Prayer Service for Social Justice,

A Vigil with Nicolas Fletcher

Come this Tuesday, Feb. 17, Noon: 


Members and community, come to St. Mark's to support our brother Nicolas in a vigil of prayer for justice and equality before the law.

As many of you know, Nicolas was pulled over in his own driveway this January, then assaulted by members of the Grand Rapids Police Department and charged with a felony. We will be praying with and for Nicolas here at St. Mark's.

At 1:30 p.m. those who desire to will accompany him a few blocks to the County Courthouse to stand in solidarity with him during his preliminary hearing. Those who prefer to remain at the church may continue to pray that God’s justice is done for Nicolas - and for all who face over-policing and racial and socio-economic discrimination in our city.

Lunch will be provided to sustain participants through the service and hearing (and until Shrove Tuesday celebrations that evening).

Announcements and Celebrations

Preaching this Sunday - Rev. Laurie Kenyon Woods, Director of Campus Ministries for our partner United Campus Christian Fellowship! Pictured is her installation service last weekend. We are grateful for her sharing her wisdom.

Lenten Preview

Shrove Tuesday Celebration!

Feb. 17, 5:30 p.m. – 7:15 p.m. 

5:30   

• Jambalaya, mac n' cheese & hush puppy dinner (vegan options) + paczki / king cake / festive desserts brought by the congregation!
• Brief intro to the United Thanks Offering (UTO)

6:30     

• All-ages Pancake Race for the honor of The Golden Skillet

7 pm      

• Burning of the palms, 'burying of the Alleluias', distribution of ashes

Ash Wednesday Services, Feb. 18, Noon and 7 pm.



Lenten Devotionals to Ground Your Season: Pick up a hard copy at the Welcome Desk - or for the online version, follow this link. 

Lenten Adult Formation

Wednesday nights, 6–8 pm, beginning on February 25



It will be a simple soup and bread supper, followed by a time of learning and discussion guided by Being Disciples: Essentials of the Christian Life by Rowan Williams, former Archbishop of Canterbury. The sessions will be led by Fr. Jed Fox, Laura Kozminski, and Christina DeKoekKoek.

“Discipleship,” says Rowan Williams in this companion to his best-selling Being Christian, “is a state of being. Discipleship is about how we live; not just the decisions we make, not just the things we believe, but a state of being.” The book has six succinct chapters: Being Disciples; Faith, Hope, and Love; Forgiveness, Holiness, Faith in Society and Life in the Spirit. In his typically gentle, inviting, pastoral writing style, Williams offers biblically grounded wisdom for Christians at all stages of their journeys as disciples of Jesus.

Sign up Sunday for a book at the Welcome Desk.

Two Diocesan Online Formation Opportunities for Lent

Learn more and register: greatlakesepiscopal.org/lentenstudies 

Bearing Witness is a five-week video study from the American Friends of the Episcopal Diocese of Jerusalem. Together we’ll hear the stories of Palestinian Christians and encounter the faithful witness of the church in the Holy Land. Beginning the week of February 23, Mondays 6 – 8 p.m. or Thursdays 9:30–11:30 a.m.

Being Mortal Book Club is a five-week book study on Atul Gawande’s transformative exploration of aging, mortality, and what life makes worth living. This study invites the kind of conversations that change how we show up for people in their most vulnerable moments. Weekly online meetings beginning Tuesday, February 24, from 1 to 2 p.m.

Give Something Up, Give Something Away: Our Outreach Ministry presents a collection drive throughout Lent for the Downtown Food Pantry. Pick up a calendar of suggested daily items to make it a fun family activity. Digital copy is available at this link. Items can be dropped off any Sunday.

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).

“Melt the ICE” Concert Brings West Michigan Together to Support Families Impacted by I.C.E.

Sunday, Feb. 15, 2 PM at Fountain Street Church

Admission: $25 suggested donation with the choice to pay it forward. Buy tickets here.

Feeding America Food Truck, Feb. 26, 4 – 6 pm: To volunteer to serve our partner school families at the Gerald R. Ford Academic Center, contact Scot, s.gugle@comcast.net. 

Together West Michigan (TWM) Discussion,

March 15 after Sunday Services

and March 16 at 5:30 pm

What are our priorities for city development and use of public tax money? Who benefits and who decides? Learn more here.

Click this link for a short and informative video trailer, made by TWM, including our member Javier as a speaker.  

Meals Ministry: When you're cooking dinner, please consider making a double recipe and putting one in the freezer. Then, when you hear somebody is sick, or just home from the hospital, it would be so easy to drop it off at their house. It doesn't have to be anything fancy – but it would mean so much. If you would be willing to do this once or twice a year, please email nancy.mulder@gmail.com.

Community Center Opportunities

As a member of Partners in Ministry, St. Mark's is committed to recruiting volunteers to use their gifts to provide hospitality, meals, activities and companionship. Please use the attached form to register for shifts, individually or with a group. A background check and 30 minute training are required. Signing up for a regular time helps build relationships.

We are also committed to contributing supplies that are needed by the guests.

Here is a link to an Amazon wish list. 

Children & Youth Offerings

Make a Joyful Noise with Mr. Alex is at 9:15–9:35 a.m. in the Choir Room. Sunday School for ages 5 and up is 9:35-10:15 a.m. on the 3rd level. Nursery ages are invited to the Sanctuary soft space. For grades 6-12, Grand Rapids Episcopal Youth (G.R.E.Y.) is a joint youth ministry between St. Mark’s and St. Andrew’s Episcopal Churches. We meet on afternoons for formation gatherings, service opportunities and social activities. Contact Jeff Brown, Director of Faith Formation, jeffb@stmarksgr.org.

Safety and Security Ministry Monthly Topic

From your Safety Ministry - Please click the link for some quick tips on how you up safety for you and loved ones. Happy 2026.

Clothing Donations and Volunteers: Requested winter items are gently used sweatshirts, sweatpants, jeans, gloves, hats, coats and gloves; new socks, underwear and toiletries. Please consider joining us at Breakfast Café one Saturday a month to hand these out – a great way to get to know fellow St. Markers and serve. ~ Sharon B.

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 chilly February are soup, cereal and oatmeal.

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!

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.

Main floor restrooms are limited. The lower level has a men's restroom. Upper level restrooms are not available while Sunday School happens above.

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