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Ash Wednesday

A stylized cross, drawn with ashes

St. Mark’s will host an Ash Wednesday service starting at 7 p.m., Wednesday, Feb. 14. Our neighbors at Presbyterian Church of the Covenant will join us.

If you can’t be with us in person, you can join us remotely on YouTube.

For those unable to attend the evening service, Pastor Kelley Ketcham will also offer “Ashes to Go” in the church parking lot from noon to 1 p.m. Pull up outside the main entrance and Pastor Kelley will come to your car, offer ashes, prayer and a short litany. There is no need to leave your car.

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22nd annual Christmas Bazaar

A scene from a former St. Mark's Christmas Bazaar

St. Mark’s 22nd annual Christmas Bazaar returns Saturday, Dec. 2, from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.

As in years past, you’ll find crafts of many kinds, an assortment of homemade soups, baked goods, floral arrangements, gift baskets and — oh yes! — the fun Lionel train display that so many have enjoyed.

Admission is free!

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Oh yum! Y’all come! It’s time for lasagna!

Tantalizing photo of a slice of lasagna

It’s one of the best nights of the year — St. Mark’s annual lasagna dinner! This year, it happens at 6 p.m., Friday, Dec. 1 so mark your calendars and come hungry!

The meal includes all-you-can-eat lasagna, meatballs, salad, bread, a dessert and drink. And — don’t forget — tickets also give you early-bird access to St. Mark’s popular Christmas Bazaar, which opens to the public at 9 a.m., Saturday, Dec. 2.

Tickets are $20 each. And you can also take home a full pan of lasagna for an extra $30. Tickets will be sold on Sundays through November.

Come for the food, the fun, the fellowship and — oh yes! — that early-bird access!

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Worship with us during this Thanksgiving and Christmas season!

An image with candles and stained glass

A special season is fast approaching! Here are our plans for worship throughout Thanksgiving, Christmas and New Year’s Eve — please join us!

  • Thanksgiving week — Tuesday, Nov. 21:

7 p.m., Tuesday, November 21: Pastor Kelley will participate in the Community Thanksgiving Service at Holly Oak Calvary Methodist Church, 1511 Philadelphia Pike, Wilmington. Let’s join in this thanksgiving gathering!

  • Advent Prayer Vigil, Saturday, Dec. 2:

8:30 a.m. to noon. Set apart time in our beautiful sanctuary to prayerfully meditate on Advent, the coming of the Christ, and to know him as Emmanuel — the “God-with-us” — who has the power to transform our hearts, our lives and even this broken world in which we live. Meditative Advent music will enhance the experience and an Advent Prayer Guide will be supplied. (More details below.)

  • Christmas Eve, Sunday, Dec. 24:

10 a.m. — Joint worship service with our neighbors at Presbyterian Church of the Covenant (503 Duncan Road).

4 p.m. — Contemporary Family Worship at St. Mark’s

8 p.m. — Traditional Candlelight Worship at St. Mark’s

  • New Year’s Eve, Sunday, Dec. 31:

10 a.m. – Joint worship service at St. Mark’s

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Stock the food pantry for LCS!

Grocery cart

July brings challenges for low-income families with school-aged children, as they may need to provide an additional 10 meals each week during the summer. This year, inflation makes that challenge even greater for food-insecure households.

We at St. Mark’s have a special opportunity to help these families and others who find it tough to put food on the table.

July is “LIFE” Month for us — and that stands for “Lutherans Involved in Food Emergencies.” During this month, we focus on helping to stock the food pantries of Lutheran Community Services, which includes LCS’ headquarters and pantries at St. Stephen’s, Unity, and Hope Lutheran churches.

As in years past, the grocery cart is in the Narthex. You know what to do! Please bring shelf-stable items, diapers and personal hygiene products.

Making a financial donation is also a great way to help. You can write a check directly to Lutheran Community Services or designate your gift to LIFE on your St. Mark’s offering envelope.

Join us as we work together this month to keep the LCS food pantries stocked for those who need them most.

Thank you for your support!

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What’s your story?

What's your story?

If you have encountered the transformative love of Jesus, you have a great story to tell and we want to hear it. In fact, we need to hear it!

Jesus’ love gives us hope for the future and hope for each other. All of us are strengthened when we share that good news.

So please join us for “What’s Your Story?” — our Adult Forum summer series, starting at 10 a.m. July 9 in the Great Room, as we share our faith stories and real-life experiences of God’s work in our lives.

Margie Dodson, who has been at St. Mark’s since 2007, leads us off this Sunday.

