What to Expect

Expect to be welcomed and respected as a child of God. We take very seriously the sign on our front lawn “Wherever you are on your faith journey, you are welcome here.” You will be warmly greeted, but we also know that when a lot of people first come here, they want to be anonymous and so we try to respect that too. Our greeters who wear yellow ribbons, our ushers who are handing out bulletins, and our clergy are great people to stop if you have any questions or want to know more about Saint Mark’s. There are also visitor cards in each pew that you can fill out to receive more information about our congregation. 

Sunday Mornings

Coming with Children:

All children are welcome in worship. We know that babies cry, toddlers get restless, and siblings squabble in the pew. It’s part of life. However, if you would rather your young children be in the nursery, it is located on the 2nd floor in the education wing. We also have worship bags with activities for children as young as 4 to help them through the service; they are available at each door to the sanctuary.

Our 9:00 am service is especially fun for children, with special offerings and opportunities throughout the year for kids to get involved and be a part of the service.

If you would also like your children to attend our Sunday school program at 10:00 a.m., head to the refectory on the first floor next to the Fireplace room and the parlor – or simply follow the joyful sounds of children. People there will help direct your children to their classroom.

Understanding the Service:

In the Episcopal Church, we consider our worship to be very formative. We have rituals that we practice each Sunday, words that we repeat week in and week out, and our worship has the same flow to it each Sunday. We believe that praying shapes believing – that how we pray shapes what we believe, so how we pray together becomes important to how we grow together. In each pew, you will see two books – the Hymnal and the Book of Common Prayer. You can find all the music that we sing in the hymnal and the Book of Common Prayer includes the flow of worship and words that we say as a congregation. Page numbers are given in the bulletin so that you can follow along. Part of the beauty of our liturgy is that there is mystery in it, so don’t try to understand everything, try to be present to God.

Also, fill out a visitor’s card in the pew and hand it to an usher or greeter at the service. This way we can get to know you better and will ensure that you are on our mailing list and will be invited to our quarterly newcomer desserts.

During the Week

While Sunday morning is our busiest time, we have lots going on here during the week too. If you are looking to get to know more people at the church, check out some of our other ministries and worship services. They are smaller in size and offer a great opportunity to get to know people better. There is more information about these activities in the Adults and Outreach sections, but here is a quick schedule about our activities beyond Sunday morning. All activities are drop in except if a contact person is noted.

Sunday Evenings

4:30 pm – Sunday Night Supper – serve a dinner to area residents in need
                      (2nd Sunday of each month)
5:00 pm – Choral Evensong (a sung evening service by our choir) or a Music Series event
                     (1st Sunday of Each Month from September to May)

Mondays

10:00 am – Sandwich Making – make bag lunches for an area community service agency to give out
2:00pm to 7:30pm – Monday Night Supper – cook and serve dinner to about 100 young adults in need
5:30 pm  – Healing Eucharist in All Saints Chapel on the first floor
7:00pm – Choral Society – sings every Monday in preparation for two concerts a year

Tuesdays

10:00 am - Prayer Shawl Knitting Group – (first and third Tuesday) in All Saints Chapel on first floor

Wednesdays

7:00 am – Worship in Hewitt Chapel (inside main sanctuary)
7:30 am – Prayer and Coffee Group in library on 2nd floor
9:00 am – Wednesday Bible Study in small dining room on first floor
                    next to the Fireplace Room (September - May)
11:30 am – Eucharist in Hewitt Chapel (inside main sanctuary)
5:45 pm – Junior Choristers (ages 7-10) in Whipple Chapel
                    (contact This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it )
6:15 pm – Cathedral Choristers (ages 11and up) 
                                                                                  in Whipple Chapel (contact This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it )
7:00 pm – Cathedral Choir Rehearsal in Whipple Chapel (contact This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it )

Thursdays

8:00 a.m. – Contemplative Prayer in All Saints Chapel for prayer and then to the
                                 Loring Park Dunn Bros.
12:00-4:00 p.m. – Warm Space welcomes people in for soup and a safe place to rest
                                (Contact:  This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it )

Fridays

9:00 am – Friday Book Club: Meets in the library on the 2nd floor or in Small Dining Room

Membership

We live in a time where people switch denominations and churches with relative frequency. You are welcome to worship with us, learn with us, pray with us, regardless of denomination or affiliation in another parish.  As a cathedral, part of our purpose is to provide experiences that a smaller parish may not have the resources to provide, while supporting your continued membership in your parish. If you are at a point that you would like to make a commitment to Saint Mark’s being your faith community, we would love to help you become a member of Saint Mark’s. Here are some frequently asked questions about membership.

How do I become a Christian?

Baptism marks the beginning of a new life in Christ.  To become a member of any Episcopal Church, including Saint Mark’s, baptism is the first step.  If you've never been baptized, we offer our Discovery Series six week class every Fall and Spring that prepares adults for baptism. In addition, it is recommended that you meet with one of the clergy to explore your interest as well. Contact This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it for more information.

How do I become an Episcopalian?

If you are interested in learning more about the Episcopal Church, the best thing to do is attend either the Fall or Spring Discovery Series class. Over the course of six Sundays, this course explores the history, liturgy, and faith of the Episcopal Church. If you so choose, you are welcome to take part in a confirmation service after this class with our Bishop who will lay hands on you and welcome you into the Episcopal Church. For more information about Confirmation, contact This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it .

You do not need to be a confirmed Episcopalian to be a member of Saint Mark’s.

What does it mean to be a member of Saint Mark’s?

Saint Mark’s members are expected to help the Church carry out its mission of restoring all people to unity with God and each other in Christ.

There are three key elements to membership at Saint Mark’s:

Baptism: if you were baptized in a different denomination, you are considered a baptized Christian.

Participation in worship: make a regular commitment to worship as a part of this church family.

Commitment of time, talent, and financial resources: Member is not just an identification; it expresses a commitment to being a fully engaged part of our community.

You can become a member at any time by contacting This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it . In the Fall and Spring of each year we officially welcome new members during our Sunday morning worship.

How do I move my membership record to Saint Mark’s from another parish?

If you have previously been a member of another Episcopal church, and would like to transfer your church membership to Saint Mark’s, contact This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it .  You’ll be asked to provide some basic information about yourself so that we may complete your membership record and notify your previous parish.