Red Lion Weekly

St. Mark's Episcopal Church

An inclusive fellowship called by God, through Christ, to love and serve the world.

Dates for your Calendar

• Sun., Oct. 12--The Rt. Rev. Ruth Woodliff-Stanley will preach and celebrate at the 11 a.m. service and receive two people into the Episcopal Church. The 9 a.m. service will be Morning Prayer. We'll also acknowledge and give thanks for St. Mark's 10th anniversary of becoming a parish.
• Sun., Oct. 19--Parish Picnic following one service at 10 a.m.
• Sun., Nov. 2--All Saints Day and first services with the Rev. Jenny Newman
• Nov. 6-8--235th annual Diocesan Convention at Christ Episcopal Church in Mount Pleasant. Registration deadline is Oct. 7. (see article below)

ANIMAL BLESSING - THANK YOU!

What an amazing Sunday afternoon we had for the Blessing of the Animals. Thank you to everyone who came out and enjoyed an afternoon of fellowship and fun! Special thanks to our beloved pet whisperer Rev. Pam and to Glenda Lee Nutting and Jane Forsythe for putting it all together. We are already looking forward to next year.

Fall Parish Picnic

Join us on Sunday, October 19, following the 10:00 AM service, for our annual Fall Picnic. Please bring a dish to share as we enjoy fellowship together.

If you would like to assist with set-up or clean-up, please contact Jane Frederick at jane@f-farchitects.com or call/text 843-441-2030.

An invitation to walk this Sacred Ground together

Issues around race have shaped our country from its very beginnings to the present day—and few of us learned in school the full extent of how and why. 

Sacred Ground can help. 

The 11-session, film- and readings-based course is a foundational part of Becoming Beloved Community, the national Episcopal Church’s long-term commitment to racial healing, reconciliation and justice. Meeting in small groups, Sacred Ground participants are invited to walk, together, through America’s often fraught history of race and racism and the ways in which it has affected their own lives. Reflecting on the course, one St. Mark’s graduate had this to say: “It is one of the most informative experiences I’ve ever had—it has changed the way I see the world around me.”

Sacred Ground will again be offered by our parish each week from January through March, with both Wednesday morning and early Tuesday evening sessions available if enrollment is sufficient. To learn more, go to https://www.episcopalchurch.org/sacred-ground.

An informational pre-session will be held in the church on the

dates and times below:

Sunday, Oct. 19, 11:15 a.m.

Tuesday, Oct. 21, 5:30p.m.

Learning Day in Sumter

All are invited to the next Racial Justice & Reconciliation Commission Learning Day sponsored by the Episcopal Diocese of SC on Sat., Oct. 18, from 10 am to 2:30 pm. The event will explore the history of the Episcopal Church of the Good Shepherd in Sumter. Attendees will learn how the church started in a historic high school, later became its own parish, and navigated social and cultural challenges throughout history.

Due to the expected number of attendees, the event will be held at Trinity United Methodist at 226 W. Liberty St. in Sumter, where lunch and parking will also be provided.The day will conclude with a Eucharist service at Good Shepherd at 401 Dingle St. in Sumter.

Cost is $20 and is open to ALL. Click HERE to register.

Richard Rohr Book Club

Coming this fall, RJ Gaines hopes to facilitate a monthly book club that will explore the writings of Fr. Richard Rohr. We will begin with “Falling Upward” and proceed from there. The goal will be to delve into and discuss the more mystical side of Christianity that is so exceptionally communicated by Richard Rohr. The format will be informal and slow-paced.

Keep an eye out for a survey in the coming weeks to gauge interest, best times to meet, and preferred locations.

Watch your mailbox for a letter from Bill and Susan Grimes, leaders of the Pledge Drive for 2026. The pledge card and return envelope will also be included. You can either mail your pledge card or place it in the offering plate on Sundays in October. The drive ends on Nov. 9.

Read a copy of the letter HERE.

We ask your prayers for Mary Bryan, Connie Skok, Judy Parichy, Bonnie Connolly, Molly Wolford, Linda Jones, Tom Tull, Patty Crower, Patrick Numier and Sarah Nutting, Lisa Westbrook, Ann Saunders, Duane and Jane Twenge, Bob Margolies, Mack Thompson, Kym Mac Kenzie, Kathlyn Gray, Jim Sweeney, Joe Dawsey, Tim Quade, John and Margaret Hidell, Mark Kube and Kevin.



Please pray also for friends of St. Mark’s parishioners: Sandy Click, Paula Settles, Dan Snook, Chrissy Miller, Rhonda Adams, Jenna McKenna, and Nadija Peterson (our St Mark’s scholarship recipient).

ONLINE GIVING

It's easy and convenient to keep up with your pledge online.

Just click the red box below and follow the prompts.

SUNDAY SCHEDULE

Holy Communion Sundays at 9 and 11 a.m.

(Livestreamed at www.stmarksportroyal.org)

Children's Sunday School and nursery for age 3 and under in St. Mark's Center during the 11 a.m. service.

Hope and Healing service on Wednesdays at noon.

Click the Red Lion to visit

St. Mark's webpage

Parish Office

843 379-1020

Office Hours

Tues., Wed., Thurs. 9 a.m.-2 p.m.