Your Support Means the World to Us!

Rector's Discretionary Fund

The Rector's Discretionary Account provides confidential assistance to individuals and families in our parish and community facing unexpected hardship. Your generous donation helps meet urgent needs such as food, housing, utilities, transportation, and medical expenses. Every first Sunday of the month, the loose plate offering goes to the Rector's Discretionary Fund along with other donations during the month. Please consider contributing to this important ministry of compassion and care.

Donate here

TWM Immigration Support Ministry

Early in the morning almost every day in our city, under cover of darkness, parents are

being abducted. Families are left without their husbands/dads/wage earners, in shock

and desperate. Alone, they now have huge legal bills and rent to pay. In response to

this injustice, St. Mark’s now has a designated fund to help! Donations go directly to the

Immigrant Support team at Together West Michigan, and then right to the families we

support. Go to our church website, Click on Giving, and choose the Immigrant

Support Ministry. Or just click HERE. Or scan this QR Code.

Immigration Support Ministry QR Code

Announcements and Celebrations

Newsletter and Bulletin Deadline Reminder

Don't miss the deadline! Got something to share? We want to hear it! Please submit all announcements, articles, and information for the e-news and bulletin by Wednesdays at Noon. This helps us make sure everything is included and ready to go for Friday. Thank you for helping us keep our communications running smoothly!

Kate Assarian Leave Notice

Our Administrative Associate Kate is on temporary medical leave, so she can participate in cardiac rehab and rebuild strength from the onset of autoimmune disorders

(POTS, HEDS). She sends her best wishes. In her absence, please welcome our temporary Administrative Associate, Collette "CoCo" Compton. Her phone number and email will be the same as Kate's officeadmin@stmarksgr.org. You can also contact our Finance Manager, Pam Stevenson pams@stmarksgr.org or you can call her on her direct phone 616-404-4592.

Fall Calendar Dates!

Together West Michigan

is preparing the October 10 Candidates’ Accountability session. Candidates from City, County, State and Federal government will be there—as well as the Grand Rapids Police Department. They will not be there to give campaign speeches—they will be there to answer Yes or No to a commitment to work towards our goals.

Outreach needs your help! Gender neutral clothing needed. The Outreach ministry would like to thank St. Marker's for their generous clothing donations for our unhoused guests at Breakfast Cafe. In order to better serve our guests, we ask that such clothing be gender neutral items such as: Jean, t-shirts, sweatshirts, sweatpants, tennis shoes, and coats. We also appreciate donations of new socks and underwear. Items can be place in the basket in the north transept.

Take a shot at health on Sunday morning

Outreach and Corewell Health Vaccine Clinic will be at St. Mark's to administer Flu & Covid vaccines on October 17 during breakfast cafe for our unhoused neighbors. Vaccinations will be available at church during social hour on October 18 for any parishioner who needs a Flu or Covid vaccine.

Downtown Food Pantry

St. Mark’s partners with the Downtown Food Pantry to help supply needed food to neighbors in the downtown area. For the month of October boxes of cereal would be much appreciated, although all gifts will be gratefully received. Each item you donate makes somebody’s life a little easier.

Announcements from Director of Faith Formation, Jeff Brown

Sunday Youth Group Meetups-Return October 4 (6th-12th)

Youth group will return on the 1st and 3rd Sundays this fall, beginning October 4. We will move our meetups to 4-6 pm. More information to come.

Diocesan Virtual Youth Group-3rd Wednesdays Beginning October 21 (6th-12th) 

Virtual Youth Group first launched during the pandemic, when we could not meet in person. We are pleased to announce it will return this fall, as a way to keep our youth from around this diocese, and beyond, connected throughout the year. These meetups will take place via Zoom on the third Wednesday of the month from 6 to 8 p.m., from October through May. Participation is open to 6th-12th grade students and their mentors in the current school year.

During our time together, we will explore Storymakers NYC’s Relationships: Teen Zine Vol. 4, which invites teens to explore the diversity of relationships—with God, themselves, family, besties, neighbors, or strangers across the globe. Teens will walk through the Ten Commandments, exploring how these rules apply to our relationships with God and other people, showing humans the best way to love one another, because relationships are where true meaning is found.

Participants will each receive their own zine from the diocese, but should register by October 1 in order to have it prior to our first meetup. That said, we welcome youth to join as they are able, at any time in the program year, and will get their zine to them as soon as we can.

