Good News for June 7, 2026

St. Mark’s Youth for Christ meet at 11:30 am – 12:30 pm in Room 18, and on the first Sunday of every month through June. Young people in grades 6-12 are invited to join us as we support each other in our Christian journeys and serve our church community and beyond.

Community & Fellowship

Season of Creation: Creating Cover Art and Stations of Creation

Join us on Sunday for a conversation about creating cover art and a Stations of Creation for the Season of Creation, Sept 1 to Oct 4.

Stations of Creation (Via Creationis - The Way of Creation)

INTRODUCTION TO THE “VIA CREATIONIS”

WHAT: Similar to how the Via Crucis commemorates the mystery of the Passion, the Via Creationis commemorates the mystery of Creation. It does so by reading side by side the two sacred books that God wrote: liber scripturae and liber naturae, the Book of Scripture and the Book of Nature, as St. Augustine and other saints have taught throughout history. By reading both books together we gain a richer appreciation of the great mystery of God’s creation of the cosmos. (continue reading...)

Julia Warren Ordination, June 13

Click image to enlarge

Book Club, June 20

June Selection is HAMNET: A NOVEL OF THE PLAGUE by Maggie O'Farrell. We will meet on June 20 in Rosemary Wesley's home from 10am-12noon.

HAMNET, set in 1580 Stratford-upon-Avon, England, tells the story of Agnes, an extraordinary, eccentric woman, married to a young man whose career on the London stage is just taking off when their beloved son dies of a sudden fever. It has been called "Moving...timeless...ever-relevant." (NPR) and "Magnificent and...gorgeously written." (The Boston Globe)

Congratulations Class of 2026, June 21

Collecting Graduate Announcements. The June 21 edition of The Good News will acknowledge graduates of all ages, types, and levels: preschool, elementary, middle school, high school, community college, trade school, college, grad school, and more. Honors and awards welcome and may be edited for space. Forms can be located in the Narthex or email attached form directly to Rose at parishadmin@stmarks-upland.org by June 14. If we may we post your graduate’s image to the church’s electronic newsletter, social media, and the electronic marquee on 16th Street, then please email your image to the parish admin.

Honoring Fathers, June 21

Celebrate Fathers this Father’s Day. Forms can be located in the Narthex or email attached form directly to Rose at parishadmin@stmarks-upland.org. Names of your dedications will appear in the June 21 Sunday bulletin. Submit names by June 14.

Blessings of Milestones

We look forward to marking important moments in the lives of our children, youth, and young people with prayer and blessing. Please let us know when your child earns their driver’s license, graduates from High School, or prepares to enter the work force, go to college or military.

Celebrating the New Bishop Diocesan the Rt. Rev. Antonio Gallardo L.

For more information: click here.

Consecration at All Saints Pasadena, Saturday, July 11, 10AM

Canon Serena Beeks, Carol Morgan, Sylvia Ostuka are our three lay representatives.

The event will be live-streamed. And there is a watch party for the Deanery at Holy Trinity Covina.

Walk for Love and Truth & Seating/Installation, Sunday, July 12

All are welcome. The installation will start with a walk for Love and Truth at 2 p.m. from St. Paul’s Commons to St. John’s Cathedral, followed by an Evensong at the Cathedral at 4 p.m. Sunday Evensong will be a ticketed event that will also be live-streamed.

Deanery 6 Reception at St. Paul’s Pomona, Saturday, August 1, 11AM

All are welcome to attend the Deanery 6 reception for the bishop on Saturday, Aug 1, from 11AM to 2PM, at St. Paul's Church in Pomona. To plan for food, please RSVP below:

https://www.eventbrite.com/e/deanery-6-reception-for-new-bishop-antonio-gallardo-tickets-1988574210996?aff=oddtdtcreator

Learn American Sign Language (ASL)

Join us this summer to learn American Sign Language with Sylvia Otsuka.

This is a basic introduction to the language. No prior experience is needed. Learn the alphabet, greetings, and how to introduce yourself. Simple church related words and phrases will be included and can be used during your next church service. All ages are welcome, but children 12 years old or younger require an adult present.

Classes will be held on Sundays at 9:00 AM, from June 14th through August 2nd in room 16. Use of a device and internet at home will be helpful to practice between classes, but is not required.

Sylvia has a degree in Sign Language Interpreting, is a certified Educational Sign Language Interpreter and a credentialed American Sign Language teacher.

To register:

See the sign up sheet in the narthex
Or use the registration link: https://forms.gle/8ubLR2ViHPhATxu6A
Or Use the QR code below

Pre-Planning Your Memorial Service

Many thanks to our Memorials Coordinator, Kathy Osterkamp, and to our Memorials Coordinator Assistants: Kimberly Cortner, Cheryl Hunley, and E.B. Stapp.

