how God has blessed your life and complete a 2025 pledge card. Your gracious contribution helps us as a community fund people like the rector, office administrator, bookkeeper, and music directors. They also keep the church buildings and grounds maintained and operational. It is not too late to make your pledge; and you may adjust your estimate of giving when circumstances change. Your 2025 pledge is greatly appreciated. Thank you.
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Donating from IRA Accounts
Required minimum distributions (RMD) are the least amounts of money you must withdraw from your traditional IRA account each year, once you reach a certain age. If you make a qualified charitable contribution directly to St. Mark's for some or all of the RMD, that amount will not be taxed. Your financial advisor or IRA customer service can provide additional details on how to make this type of donation to St. Mark's.
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Thank you for your generous gift.
No matter how, how much, or how often you give,
you make a difference. Your contribution is appreciated.
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St. Mark's Episcopal Church
A Community of Grace
330 East 16th Street, Upland, CA 91784
(909) 920-5565
stmarks-upland.org
For Venue Rental contact Carol at venuerental@stmarks-upland.org
Office Hours: Monday–Thursday 10 AM to 3 PM (closed12:30-1 PM); Friday Closed
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PLEASE NOTE:
The deadline for article submissions is every Tuesday and must be emailed to
parishadmin@stmarks-upland.org.
Please make sure to include “Good News" in the subject line.
Do not submit article requests via Constant Contact.
Good News articles will be published every Thursday afternoon
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