For your thought:

They asked him, “Why then are you baptizing if you are neither the Messiah, nor Elijah, nor the prophet?” John answered them, “I baptize with water. Among you stands one whom you do not know, the one who is coming after me; I am not worthy to untie the thong of his sandal.” 

--John 1:25-27

Study this Sunday's Readings.

WORSHIP CORNER

Useful links:

• Fill out a form to volunteer, donate altar flowers, fill out a new member/visitor form, and more!
• Access and/or edit your Member Directory information.
• To read or view previous sermons, click here.

Important Upcoming Dates (Download and Print an Advent-Epiphany Schedule Card here)

• Sun., Dec. 17, 11:00 am, Luminaria Construction
• Sun., Dec. 17, 11:15am, Christmas Pageant Rehearsal #3
• Sun., Dec. 17, 4-6p,m Christmas Pageant & Potluck Dinner
• Tues., Dec. 19, 11am. Funeral for Tom Minard
• Sun., Dec. 24, 9:30am, Advent 4 Sunday Liturgy
• Sun., Dec. 24, 11am—Luminaria Set Up
• Sun., Dec. 24, 4pm - Luminaria Lighting
• Sun., Dec. 24, 4:30pm - Choral Musical Prelude
• Sun., Dec. 24, 5 pm—Festal Christmas Eve Liturgy with Choir
• Sun., Dec. 24, 6-7:30 pm—A Jolly Mingle! (Bring a Christmas sweet-or-savory treat to share!)
• Sun., Dec. 24, 7:30 pm—Choral Musical Prelude
• Sun., Dec. 24,   8 pm—Contemplative Christmas Eve by Candlelight with Choir and Incense
• Mon., Dec. 25, Offices Closed (Will reopen on 1/2/24 - No Liturgy offered today)
• Tues. Dec. 26, 3pm - Luminaria Cleanup
• Thurs., Dec. 28, Offices Closed (Will reopen on 1/2/24 - No Liturgy offered today)
• Sun., Dec. 31, 11am, Pancake Breakfast following Liturgy

SAINT MARK'S MISSION, MINISTRY & OUTREACH

This Sunday: St. Mark's Annual Christmas Pageant and Potluck

Sunday, December 17th at 4pm

(Call time for cast is 3pm)

The celebration begins in the church promptly at 4pm, as the youth of St. Mark's lead us in bringing the Nativity Story to life in a lively Christmas Pageant including music, dance, and congregational carols. Immediately following the pageant, the celebration continues with a potluck supper and "cast party" in the parish hall. All are welcome. 

Note: This production will not be livestreamed to social media platforms (YouTube or Facebook), but all may watch it virtually (at 4 p.m. Mountain) on Zoom here:

• Join us on Zoom, Meeting ID: 859 2772 1535, Passcode: xmas

All Things Luminarias

St. Mark's is collecting candles for St. Mark’s Luminaria display on Christmas Eve - We use 1,200 each year!

• Sunday, December 17 at 11 a.m.: Luminaria Construction (Folding paper bags, adding sand and candles).
• Sunday, December 24 at 11 am: Luminaria Setup (Placing the luminarias around the church campus).
• Sunday, December 24 at 4 p.m.: Luminaria Lighting
• Tuesday. December 26 at 3 p.m.: Luminaria Cleanup (Picking up luminarias around the church campus, emptying sand, and discarding candles).

All of the luminaria activities will take place outdoors, so please dress warmly!

Please sign-up to Setup Luminarias, Light Luminarias, and Cleanup Luminarias in Narthex

We need your help to make it happen!

Thank you to those who folded for us ahead of time this year!

Christmas Eve at St. Mark's

and More Info Regarding A Jolly Mingle!

• Sun., Dec. 24, 9:30am, Advent 4 Sunday Liturgy
• Sun., Dec. 24, 11am—Luminaria Set Up
• Sun., Dec. 24, 4pm - Luminaria Lighting
• Sun., Dec. 24, 4:30pm - Choral Musical Prelude
• Sun., Dec. 24, 5 pm—Festal Christmas Eve Liturgy with Choir
• Sun., Dec. 24, 6-7:30 pm—A Jolly Mingle! (see more below)
• Sun., Dec. 24, 7:30 pm—Choral Musical Prelude
• Sun., Dec. 24,  8 pm—Contemplative Christmas Eve by Candlelight with Choir and Incense

A note about the Jolly Mingle (Stay late/Come Early): From 6-7:30 p.m. on Christmas Eve, we'll be hosting a Jolly Mingle! Please consider the following:

• Jolly Mingle Food Provided by St. Mark's: Posole, Tamales, Biscochitos and Festive Drinks (both alcoholic and non-alcoholic alternatives will be available)
• Bring a friend to church
• Bring something ready to share (optional)
• Come to the 5pm Christmas Eve Liturgy and stay after!
• Come to the Jolly Mingle and stay for the 8 pm Christmas Eve Liturgy!

