1st Weekend of Christmas

"It's Still Christmas!"

As we celebrate the Twelve Days of Christmas, the gospel for this weekend confronts us with the death of innocent children at the hands of Herod.

The birth of Christ does not remove the power of evil from our world, but its light gives us hope as we walk with all the “holy innocents” of past generations and today who have suffered unjustly.

In our gathering around word and meal, God continues to redeem us, lift us up, and carry us as in days of old.

Come to worship this weekend as we continue to sing Christmas carols, celebrate the birth of Christ and learn the story behind the 16th century English Christmas carol, The Coventry Carol.

Download the Order of Worship here to join in the singing, readings, and prayers.

We invite you to gather elements to participate in Communion: bread or crackers, plus wine or juice.

St. Mark’s welcomes all to the table! We hope that you will join us.

Christmas Eve

On Christmas Eve, we celebrate God being born on earth as a poor Jewish child, whom we call Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. 

With the angels we sing, “Glory to God!” 

Download the Order of Worship here to join in the singing, readings, and prayers.

We invite you to gather elements to participate in Communion: bread or crackers, plus wine or juice.

St. Mark’s welcomes all to the table! We hope that you will join us.

Christmas Eve

On Christmas Eve, we celebrate God being born on earth as a poor Jewish child, whom we call Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.

With the angels we sing, “Glory to God!”

Download the Order of Worship here to join in the singing, readings, and prayers.

We invite you to gather elements to participate in Communion: bread or crackers, plus wine or juice.

St. Mark’s welcomes all to the table! We hope that you will join us.

“Kaleidoscope to Christmas”

Presented by Music Ministry

The Music Ministry at St. Mark's is ready to help you celebrate the season with a Kaleidoscope look at all the aspects of the Christmas Story surrounding the birth of Jesus.

The adults will share a Kaleidoscope of Christmas Carols from around the world following the reading of the different and unique birth stories from the bible. 

You will hear bells, voices, flute, percussion, soloists, and the moving accounts of Jesus Birth. 

In short, all the musical and biblical beauty of the season.

Please join us for this amazing musical event!

Download the Order of Worship here to join in the singing, readings, and prayers.

We invite you to gather elements to participate in Communion: bread or crackers, plus wine or juice.

St. Mark’s welcomes all to the table! We hope that you will join us.

3rd Weekend of Advent

"Advent Joy"

On this third weekend of Advent, we're exploring joy and how it can help us in the waiting as we prepare to come close to the mystery of Christmas. Isaiah, John the Baptist, and Jesus all point us toward joy, something different than happiness, entertainment, or contentment.

Download the Order of Worship here to join in the singing, readings, and prayers.

We invite you to gather elements to participate in Communion: bread or crackers, plus wine or juice.

St. Mark’s welcomes all to the table! We hope that you will join us.

“Journey to Bethlehem”

Presented by the FDL Children’s Choir

The Children will share a 5-part look at Christmas during their program titled, "Journey to Bethlehem." 

You will hear, through narration and song, about; 

     1. The Hanging of the Greens, 

     2. Lighting the Advent Candles, 

     3. Gathering at the Manger, 

     4. Lighting the Christmas Tree, and

     5. Presenting the Gifts.

Download the Order of Worship here to join in the singing, readings, and prayers.

We invite you to gather elements to participate in Communion: bread or crackers, plus wine or juice.

St. Mark’s welcomes all to the table! We hope that you will join us.

2nd Weekend of Advent

"Prepare ye the way of the Lord!"

Each year on the second Weekend of Advent we hear John the Baptist urging us to prepare for the coming of Christ. This coming Saturday/Sunday we hear also Isaiah’s famous poem about the wolf lying down with the lamb. 

Come to worship, and receive the blessings from the word of the Lord. 

We also look forward to welcoming new members this Sunday! 

Welcome to St. Mark's Patti and Glenn Decker, Margie Hardy and Nathan Placek! 

Thank you Hope Circle for providing cake to celebrate our new members!

Download the Order of Worship here to join in the singing, readings, and prayers.

We invite you to gather elements to participate in Communion: bread or crackers, plus wine or juice.

St. Mark’s welcomes all to the table! We hope that you will join us.

1st Weekend of Advent

"Are you ready?"

On this first weekend of the new year, we gather to get ready and prepare for Christ's arrival at Christmas. The church in it's wisdom gives us time to slow down, get ready, and consider what we need to make a space for Jesus' birth as we consider the good news for this year in the confluence of Jesus' history, mystery, and majesty we find on the first weekend of Advent.

Download the Order of Worship here to join in the singing, readings, and prayers.

We invite you to gather elements to participate in Communion: bread or crackers, plus wine or juice.

St. Mark’s welcomes all to the table! We hope that you will join us.

Christ the King

"The Kin-Dom of God: Love and Justice for all"

This weekend, our Scripture readings describe the “kingdom of God” – and remind us that God’s kingdom is full of love, justice, and the well-being of all. 

One way that St. Mark shares God’s love with our neighbors is through our partnership with Lutheran Social Services of Illinois (LSSI). Representatives from LSSI will join us for worship to share more about how your support shares God’s love with many of our neighbors each year.

Download the Order of Worship here to join in the singing, readings, and prayers.

We invite you to gather elements to participate in Communion: bread or crackers, plus wine or juice.

St. Mark’s welcomes all to the table! We hope that you will join us.

23rd Weekend after Pentecost

"The Story of God's Abundant Love"

In our gospel this Sunday Jesus calls us to testify, to tell the story of God's abundant love in our lives.

That testifying can look like telling someone the story of Jesus found in Matthew, Mark, Luke, John, or Paul. It can look like telling people the story of how God has worked in our own lives. It can look like giving young people Bibles or giving help to those who need it or speaking out against injustices.

It is in this testifying that we build our muscles for hope and find the strength to live through the unlivable.

Download the Order of Worship here to join in the singing, readings, and prayers.

We invite you to gather elements to participate in Communion: bread or crackers, plus wine or juice.

St. Mark’s welcomes all to the table! We hope that you will join us.