St. Mark's Episcopal Church

Celebrating 185 years of Service

The Fifteenth Sunday after Pentecost

September 18, 2022

Celebration Sunday

A Proud History and A Bright Future!

You are not going to want to miss Celebration Sunday

*Eucharist for all ages

*Our Annual Fall Picnic

*The Vocal Choir is back for the 10:30 Service

*Art Prize is in Grand Rapids

*Children's and Youth Program year begins

*Last Sunday to bring items for Degage

*Our Gardens are in full bloom

*Our florists are providing beautiful Altar arrangements

*We care that you are with us

Come, taste, listen, worship, sing and see! 

Youth Parking Lot Fundraiser during the first weekend of Art Prize

We'll be offering parking in our lot for $10 for the first weekend of Art Prize as a fundraiser for our youth ministry. The days and times for parking will be Friday. September 16, from 5 p.m.-8 p.m. and Saturday, September 17, from Noon-4 p.m. This is the only weekend of Art Prize this will be offered, so we hope you can take advantage of it. Please share this information with friends and family who may be coming down for the fun.

Adult Forums on Sundays and Wednesdays

September 21 – November 20, 2022

St. Mark’s Adult Formation Ministry

Come, See, Experience, Learn!

(Please note revisions in the schedule below)

St. Mark's Book of Prayers for the Anniversary!

In celebration of the upcoming 186th Anniversary, please, consider writing a prayer for us. You may wish to cite a Bible passage or not. I will collect all the prayers. We will bind them and make them available at the Sunday Services and at each of the places at the Anniversary Dinner on Oct. 2. After that, they will be available at the North Transept Resource Table. Please, send your prayer to me via email at christianb@stmarksgr.org or give me a copy, and I will make sure to include it in the booklet of prayers.

Many thanks!  ~ Christian+

Return of the Mid-Week Eucharist

Our noon mid-week Eucharist will return on September 21st

Be sure to join us in-person and through Facebook Live!

National and Diocesan Opportunities from the Dismantling Racism Ministry: Please link below for more information on these events

For Questions or Registration contact Anne Hiskes at alhiskes@gmail.com

1.      Panel Discussion and Opening Remarks by Presiding Bishop Curry “The Quest for Inclusion: From Bishop John Henry Hobart to Today”, September 25

2.      Diocesan CORE Dismantling Racism Training. Oct. 14-15

Flowers for Sunday Services: Flowers beautify the sacred spaces of our church and are a gift to God and those who attend. If you wish to honor or remember a loved one or acknowledge an Anniversary by donating flowers, you may pick up a form on the welcome desk and return it to the church office. There is also a signup sheet so that you may pick a Sunday Service for your donation. This Sunday's Flowers (pictured to the left) are provided by

Dave and Patti Atkinson in celebration of their

Wedding Anniversary. Come and See!

186th Anniversary Sunday

Please, consider joining us for worship on October 2, 2022 at either the

8:00 a.m. or the 10:30 a.m. Service, as we formally celebrate the

186th Anniversary of St. Mark's, originally established on October 6, 1836. 

A new plaque is being considered for the façade of the Church and

a hoped-for historical marker from the Michigan Historical Society

is being considered as well. The Anniversary dinner will be that evening

at 5:00 p.m. at the Kent Country Club where we only pay for the dinners

and not the rental of the ballroom. You should have received an invitation with a self-addressed envelope in the mail. Join us if you are able. Thanks!

Looking for weekly tutor volunteers at East Leonard School

Consider having an impact on helping a child learn reading and language skills by volunteering for an hour at East Leonard School. You are invited to a training on 9/28 at 4 p.m. at the school (410Barnett St NE) and will need to complete paperwork. This is a great way to make a huge difference in the life of a child and your assistance is greatly appreciated in the partnership we have with East Leonard. If you wish to experience the joy of getting to know a child as you see them grow and learn, please sign up at the Welcome Desk or call the church office to be added to the list.  

Degage in need of toiletries

Mel Trotter in need of warm winter coats

St. Mark’s has agreed to help Degage gather toiletries for their residents. They are in need of shampoo, conditioner, body wash, deodorant and lotion of any size. Please consider bringing any of these items to church and placing them in the collection bin in the transept. They will be gathered up and delivered after the 10:30 service on September 18th. Throughout September, Mel Trotter Ministries will be collecting new or gently used winter coats of all sizes. Coats can be dropped off at Curtis Cleaners and Mercantile Bank locations or during ArtPrize at Mel Trotter Ministries’ Park September 15 - 30. 

 Steve Manskar Raising Awareness and Funds for Cycling toward a world free of MS: Steve signed up for Bike MS: “Bike to Jack & Back” in Tennessee on October 1-2, a fundraising ride that changes the world for people affected by multiple sclerosis. He is going the distance with training and commitment in hopes of reaching an ambitious $1,500 goal to fuel cutting-edge MS research and critical services to ensure people affected by MS have the resources they need to live their best lives. You may give through Steve’s Facebook fund raiser: https://cutt.ly/IXfKqtI or contact him at (615) 948-0650. “Thanks for helping me reach my goal”. ~ Rev. Steve Manskar, DMin

Safety and Security Measures

Over the past couple of years, the St. Mark's Safety Ministry has completed many prevention measures to help ensure safety for everyone at St. Mark's and to help better secure the property and building. For a complete list of these measures, please link below. ~ Safety Ministry Team

Stewardship for 2022

A Proud History/A Bright Future

We are asked to pledge to our life together in 2022. We need as many of us as possible to financially commit to our ministry at St. Mark's. Please, consider a financial commitment to God at St. Mark's, as we continue to do our best to be the mission of God in Christ at St. Mark's.

 ~ Christian+ & Stewardship Ministry

"Every generous act of giving, with every perfect gift, is from above..."

James 1:17 NRSV