This Sunday is Music Celebration Day! 

Our worship service includes special music from:

Lion’s Voice Choir

Glory Ringers Handbell Choir

Roar Teen Handbell Choir

Brass Quintet

Timpani

soloist Katie Ulrich

Percussion

We celebrate our gifted musicians and all they bring to our faith community. In addition, this weekend we welcome 20 + new members to our church. We celebrate our unity together in Christ, who has made all things new so that we now forever stand in God’s grace. 

Download the order of worship here to join in the singing, readings, and prayers.

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

St. Mark’s welcomes all to the table!

This Mother's Day weekend, we give thanks for all the mothers and all those who have mothered us. During the service, we are also celebrating our HS seniors and commissioning them into their next chapter

WORSHIP FOCUS

"Absurd Love"

The sermon this week centers us in Paul's letter to the Romans and dwells upon a love that defies all logic. A love we can only experience in and through Jesus Christ. A love we receive freely as gift. Join us in worship to anchor yourself again in hope and hear again the good news that you are reconciled, liberated and justified.

Download the order of worship here to join in the singing, readings, and prayers.

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

St. Mark’s welcomes all to the table!

WORSHIP FOCUS

"Healing the Divisions"

We are called to love one another—to heal the sick and be merciful. In Jesus’ name, we shall never be ashamed of the Gospel because it is the source of our faith. 

Pastor Marnie Rourke will be delivering this week's sermon. We are glad to welcome her back to St. Mark's worship this weekend! 

Download the order of worship here to join in the singing, readings, and prayers.

SPECIAL MUSIC

“Morning Has Broken” - Lion’s Voice Choir

“Lean On Me” – Kristin Young & Lion’s Voice Choir

“I Have Decided to Follow Jesus” – Lion’s Voice Choir

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

St. Mark’s welcomes all to the table!

WORSHIP FOCUS

"Mutual Ministry in a Multi-Cultural World"

The Book of Acts is full of stories that sharpen, sustain, form and fascinate faith. This weekend, we dwell in one of those inspiring stories as we reclaim the Holy Spirit as the primary actor in the early church. We will reflect on how we can emulate that same Spiritual-led faith as the Church today- in and through real and flawed churches, cities, and individuals. 

Download the order of worship here to join in the singing, readings, and prayers.

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

St. Mark’s welcomes all to the table!

WORSHIP FOCUS

"Transformational Encounter"

Who was Jesus' ministry for, exactly? At Jesus' birth, he was proclaimed the light to all nations. In his resurrection and ascension, he established Himself as Lord of all. By Acts 10, Jesus' story is beginning to unfold and be fulfilled—and God's vision for a community of impartiality, inclusion, difference and diversity is being made clear. We are made clean by Jesus, regardless of what we do. 

Download the order of worship here to join in the singing, readings, and prayers.

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

St. Mark’s welcomes all to the Table!

FIRST COMMUNION SUNDAY

This is always a special service, from the children’s choir opening worship to the celebration of students who will be receiving their First Communion. We are excited to honor these young saints on this special day. 

Download the order of worship here to join in the singing, readings, and prayers.

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

St. Mark’s welcomes all to the Table!

Join us for a joyful Easter celebration, beginning with the Great Easter Procession. The choir sings “Alleluia” and the bell choir rings as they process to the front of the sanctuary. Throughout the service, we continue to raise our voices in joyous song, rejoicing in the proclamation that “Christ is Risen!” 

WORSHIP FOCUS

"The Tomb is Empty: He Is Risen!"

Cosmic disruption. Divine interruption. Earth-shaking news. Together, we will gather together to join Mary Magdalene, Joanna, Mary, Mother of Jesus, and the other women outside the empty tomb. Jesus' resurrection has changed everything, and it is time for us to celebrate and rejoice that Christ is risen! Alleluia! 

Download the order of worship here to join in the singing, readings, and prayers.

SPECIAL MUSIC

Lion’s Voice Choir

Glory Ringers Handbell Choir

Brass Quintet

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

St. Mark’s welcomes all to the Table!

Our Good Friday service is a traditional "Tenebrae" or "Service of Shadows." The story of Christ’s crucifixion is told in seven readings from Matthew, each followed by contemplative music. Gradually candles are extinguished until the sanctuary is dark. Then the “tomb” is slammed shut and a bell tolls 33 times, once for each year of Jesus' life on earth. The service closes in darkness as we sing “Were You There?” and we depart in silence. 

Download the order of worship here to join in the singing, readings, and prayers.

ALL are welcome!

Our Maundy Thursday worship is a solemn service, as we remember Jesus’ Last Supper with his disciples. We honor his act of washing their feet by participating in a similar ritual with handwashing. We share Communion together, and the service closes with a darkening of the lights and stripping of the altar, to prepare for the betrayal, arrest, and crucifixion of Jesus. We depart in silence.  

Download the order of worship here to join in the singing, readings, and prayers.

We invite you to gather elements at home to participate in Communion: bread or crackers, plus wine or juice. You may also want to have a large bowl of water and towels available so you can wash hands at home during the handwashing ritual. 

