Two New Beginnings This Sunday!

Sunday School moves to the new time of 9:15, between our two Services. We're very excited for the new offering "Make a Joyful Noise with Mr. Alex." Nursery care for children under kindergarten is available 9:15 through the end of the 10:30 Service.

New Episcopal 101 Class

All are still welcome to join this group. Participants will meet in the Chapel for about an hour at 12:30 pm in the Chapel on Sundays, January 12 through March 2. It's a great way to deepen both your faith and friendships here at St. Mark’s (as you'll read below in the Vestry candidate bios!).

From the Life of the Church

Any photos you'd like shared with the congregation can be emailed to Kate (or send her a Google Photos shared album invite or Drive link).

Announcements & Celebrations

2025 Vestry Candidates

We have 4 upcoming Vestry vacancies and are excited to announce these candidates up for election at the Annual Meeting: Steve Bell, Scot Gugle, Rex Miller and Michael Reale! Thank you to each of them for accepting the invitation to serve.

Notice of Bylaws Amendment

In December, the Vestry voted unanimously to amend the bylaws relating to Vestry terms. This is to notify the congregation in writing before the amendments take effect. Printed copies of the revisions are also available at the information desk.

Sacred Site Visits with Kaufman Interfaith Institute

Have you ever wanted a respectful way to visit diverse worship communities in GR?

Learn more and RSVP here.

Ongoing Adult Formation

Old Testament Video Study, Sundays at 9:15 am

Love God, Love God’s World, Wednesdays at 7 pm - Jan. 22, Feb. 5 and 19

We meet in person at the church to discuss creation care and our obligations to it. The gathering starts with snacks, then discussion of readings and short videos. Contact Rich Hiskes, hiskesr@gvsu.edu, for free access to all materials online.  

Annual Meeting, Jan. 26 at noon

Join us in the Sanctuary to share important updates in the life of our Church and ask any questions. Refreshments will be provided beforehand in the Social Hall.

Glimpse Ahead to 2025

March 4 Shrove Tuesday (Save the date for Mardi Gras dinner and Pancake Race!)

March 5 Ash Wednesday

April 20 Easter Sunday

From Your Safety Ministry

Is your phone set up for emergency alerts?

Register here at Ready.gov for national alerts and here for City of Grand Rapids alerts.

St. Mark's will soon have our own text alert system. Watch for sign ups.

Happy New Year! ~ Safety and Security Ministry

Together West Michigan

It has been a big year even though we didn't get everything we wanted. Thank you all for your support and interest this year.

Call from the Dismantling Racism Ministry

How do you fit in to our important, creative, fulfilling work?

Any way that suits you. Be a leader or a member of the team. Dream big. Choose books. Imagine a seminar. Direct a play. Plan a trip. MAKE A

DIFFERENCE! Read the full letter here. Contact any DRM member for details - Kate can connect you if you aren't sure how.

Campus Ministry Returns Jan. 15

Every Wednesday 11-1

Students continue to be fed at St. Mark's, in more ways than one. Are you interested in hosting a lunch, volunteering, or serving as a point of contact for this program? Please email Laura Kozminski. Program partner is United Campus Christian Fellowship, a partnership ministry program supported by local Presbyterian, Lutheran, Methodist and Christian Reform congregations.

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

Vestry Person of the Day: Bring your questions or ideas to the Vestry representative at the Welcome Desk, after the 8:00 a.m. and 10:30 a.m. services. 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.

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.

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.

St. Mark's partners with Westminster's Downtown Food Pantry. Items needed for January are pancake mix, syrup, canned fruit, boxed rice mixes.

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!

Clothing Donations: The Outreach Ministry welcomes donations of belts, jeans, shirts and sweatshirts, coats, socks and warm weather items, to be given out to our unhoused neighbors at Breakfast Café. There is a basket in the coat room for these.

Downtown Food Pantry: Just bring your cans or boxes to church with you and leave them by the basket just inside the Sanctuary doors. ~Outreach Ministry

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.

St. Mark's Episcopal Church

134 N. Division Avenue

Grand Rapids, MI 49503

616-456-1684

https://www.stmarksgr.org

https://www.facebook.com/stmarksgr/

officeadmin@stmarksgr.org

Background image credit: Angel Pattern Vectors by Vecteezy