Saint Mark's News & Events

Contributions for Relief in Burma to be Collected

Sean Mullen — Wed, 07 May 2008 14:39:34 +0000

Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ,

You are surely aware of the devastating cyclone in Myanmar, or Burma. Estimates as of today put the number of dead at 22,500, missing persons at 41,000, and perhaps as many as 1,000,000 displaced from their homes and villages. Disasters of such an awful scale rightly prompt responses of a large scale.

We plan to take a special collection on this coming Sunday morning at both masses to assist with the relief effort in Burma. We will direct the funds we raise to the Episcopal Relief and Deveopment Fund which is working already with the Anglican Church of Burma to provide emergency food, water and shelter.

Please consider prayerfully how you can help in this effort and come to church prepared, if you are able, to contribute to this cause. I will have my check book with me. If you are not able to come to church on Sunday you could mail us a check payable to the Episcopal Relief and Development, "Emergency Relief Fund". You can also contribute directly to the fund online at er-d.org.

Thank you in advance for being willing to help those who are in dire need.

Faithfully,

SEAN MULLEN

Rector

A Master Plan for Saint Mark's

Sean Mullen — Wed, 07 May 2008 13:30:29 +0000

At a special meeting on May 1st the Vestry of Saint Mark's received the recommendation of the Buildings & Property Committee to engage John Milner Architects of Chadd's Ford, PA to produces a Master Plan that will include an historic preservation plan and a space utilization plan for all three buildings on the property. The goals established last year by the Strategic Planning Group were to
• preserve and enhance the beauty and structural integrity of this National Historic Landmark for future generations.
• ensure that the ministries of Saint Mark’s are carried out in a modern, safe, and secure physical plant.

The B&P Committee met with the architects on May 6 to begin to discuss the method of formulating a Master Plan. In addition to a complete survey of the existing conditions of all our buildings, their structural and mechanical systems, the architects will conduct meetings and interviews with various groups and leaders of ministries within the parish to determine how best to use space that is currently underutilized and re-configure space that could work better to enable our mission. The entire parish can expect to hear a good deal about this process in the coming months. We expect to finalize a Master Plan by some time late in 2008 so that we can then begin a discussion about doing the work that needs to be done and paying for it.

Organ Recital

Sean Mullen — Mon, 28 Apr 2008 14:52:56 +0000

On Friday, May 9, 2008, Diane Meredith Belcher will present a recital at 8:00 PM at Saint Mark's. Click here to open the full program.

St. Mark’s Parish Retreat

Sean Mullen — Wed, 23 Apr 2008 17:46:50 +0000

St. Mark’s Parish Retreat June 13^th-15^th

A contemplative weekend of directed prayer and silence including Daily Offices and Eucharist on 90 acres of bucolic surroundings at:

St. Marguerites Retreat House
Community of St. John the Baptist (CSJB Anglican)
Mendham , NJ (2 hrs. North of Philadelphia)

Cost: $150 - includes lodging and meals
Please reserve by May 18^th

Contact Jonathan Nidock
Jonathan2n@aol.com
267-254-4712

Saint Mark's Adopts Mission, Vision & Values Statements

Sean Mullen — Mon, 07 Apr 2008 19:52:34 +0000

After engaging in a process of prayer, discussion, and consultation with the entire Parish, the Vestry recently adopted a mission statement for Saint Mark's. The leadership of the parish sees this as an important early step in strategically planning for the challenges and opportunities the parish faces in the coming years. In addition to the mission statement, the Vestry also adopted vision and values statements. These steps are taken with the conviction that the health and welfare of the parish are linked to a clear articulation and shared understanding of our mission, vision, and values.

Mission Statement
Saint Mark’s is a community

that gathers in faith,

serves in love

and proclaims hope,

through Jesus Christ.

Vision Statement
Saint Mark’s is a welcoming church that seeks to grow

through spiritual nourishment, evangelism and outreach,

bearing witness in the Anglo-Catholic tradition

to God’s grace in Philadelphia and the wider church.

Values Statement
Saint Mark’s is a loving community that values:
•   reverent sacramental worship
•   gracious hospitality
•   generous outreach
•   comprehensive Christian formation

The Vestry met in September 2007 to discuss draft versions of all these statements, and to pray about the mission of the parish. Those drafts were circulated by mail to the entire Parish with notice of three opportunities to provide feedback in open forums throughout the Fall. In due course, a fourth session for parish feedback was scheduled to accommadate as many voices and ideas as we could. At a second retreat in January 2008 the Vestry reviewed the feedback collected from the parish and spent time in prayer again to make changes as seemed approriate to reflect the mind of the parish at large as well as the guidance of the Holy Spirit as we were able to discern it. Together, the Vestry and clergy agreed to the final versions of these statements and pledged to continue to engage in a process of strategic planning to enable the growth and impact of the ministries of Saint Mark's.

Honduras Mission - 2008

Sean Mullen — Wed, 09 Jan 2008 19:20:22 +0000

Saint Mark's is planning a medical mission trip to Honduras in June, 2008. Have a look on the Mission Projects page for more info.

More Than Just Organ!

Megan Gallagher — Tue, 11 Sep 2007 14:35:00 +0000

Our Wednesday midday concert series -- "More Than Just Organ" -- begins this
Wednesday, September 12 with our own Diane Meredith Belcher performing.
The programs are 30 minutes long (perfect for lunchtime), and take place at
12:45pm, just after the noon mass. All concerts are free and open to the public,
and the church is handicapped accessible from the West door (accessed through
the garden.) Come and bring your friends, and spread the news of this wonderful series.

Parish Calendar 2007-2008

Sean Mullen — Tue, 04 Sep 2007 20:15:21 +0000

Saint Mark’s is a community of prayer, worship, learning and fellowship, among other things. We are a community of open doors, welcoming many into our midst, and hoping that many new members will join us in our spiritual pilgrimage with God. This calendar lays out a significant portion of our liturgical and special program offerings for the year, but by no means does it include everything that’s happening at Saint Mark’s. Much more information – especially about Christian Education and Formation for children and adults - will be found by contacting the Parish Office or by consulting our website. We hope this calendar will help you see at a glance some of what’s happening in our Parish and will make it easier for you to participate as much as you are able.

The calendar can be found here.

New e-mail Contacts

Sean Mullen — Tue, 17 Jul 2007 20:14:42 +0000

As Saint Mark's changes and grows we've had to adjust our e-mail service and we have some new contacts. Here's how to contact the clergy and staff by email:

Fr. Mullen: semullen@saintmarksphiladelphia.org

Paul Francke: pfrancke@saintmarksphiladelphia.org

Matt Glandorf: mglandorf@saintmarksphiladelphia.org

Diane Belcher: dmbelcher@saintmarksphiladelphia.org

Megan Gallagher: mgallagher@saintmarksphiladelphia.org

Kent John Pope: outreach@saintmarksphiladelphia.org

Harold Fleming: hfleming@saintmarksphiladelphia.org