Friday November 25, 2022

Advent begins on Sunday, November 27.

Advent is the period of 4 weeks before Christmas that focuses on preparation for the coming of Christ. Both the celebration of his birth and preparation for his coming again.

One of the symbols of Advent is a wreath of evergreens with 4 candles.

We invite all the children to process with children's formation leaders to light the first Advent candle at the beginning of the 10:30 a.m. service. If you or your child would like to join, gather with Mrs. Drew at the Giving Tree by the Chapel as soon as you arrive to church on Sunday morning.

Advent Wreath Workshop

There will be an Advent wreath workshop between the services and after the 10:30 a.m. service. We will have evergreens, wreath forms, candles and tools available.

Observing Advent at Home

There will also be materials for celebrating Advent in your home on the arched bookcase in the parish hall.

There will be no adult or children's formation this Sunday.

Check out Saint Marks' Jesse Tree in the Parish Hall.

A Jesse Tree is a different take on the standard Advent Calendar.

Each day in advent a symbol is placed on the tree that represents a story from the ancestry of Jesus.

A Jesse Tree reminds us how God prepared for Jesus to be born through many generations.

There are lots of ways to make and decorate your Jesse Tree. We found these ornament cards on Etsy at BabyWhatNots.

There will be an Advent Quiet Morning on Saturday, December 3.

We will begin with Morning Prayer at 9 a.m.

There will be a few reflections throughout the morning with time in between. There will be spaces for quiet prayer and for quiet conversation.

We will provide some basic art supplies, but bring your journal, your art, a book you are reading or your knitting if you like.

The morning will end at 11:45 with Noonday Prayer.

We will gather in the Canterbury Center.

First Sunday Outreach Project

The December First Sunday Outreach Project at will take place at 9:30 a.m. in the parish hall. We will focus on NNEMAP and especially the holiday shoppe and how Saint Mark's supports that effort.

All ages are invited to be a part of the First Sunday gathering.

Brown Bag Sermon



At the 10:30 a.m. service, Pastor Vicki will be doing a Brown Bag sermon.

The way this works is that all children and youth are invited to bring something to put in a brown bag at the front of the church.

Pastor Vicki has to use everything in the bag in her sermon.

There are a few rules:

1. Nothing alive.
2. Nothing sloppy or messy (put your slime in a jar before putting it in the bag)
3. Nothing that will injure Pastor Vicki as she picks it up (like knives)

Look around, be creative and bring something for the bag.

The items put in the bag are returned after the sermon.

Youth Group

Youth group will meet following the 10:30 a.m. service for lunch and games.

Canterbury choir members are all invited to join the youth group for lunch and games.

Youth group ends at 1:30 p.m.

Canterbury Choir members are invited to stay for a movie and snack until your call time for Lessons and Carols.

At 4 p.m. on Sunday, December 4, the Saint Mark’s Choir and the Canterbury Choir will come together to lead our beloved Festival of Advent Lessons and Carols.

An annual parish favorite, the service of Lessons and Carols alternates Advent-themed lessons with beautiful and inspiring music, all in preparation for the Christmas season.

Music will include choral works by Malcolm Archer, Gustav Holst, Giovanni Pierluigi da Palestrina, Mark Sirett, Natalie Sleeth, Conrad Susa, and Healey Willan.

Admission is free. Donations will be accepted in support of the Special Music Fund at Saint Mark's. The service also will be livestreamed on our website and Facebook page.

An elegant reception will follow. Please join us for this wonderful event, and be sure to invite friends!

There are many ways to help contribute to the reception. If you would like to find out how check out the Advent Lessons and Carols Signup Genius page.

Christmas Pageant Signups



Casting call for a sheep, a cow, a donkey, lots of angels, a few kings, a shepherd, a dad, a mom, a baby and all the rest of God's beautiful creatures who were witness to the first Christmas on earth!

Pageant signups have begun - And all are welcome! More information and the Signup form are available online at www.saintmarkscolumbus.org/christmas-pageant

Christmas Flower Donations



You can donate to the Christmas greens and floral arrangements in honor or in memory of your loved ones. Donations and inscriptions can be given online. Envelopes will also be available at the back of the sanctuary beginning December 4.

The Giving Tree

The Giving Tree is located in front of the chapel. It has been decorated with ornaments labeled with gift suggestions requested by children.

Unwrapped gifts can be placed under the tree from Sunday, November 27 through Sunday, December 19.

Gifts are donated to NNEMAP Food Pantry’s holiday gift shoppe, which is available to pre-registered families in the Linden neighborhood with children up to age 16.

Winter Family Camp at Procter takes place December 28 through 30.

Want something to look forward to after Christmas? Come to Winter Family Camp and have a great time!

You can look forward to a gingerbread house contest, fun crafts, community time with puzzles and games, and be in community with Christ! We’ll roast s’mores and cheer on the game, on the big screen.

Registration is open now!

In the same family, two people are $200. Each additional person in that family is $50.

Come and see your camp friends, or meet new friends over winter break and spend some quality time with your family at Procter. Oh! Bring your sled, if it’s snowing!

The main service for Catherine Dunwoodie will be Saturday December 3 in the Cincinnati area.

There will be a service for Catherine in the Memorial Garden sometime in December.

If you have not yet turned in your pledge card, please do so soon.

You can find some pledge packets on the table in the back of the church.

You can call the office at

614-486-9452 and ask to have a pledge card sent to you.

You can fill out a digital pledge card on the stewardship page of the website.

 www.SaintMarksColumbus.org/stewardship 

The nursery is staffed from 10:15 a.m. - Noon on Sunday mornings for children age 3 and under. Parents are invited to either drop off their children or to stay with them if they prefer.

If you have questions about the nursery, please contact either Julie Moll julied5.jm@gmail.com or Pastor Vicki - rector@saintmarkscolumbus.org