Poinsettia Dedications for Christmas Eve

The church office is collecting poinsettia dedications for Christmas Eve. The suggested donation for a dedication is $15. If you’d like to make a dedication(s), please complete a Poinsettia Order Card this Sunday at church and drop it in the Offering or Office Drop Box in the Narthex OR email the Parish Administrator via email. Dedications must be submitted no later than this Wednesday, December 20th for them to be in the Orders of Worship on Christmas Eve. If you email us, please include: 

• Your name
• Email
• Phone Number
• How many poinsettia(s) are you ordering:_____
• Dedication: (In memory of or In honor of)­ _____ (for each plant)
• How you will make your payment: (Check, Cash, CC)

Please call the office at 505-262-2484 if you need any assistance.  

Carol Hymn Sing & Potluck Dinner 

On Saturday, December 30 from 5-7 p.m., St. Mark's will be hosting our annual Carol Hymn Sing & Potluck Dinner. Please bring a dish or drinks to share, friends or family, and your singing voice! 

Mark Your Calendars: 2nd Congregational Meeting with Architect

Last Sunday, Deacon David delivered a whopper Advent Sermon that affirms both the purposes and the resolve of the Building Renewal Committee:

“Let each heart prepare a home where such a mighty guest may come.”

Not only is Advent preparation time for our own families, but also for our St. Mark’s Community. At Tuesday night’s Committee meeting, we advanced the Liturgical and Architectural Design work with professional consideration of elements of our Master Plan:

On January 9, the Building Renewal Committee will next meet and reach consensus on what our Architect and Liturgical Consultant will share on January 14 our next Congregational Meeting. Please, mark your calendars for this important meeting that will include a catered meal. Father ahead, anticipate another Congregational Presentation in March. The Committee is pleased that our Architect and Liturgical Consultant respect our need to continue listening and refining as we do our work on your behalf.

Citing Isiah’s and Mark’s admonition to “Prepare the way of the Lord; clear a straight path,” Deacon David’s leveling the mountains and filling in the valleys seems, at times, comparable to Building Something Beautiful at St. Mark’s. Fortunately, we all learn that preparation begets happy arrival. Thank you for paying attention to our work in preparation. --Building Renewal Committee

2^nd Congregational Meeting with Architect will be held on January 14, 2024. Here is the agenda:

• 9:30 Eucharist
• 10:30 Architect Presentation.
• 11:30 Lunch – Catered BBQ Lunch
• 12:15 Community Conversation

Upcoming: Funeral for Tom Minard

The Funeral for

Thomas Edward Minard

will be held in the Nave of St. Mark's on

Tuesday December 19, 2023, at 11 a.m.

You may read Tom's obituary here.

May light perpetual shine upon Tom, and all the departed. 

GIVE TO ST. MARK'S

Give by mail (St. Mark's has a secure mailbox and is checked regularly). Send to: 431 Richmond Place NE, Albuquerque, NM 87106.

Give electronically through By PayPal®.

Please consider checking the box that reads, "I’d like to add to my donation to help offset the cost of processing."

Give electronically through the Diocese of the Rio Grande Parish Donation site and check the box next to "Albuquerque-St. Mark's".

Just fill out the rest of the information and click the Next button at the bottom of the page. Please make sure fill out "special instructions or comment" to let us know how to apply your gift (e.g., pledge, congregational relief fund, etc.).

All are welcome to join us for worship during our Thursday 11 a.m. midweek Holy Eucharists and our Sunday Holy Eucharists at 9:30 a.m. You may join us in person or on Facebook & YouTube.

Come as you are!

Email submissions should be sent (via email) to the Communications Specialist by 9:00 a.m. each Wednesday for inclusion on Thursday's e-news.

www.stmarksabq.org

© 2023