Worship

Worship at St. Mark’s incorporates quite a few traditions that we quite like!  We’ll describe a few here, but the best way to figure out what our worship is like is to come to a worship service (hint, hint).

The 9:00 Worship Service

This service is less formal in style than our 11:00 service.  We still use some spoken liturgy (parts for the congregation to say, and parts for the pastor to say).  The congregation follows the service as it is projected on our screen.  Selections from the Bible are read, usually by one of our members.

Songs are sung at various times in the service, led by members of our band, Joyful Noise.  Musical accompaniment is piano and guitar.  The band’s style is kind of folksy-sing-along.  Our band is made up of volunteers from our congregation.

There is a sermon, usually given by our Senior Pastor, but sometimes by one of our Associate Pastors or a lay person.  They’re all really good! The same sermon is preached at both the 9:00 and the 11:00 Worship service. After the sermon, there is a time of prayer.

Holy Communion is celebrated every Sunday.

The 11:00 Worship Service

This service follows an order of worship laid out in our hymnal, The Lutheran Service Book.   The service is liturgical, which means there’s parts laid out for the congregation to say or sing, and parts that the pastor says or sings.  The congregation can follow the service in the hymnal, and we also project it on our screen.  Selections from the Bible are read, usually by one of our members.

There are hymns sung at various times in the service.  Musical accompaniment is generally our pipe organ.  The choir may sing during this service on some Sundays.  Special services may use other instruments such as flute or strings.

There is a sermon, usually given by our Senior Pastor, but sometimes by one of our Associate Pastors or a lay person.  They’re all really good!  The same sermon is preached at both the 9:00 and the 11:00 Worship Service.  After the sermon, there is a time of prayer.

Holy Communion is celebrated every Sunday.

The 2:30 Nuer Worship Service

We also offer a Nuer fellowship service on most Sundays at 2:30pm. This service is described in more detail on our Nuer Language Fellowship page. There is an opportunity for children to learn the Nuer language while the adults and youth attend worship.

Kids

Sunday School is offered at the same time as the 9:00 Service (10:00 in May), to allow parents to attend worship in relative peace.  However, children are welcome at any and all services if parents choose to keep their kids with them!  Sunday School recesses for the summer in June, July, and August.

Summer Worship Service

From the start of May to the end of August, we change to a summer worship schedule. There is a single worship service on Sundays during the summer period.  In May, we usually have a blend of the 9:00 and 11:00 worship styles, and June to August, with a few exceptions, our summer services are in the 11:00 Service style. In July, we offer one outdoor worship service, weather permitting. Check our calendar for that one!