what's happening at st. mark's

St. Mark's is passionate about connecting people - to God, to Christ, and to each other. 

On this page, you will find upcoming events that can help you get to know us better. 

upcoming events


Sunday Services

Services can be accessed by using this link: https://zoom.us/j/127336938?pwd=cm8zUWh0Y2loTjYyKy91YURsTVBCQT0  If you are asked for a password, use lakeerie. To join by phone instead of video, dial 646-876-9923 and use code 127336938#.


Book Study

This Easter season, our partnership cathedral deans, the Very Revs. Derrick Fetz and Melinda Hall, will lead an online discussion of "Christ in Crisis," by Jim Wallis. 


"At a time when polarization is reaching new heights, Wallis calls us to follow Christ in a new way in the public square," they write.


The book study will begin on Tuesday, April 21 at 7 p.m. (changed from April 14) to allow participants a chance to read the first two chapters in anticipation of the first meeting and to get the book.


Discussions will be held each week via Zoom on Tuesdays at 7 p.m. (originally scheduled for 6 p.m.) and Thursdays at 10:30 a.m.


Sessions will begin on April 21 with participants reading two chapters per week. The book is widely available from numerous online sellers, in print or on e-readers. Find it at local booksellers Pressed in Erie and Talking Leaves in Buffalo (both of which are shipping books) or find it online.


*****

March 13, 2020


Dear friends--

 

This morning, Bishop Sean sent a letter to our partnership dioceses temporarily suspending all in-person worship effective Sunday, March 15. "The COVID-19 epidemic is spreading so quickly that I cannot in good conscience permit gatherings that could easily hasten the spread of the disease and contribute to the collapse of our health care system," he writes. "My only concerns are the safety of the people of our dioceses and the welfare of the communities in which we live and work."

 

This means that we will not gather as a community at St. Mark's this coming Sunday, March 15, and all activities and meetings after that will move online. While this Friday's fish fry will take place as planned, the March 20, 27 and April 3 dinners have been cancelled.

 

We know this is already a time of anxiety and uncertainty for many, and that this will be yet another adjustment during this period. Please know that though we will not be gathering physically in the same place, we will remain a prayerful community in the Body of Christ. While difficult, this act of not gathering together during this time strikes us as just the sort of love and care for our neighbors we have seen the members of this congregation show over and over again.

 

This Sunday, we invite you to worship online with Presiding Bishop Michael Curry, who will preach and preside at an 11 a.m. Eucharist at Washington National Cathedral. The cathedral is closed until March 25 as part of the Diocese of Washington's response to the coronavirus, and the service is being held solely for the purposes of streaming it online.

 

Starting Sunday, March 22, St. Mark's and the Cathedral of St. Paul will offer a joint online worship service. We will be sharing links to this through the weekly email, Facebook and on the website in coming days.

 

We know that not all members of the St. Mark's community have ready access to a computer or high-speed internet. If you or someone you know is in this position, please let Carly or Craig know at (814) 480-9959, and we will provide remote worship opportunities as well as updates by phone.

 

While we will be working remotely, we will remain in touch with you regularly to share information and updates as needed. Please do not hesitate to be in touch with us directly at crowe@saintmarkserie.org or cdressler@saintmarkserie.org or call us at (814) 480-9959.

 

This is the kind of Lenten journey none of us anticipated. We will share it together with love, care and even a sense of fun as we try on new things and new ways of doing things. Pray for one another, for our community, and for the needs of the most vulnerable among us.


Carly and Craig