St. Mark's welcomes all to the table.

Join us for Palm Sunday worship! This celebratory service begins with a procession of waving palms and joyful music from the Lion’s Voice Choir and Glory Ringers Handbell Choir. At the end of the service, the focus shifts, and we close with the singing of “Go to Dark Gethsemane,” which marks the beginning of Holy Week. 

WORSHIP FOCUS

"Triumphant Entry”

In a world that believes might and power is paramount, Jesus arrives at Jerusalem with a counter-procession to show a new power is here. This Palm Sunday, we wave our palms and rejoice together that Jesus’ different kind of kingship is here to stay! 

Download the order of worship here to join in the singing, readings, and prayers.

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

St. Mark’s welcomes all to the Table!

WORSHIP FOCUS

"Jesus is here. Just not where we thought.” 

Where is Jesus? Where we least expect it! In his last teaching before he is arrested, Jesus offers a profound glimpse into his nature. He identifies himself as a member of "the least of these." In the hungry. In the thirsty. In the stranger. In the naked. In the sick. In the prisoner. In the faces, the voices, and the people that society considers insignificant. Exactly where he calls us to be.

Download the order of worship here to join in the singing, readings, and prayers.

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

St. Mark’s welcomes all to the Table!

WORSHIP FOCUS

"Bingo, Bridesmaids & Bridegroom” 

Throughout Jesus’ ministry, he presents real moments of grace. Things like inclusive banquet feasts, much like our "ABC Night" this Saturday evening. But in addition to words of grace, Jesus also provides plenty of teachings on darkness. We are called not just to the easy wins but also to be faithful in both the light and in the darkness. The good news is that Jesus is the living parable who always joins us in the darkness. 

Download the order of worship here to join in the singing, readings, and prayers.

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

St. Mark’s welcomes all to the Table!

WORSHIP FOCUS

"Living Garments” 

When a person—young or old—is baptized, we say that they have "put on Christ.” This weekend, we will spend a little time pondering this phrase and wondering what it means—or might mean—in our lives. 

Download the order of worship here to join in the singing, readings, and prayers.

We welcome Pastor Linnea Wilson as our guest preacher. 

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

St. Mark’s welcomes all to the Table!

WORSHIP FOCUS

"Be a Thermostat”

Unlike the thermometer that READS the temperature in a room, a thermostat CHANGES the whole feel of a room. So many people change and react with the environment. We are called to a different type of life. One in which we aren't changed by the environment; instead, we are the saints who change the environment. 

Download the order of worship here to join in the singing, readings, and prayers.

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

St. Mark’s welcomes all to the Table!

WORSHIP FOCUS

"Restorative Forgiveness”

First the good news: We worship a God who doesn't count the amount of times we ask for forgiveness. We worship a God who gives grace freely, who forgives completely, and loves abundantly. To the deserving and undeserving alike. Now, the hard news: We, as God's saints, are called and expected to live a life of reconciliation and restoration. Christ teaches us in this weekend's scripture that forgiveness is worth fighting for. 

Download the order of worship here to join in the singing, readings, and prayers.

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

St. Mark’s welcomes all to the table!

ASH WEDNESDAY WORSHIP

We welcome you to Ash Wednesday worship with the people at St. Mark’s. The service includes hymns, a sermon, Communion, and the imposition of ashes. 

Download the order of worship here to join in the singing, readings, and prayers.

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

St. Mark’s welcomes all to the table!

WORSHIP FOCUS

"Faithful Listening”

During this social media-filled time, one question we can ask ourselves is: “Who do I listen to?” Related questions are many, but how about grappling with this one: "If the story of my life were told, what would stand out as being important?"

Download the order of worship here to join in the singing, readings, and prayers.

We welcome guest preacher Rev. Linnea Wilson to our pulpit. Pastor Linnea was called to ordained ministry as a second career; she has served among God’s people in Naperville, Lemont, Homewood, and Mt. Prospect. Now, as a retiree, she fills in for her colleagues when they are away from their ‘flock.' She has been married to Lanny—a physician and academician—for almost fifty years; they have two adult sons and two special daughters-in-law. Pr. Linnea likes to travel, read mysteries, cook, and putter in her garden. She is very glad to be with us in worship this weekend. 

SPECIAL MUSIC

Glory Ringers Handbell Choir

Lions Voice Choir

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

St. Mark’s welcomes all to the table!

WORSHIP FOCUS

"Eat Your Wheaties, Church”

Jesus' parables on weeds and wheat remind us that we live in a world and a Church that includes both saints and sinners. While it's easy to judge others as weeds and conclude we are wheat, we are called to continually assess and re-evaluate how we are living into the teachings of Jesus. Following Jesus' teaching means eating our Wheaties, for Jesus needs champions ready to share God's abundant love. 

Download the order of worship here to join in the singing, readings, and prayers.

SPECIAL MUSIC

Children singing "Siyahamba" (South African Hymn)

Lion's Voice Choir

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

St. Mark’s welcomes all to the table!