Here are a few things to know about Margie:

Margie Dodson
Margie Dodson
  • She is the youngest of five girls, has been married to Ollie Dodson for 30 years and is blessed with a “big, blended family” that includes two stepdaughters, five grandchildren and 11 great-grandchildren.
  • Margie has worked as a dental hygienist for more than 40 years and continues to work three days a week.
  • Margie loves music. Her favoriate hymn is “Be Thou My Vision.”

There’s so much more to her story! Join us, bring your questions and see what God has been up to with one of our dear family members.

We have a growing list of folks willing to share their stories and we’d love to add your name. If you’re interested, please contact Margie Dodson or Beth Miller and we’ll be glad to help you do it!

“Worship Christ as Lord of your life. And if someone asks about your hope as a believer, always be ready to explain it.” 1 Peter 3:15 (NLT)

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Service of Love

Service of Love 10 a.m. Sunday, June 11

St. Mark’s will present a unity Service of Love at 10 a.m. Sunday, June 11, where God’s radical love — shown through philia (brotherly love), eros (romantic love), and agape (unconditional love) — will be featured through scripture and song.

Family and friends are invited and encouraged to come and be a part of this beautiful event.

Following the service, a reception and special exhibits encompassing the three types of love will be on display in the Narthex.

We hope to see you on this joyous day!

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Holy Week at St. Mark’s

Journey through Holy Week with us.

We continue our Holy Week journey at St. Mark’s, reflecting together on the life, work and sacrifice of Jesus, celebrating His triumph over death and considering His call to action.

Our schedule includes worship in our sanctuary as well as livestream options on our YouTube channel. To find a specific service, click on the underlined text for a link. Join us in person or online as we worship our Lord!

  • Good Friday, April 7: 7 p.m. Joint evening worship service with Presbyterian Church of the Covenant, hosted by St. Mark’s
  • Holy Saturday, April 8: 9 a.m. to noon. Prayer vigil in St. Mark’s sanctuary
  • Easter Sunday, April 9: 8:45 a.m. Traditional worship service; 11:15 a.m. Contemporary worship service (There are no Christian education programs on this day.)
  • Monday, April 10: St. Mark’s office will be closed on this day.
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Thursday Lenten Series: Who are we and what are we doing here?

Pastor Kelley Ketcham leads a discussion during the Lenten Series

Our mid-week Lenten meal and service series continues weekly on Thursdays through March 30. Dinner is served in the Great Room at 5:30 p.m. and includes bread, drinks and dessert. Please bring a crock pot of soup or a bowl of salad to share if possible.

Pastor Ketcham’s message starts at 6:15 p.m.

This series of messages — titled “Who are we and what are we doing here?” — will help us reflect on our future and give us opportunity to reexamine our identity and mission.

What does it mean to be a Lutheran Christian congregation? What does it mean to be St. Mark’s Lutheran Church? How have we lived out our identity and mission in the past, and how can we continue to live this out today and in the future?

Through this five-week Thursday evening series, we are looking at these questions and discerning our congregation’s identity and mission.

Join us in the Great Room on Thursday evenings. You may also listen in on our YouTube channel, where you will find recordings of any session you may have missed.

March 2 and 9: Our Lutheran Christian identity, ministry, and mission

What does it mean to be a Christian church? To be a Lutheran church? We’ll look at five basic Lutheran beliefs to help us discern our mission as Lutheran Christians, how well we follow them, and how they are reflected in our congregation’s life. Watch recording of March 2 on YouTube. Watch recording of March 9 on YouTube.

March 16: The historic identity and mission of St. Mark’s Lutheran Church

How has St. Mark’s Lutheran Church lived out its mission in its over 80-year history? When were our periods of growth and vitality, and what factored into this? How can our past practices inform us as we look to our future? Watch on YouTube.

March 23: The current identity and mission of St. Mark’s Lutheran Church

What is St. Mark’s Lutheran Church identity today, and how do we see our mission in today’s environment? What is Bellefonte and northern New Castle County like today? Why does our surrounding community need us? What has led more recent members to become partners in our ministry? Watch on YouTube.

March 30: The future identity and mission of St. Mark’s Lutheran Church

God has a plan for us, and God is calling us to a bright future spreading God’s Gospel today. How can our Lutheran Christian tradition and our historic identity and mission help us meet today’s need for the Gospel? How can we carry out this mission and spread the Good News of Jesus Christ? Watch on YouTube.

All are welcome and encouraged to join us!

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