If you are interested in pre-planning your memorial service—selecting scripture readings, hymns, and prayers—please contact any member of the Memorials Team. They can help explain the options available and guide you through decisions that will make it easier for your loved ones to plan a service reflecting your hopes and wishes.

The Memorials Coordinator serves as the main point of contact for questions and concerns, shares information with clergy, staff, and volunteers, directs families to the appropriate ministers, and communicates current policies and pricing.

Newcomers/Inquirers Class, Third Sundays, Webber Mason Library

Learn about St. Mark's, the Episcopal Church, and one another. No question is off-limits or insignificant. Questions about confirmation and reception welcome. Newcomers and the curious welcome. Meet by the presider chairs in the sanctuary. Third Sundays following the 10AM service. For more information contact the clergy or church office. All welcome.

Tuesday Bible Study, 9AM, Tuesday Mornings

Join us for an in-person Lectio Divina Bible study, on Tuesday mornings 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. Join us in room 16. All welcome.

Men's Coffee Fellowship - Wednesdays, 10:30AM

Meet at Starbucks located at 1202 East 20th Street, Suite A, Upland, 91784. For info, contact John Flasher.

Worship

Bringing Up the Bread and Wine

To deepen intergenerational participation, we are inviting children and their families to bring the bread and wine to the altar on behalf of the community.

During Sunday School, children are prepared for participation in the liturgy and carrying the bread to the altar. They will be accompanied by a parent or guardian - perhaps carrying the wine.
We are switching to a bread basket for the procession to ease any parental concerns and anxiety. The traditional patens will already be at the altar.
Ushers will prepare the oblation bearers in the narthex for the offertory procession.

If no child is available, ushers will invite another person to serve in this role.

Centering Prayer Group: Wednesdays, 7-8PM

Join us for Centering Prayer on Wednesday from 7 to 8PM in the Children's Chapel to the left of the altar. We start with a brief check-in and introductions. We review the process. We have 20 minutes for a quiet sit. Repeat the opportunity to share reflections and ask questions. After needed announcements, all is finished. All are welcome.

Prayer Requests

Please send your prayer requests to prayer@stmarks-upland.org.

Outreach

Grief and Loss Support Group, June 18

The Grief and Loss Support Group meets every other Thursday from 11:00 AM – noon in the Weber-Mason Library, located at the west end of the front office complex. The group will be an informal meeting of any who have suffered major loss. The goal of the group is to provide a safe place to be heard and to listen as participants express the feelings that come with loss. Participants will learn strategies for growing through grief and have a chance to make new friends who understand. Participants are encouraged to bring something to write on and write with. Drop-ins are welcome. For meeting dates and more information, email juniorwarden@stmarks-upland.org.

Fiber Arts Guild/Dress-A-Girl, 2nd Wednesday of each month

If you sew by hand or machine, can use scissors or an iron, knit or crochet, join us Wednesday morning, June 10th, at 10am in room 18 just off the parish hall for our workshop. We will be making very simple shift style dresses for underprivileged girls around the world. We have completed 13 dresses. We look forward to making many more. We will also be creating prayer shawls, lap robes, and baby blankets for anyone that asks or needs one.

We received a wonderful and generous donation of beautiful fabric and 2 dress from Sola.

We have completed 13 dresses. We look forward to making many more.

All are welcome.

Creation Care

Pill Bottle Donations

Matthew 25: Ministries accepts donations of clean, empty, recapped, label and residue-free plastic pill bottles for inclusion in shipments of medical supplies. Our pill bottle program fulfills the dual needs of improving medical care in developing countries and caring for our environment.

Acceptable donations include:

Prescription and Over-the-Counter Pill Bottles

Large and Small Pill Bottles (single-person/family sized)

Pill Bottles with and without Secure Caps (Child-Resistant)

How to prepare pill bottle donations for shipments of medical supplies:

1) Sort bottles by color and type

2) Remove labels, leaving no glue or residue

3) Wash bottles and lids in very hot water and dish soap

4) Rinse and dry thoroughly

5) Replace lids on clean, dried bottles

6) Bring to St Mark’s and place in bin on the Creation Care Ministry table

Episcopalchurch.org/creation

Deanery 6, Diocese and Beyond

Finance & Stewardship

Important Reminder to All Who Give to St. Mark’s

It is very important that you indicate whether your gift is to go to the Operating Fund, Building Fund, or a particular temporary restricted fund. If you have forgotten to do this, please review your most recent quarterly statement of giving and/or your Breeze account to be sure that your donations have been assigned to the correct accounts. The counters who enter your donations into the Breeze system do not have access to the information regarding your pledge and cannot therefore guess what you meant to do.

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.