St. Mark's several and varied ministries are led by four ministry teams: Invite, Send, Nourish, and Celebrate.
The resource committees of Property, Finance, Word & Work, and Women of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (WELCA) support these ministries and teams in our congregation.
Below are just some of the teams and organizations that provide many ways for you to grow in your faith and to serve others in response to God's love for us.
The resource committees of Property, Finance, Word & Work, and Women of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (WELCA) support these ministries and teams in our congregation.
Below are just some of the teams and organizations that provide many ways for you to grow in your faith and to serve others in response to God's love for us.
Celebrate Ministry TeamThe Celebrate Ministry assists the pastoral and music staff in planning, implementing, and overseeing all ministries, public and private, pertaining to the worship life of this congregation, seeing that they are conducted in good order and in accordance with the confession and practice of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America.
This ministry team's responsibilities include establishing, maintaining, and overseeing guidelines for lay leadership in worship (assisting ministers, lectors, acolytes, crucifers, and choirs), as well as oversight of the Director of Music, care of instruments, flowers, and altar care. This Ministry oversees the Celebrate budget as well as all accounts in the Capital Funds, Designated Gifts and Special Activity accounts that relate to worship, music, or food. Nourish Ministry TeamThe Nourish Ministry oversees and assists in the planning and support of the educational ministry of the congregation. This includes providing and supervising Sunday school, Church Day Camp (or VBS), study groups, confirmation instruction, teacher training, youth groups, supper club and other opportunities for the congregation.
Stewardship CommitteeThe stewardship committee asks or invites people to generously use all of the gifts that God has entrusted to their care, inside and outside of the congregation.
The stewardship committee tells the story of how these gifts, both monetary and non-monetary, are being used to live out God's mission in the community and around the world. The stewardship committee consistently thanks people for their generosity year-round. We live by the motto: "God's work: Our hands." Women's organization (WELCA)The women's organization (WELCA) provides opportunities for women to gather in fellowship, service and education. At St. Mark’s, WELCA is organized into three groups or "circles" that meet regularly.
Member activities include: Bible study Prayer chain Service projects Visiting shut-ins Delivering altar flowers Helping with receptions and dinners Attending joint circle functions Providing food for bereaved families Sending cards to the sick and shut-ins Supporting Lutheran Retirement Center in Deland, Fla. Deborah Circle meets on the second Tuesday of each month at 9:30 am in Hart Hall. Priscilla Circle meets on the second Thursday of each month at 7:00 pm in the Library. Call the church office for details and contact information at (904) 396-9608. LibraryThe St. Mark's Church Library is located just off Luther Hall, and is available for browsing and book check-out whenever the Church Offices are open.
A variety of religious and spiritual titles are available to encourage you in your faith journey. A children's section is also available along the back wall. |
Invite Ministry TeamThe Invite Ministry assists the pastor in planning, implementing, and overseeing all ministries of this congregation pertaining to its public witness to the gospel of Jesus Christ. This Ministry encourages, enlists and supports the members of the congregation in fulfilling the calling given all Christians in baptism to "go and make disciples."
This ministry team's responsibilities include coordination of ushers, greeters, and element presenters, new member orientation, the guest register and follow-up of worship guests (St. Andrew’s Society). Send Ministry TeamThe Send Ministry upholds the portion of the Vision Statement that states "We exist not to serve ourselves but to live out our relationships with Christ in service to community." In keeping with this goal, the Send Ministry assists the congregation in sending the compassion of Christ to the needs of a hurting world.
Ministry projects include: Medical education Food outreach programs Assist homeless families through Family Promise Jacksonville Campus Ministry at the University of North Florida Habitat for Humanity United Community Outreach Ministries (UCOM) Red Cross blood drives Crop Walk Lutheran Social Services of Northeast Florida (LSS) Global Missions Florida-Bahamas Synod and ELCA benevolence and other projects St. Mark’s FoundationThe St. Mark's Foundation exists to enhance the mission outreach of St. Mark's Evangelical Lutheran Church.
Christian stewardship involves the faithful management of all the gifts God has given: time, talents, the created world, and money, including accumulated, inherited, and appreciated resources. Christians can give to the work of the church through bequests in wills, charitable gift annuities, assignment of life insurance, and transfers of property (cash, stocks, bonds, real estate). St. Mark's Foundation exists to encourage, receive, and administer these gifts in a manner consistent with the loyalty and devotion to their Lord expressed by the donors and in accord with parish policies. A five-person committee elected by the congregation from its voting members acts as custodian of the Foundation. Submit you Grant Request Here! Word & WorkWord & Work is a service group open to everyone that meets monthly for Bible study, fellowship, and church facility maintenance projects. This group usually meets on the first Saturday of the month, with Bible study beginning at 8:00 am.
Some of our projects include: painting pressure washing trimming trees mulching air-conditioning maintenance All are welcome to volunteer time and talents in maintaining and improving our facility. |