There will also be time for sharing, devotions, games, and Compline. We hope you can join us! Please register here.

Disciples & Dragons-1st Wednesdays Beginning November 4 (3rd-12th) 

Disciples & Dragons will return on the 1st Wednesday of the month, beginning in November, and will run from 6-8 pm on Zoom. You can find registration and more information here. 

Save the Date:

Charge: November 6-8, Traverse City (6th-12th)

Dinner & Movie Night: December 18 (6th-12th)

Capital Campaign Updates and new Matching Gift!



Thank you so much to those of you who have made gifts or pledges to the capital campaign. As you may remember, Kate Pew Wolters has offered a very generous matching gift to support the work of St. Mark’s. If we raise $250,000 through new or additional gifts, she will match every dollar with her own $250,000 gift. That would be a total of $500,000 towards the campaign.

Thanks to much prayer, hard work and generous response from the congregation.

Please prayerfully consider a new or additional gift, and make it today, as our capital campaign continues. Remember that you can make a one-time gift; a multi-year pledge; a gift of stocks, securities or real estate; or a gift from your retirement account as part of your required minimum distribution. You can obtain materials from the church office or request a conversation with any of the committee members to learn more.  Your gift will help us reach the goal and secure these vital funds for the future of our congregation and our work in the community. 

You can donate here at the link below.

Sacred Ground

Note from your Dismantling Racism Ministry....St. Mark's Sacred Ground discussion group is being rescheduled to begin in 2027. Stay tuned for further information!

From the Life of the Church

Any photos you'd like shared can be sent to pams@stmarksgr.org.

Save the Date

190th Celebration

Parish Dinner

at Kent Country Club on the early evening of October 11! Invitations have been mailed.

If you did not receive an invite, please grab a copy at the welcome desk.

Last day to RSVP is Monday,

October 5th!

Music Ministry Update

Dr. Gary Gordon, Director of Music

garyg@stmarksgr.org – cell: 214-629-8926

It has been a very busy Summer as we prepare for the 2026-2027 season of worship and relaunch our Sacred Sounds concert series. I’m very grateful for how welcome everyone has made me feel at St. Mark’s and for the many introductions to folks here in Michigan. Thank you!

ADULT CHOIR AUDITIONS

Make an appointment with me for a brief audition (singing a few notes, reading an unknown hymn) and conversation. All voice parts are welcome to join. However, we especially need Tenors! Prior choir experience and music reading skills are preferred but not required; only a willingness to sing in a group and share a positive attitude.

HAND BELL AUDITIONS

We want to grow our hand bell ensemble this coming year, and I invite anyone interested to contact me. This ensemble typically rehearses bi-weekly and performs seasonally.

CHILDREN/YOUTH MUSIC

Do you know a child that loves to sing and play instruments? Make a Joyful Noise will resume this September with Dr. Gary. Sundays from 9:15-9:35 If your child sings in a school choir, plays an instrument in band, or taking private lessons, I want to provide performance opportunities during our worship services. A big reason why I’m a music teacher today is because of the mentoring and opportunities I received at church. So, please take advantage of this great opportunity to grow musically as we grow in faith.

Episcopal 101

An Inquirer's Journey is offered yearly for adults especially those seeking Confirmation Reception into the Episcopal Church or to Reaffirm one's faith. Sign up at the Welcome Desk to join the next class. It will meet at 12:30 p.m. in the Chapel, starting October 18th. This is a great way to deepen your faith and friendships here at St. Mark's.

Contemplative Prayer Group will be having their first kickoff meeting at St. Mark's - Thursday October 1st at 6 p.m. Please mark your calendars! Our next meetings will be Nov. 5th & Dec. 3rd. We will be meeting on the first Thursday evening at 6 p.m. each month to spend time in the practice together. All are welcome whether this is your first time trying contemplative prayer or you have been engaging in contemplative prayer for years. If you are interested in joining, please email Christina DeKoekKoek or reach out to Christina so we can get a rough head count.

Signs and Grace: Adult Formation discussion 9:30 am in the Parish Hall 

We come to worship every Sunday. Every Sunday after the Scripture lessons, sermon, the creed, and prayers, all are invited to the Lord’s table. On some days, the Easter Vigil, Pentecost, and All Saints we celebrate baptism.

The following three Sundays, we will explore why the church practices the rituals called Baptism and Eucharist. “Signs and Grace: An Introduction to the Sacraments” is a video-based resource produced by the Episcopal Church. Each session begins with a 20-minute video presentation followed by 20 minutes of discussion.

If you are a life-long Episcopalian or new to the church, “Signs and Grace” is for you. Come and join the conversation about the Sacraments, the acts that bring us together and closer to God. 

Safe Church Training

As part of our baptismal vow to respect the dignity of every human being, The Episcopal Church and our diocese requires all clergy, paid staff, vestry members, and anyone working or volunteering with children, youth, or vulnerable adults to complete Safe Church, Safe Communities certification.

If you serve in any of these leadership or ministry roles, your certification must be renewed every three years.

This training has been updated this year and is on our diocesan communication and networking platform Circle. You will be prompted to create an account once you follow the link below. You can take it at your own pace and it saves your progress.

Find the training at this link:

https://greatlakesepiscopal.circle.so/c/parish-resource-library/safe-church-safe-communities-training

Once you've completed the training, you will receive an email with your certificate of completion, which will come from this email address:

The Episcopal Diocese of the Great Lakes

Please forward that email to officeadmin@stmarksgr.org and jeffb@stmarksgr.org, so we can keep it on file.

Even if someone has taken the same or a similar training through another church, diocese, or their workplace, they still need to take this training from our diocese. 

In addition, individuals in some roles have varying degrees of background check requirements. If you are in a position where one is required, we will follow up individually. 

All requirements should be completed by October 15, 2026. 

Children & Youth Offerings

Children’s and Youth Formation Returns September 20

Make A Joyful Noise will return October 4, with Dr. Gary Gordon, from 9:15-9:35 a.m..

Sunday School

9:35 a.m.-10:15 a.m.: Classes remain in the upper level of the Parish House as construction continues. Also, as Sunday School will run concurrent with Adult Formation at 9:30 each week, students may start gathering upstairs as early as 9:20 the first two weeks of the program year, 9/20 and 9/27.

K-2nd Grade: These ages will explore Whirl, a lectionary-based curriculum from Sparkhouse, which includes take home leaflets and a video. This curriculum is designed to teach kids how the Bible is relevant to their lives 

3rd-5th Grade:These ages will spend time with Spark, a lectionary-based curriculum also from Sparkhouse, with lessons that connect kids with Bible stories heard in worship.

6th-8th and 9th-12th Grade, meeting separately: We will explore Mini Revolutions, a lectionary-based curriculum from Illustrated Ministry with discussion, reflection, and activities that allow them to connect more deeply with scripture and see how it can be lived out in their lives. Youth classes will transition to a confirmation-focused curriculum in the new year, with the option for those in grades 8th and above to be confirmed in a May confirmation service. 

Celebrate Jesus

After the Gospel reading, children of all ages are invited to join us for Celebrate Jesus, a lesson and activity time in St. Mary's Chapel during the 10:30 service. We'll return to the sanctuary during The Peace.

Sign up here for Formation registration!

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 616-456-1684. Thanks to all our ongoing volunteers!

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.

Sunday parking options are free metered parking on Pearl, Ionia, Lyon, Fountain and other streets near the church, the Kendall Lot across Division Ave, the upper levels of the GRCC ramp off Fountain Street (only until 2 p.m.), and (with validation from ushers) the Ellis lot just west of Lyon at 210 Ionia. On weekdays, staff will park offsite and have some validation slips day-of for GRCC lots.

The two restrooms on the main floor are in the process of being renovated. However, we have a beautiful new restroom where the cloakroom used to be!



For now, this is a single occupancy, All Gender Restroom without a lock, requiring that you knock loudly before entering. Additional restrooms are located down the stairs next to the front desk.

Please stay behind the yellow construction tape and accompany children when using these facilites.

Weather policy reminder- if the church will be closed for Sunday services, the decision will be made by 7 am and posted shortly thereafter on Wood TV8, WZZM 13, our Facebook and the website. Please prioritize your wellbeing, especially if you're one of our faith families in the harder-hit lakeshore areas, who drives a significant distance to attend, or who has limited mobility even when it isn't icy. You can always livestream a service or pray from home, and even the once-a-year Annual Meeting isn't worth truly risking your safety.

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