In this section: Overview | Our ministries | Membership
Service and community
(Link to a detailed chart of our ministries.)
Excited about ministry
St. Mark's several and varied ministries are led by four ministry teams: Invite, Send, Nourish, and Celebrate. The resource committees of Property, Finance, Stewardship, Lutheran Men in Mission (LMM), and Women of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (WELCA) support these ministries and teams in our congregation.
Below are just some of the teams and organizations that provide many ways for you to grow in your faith and to serve others in response to God's love for us. See the “Our ministries” chart for more or call the church office at (904) 396-9608.
Celebrate ministry team
The Celebrate Ministry assists the pastoral and music staff in planning, implementing, and overseeing all ministries, public and private, pertaining to the worship life of this congregation, seeing that they are conducted in good order and in accordance with the confession and practice of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America.
This Ministry's responsibilities include establishing, maintaining, and overseeing guidelines for lay leadership in worship (assisting ministers, lectors, acolytes, crucifers, and choirs), as well as oversight of the Director of Music, care of instruments, flowers, and altar care. This Ministry oversees the Celebrate budget as well as all accounts in the Capital Funds, Designated Gifts and Special Activity accounts that relate to worship, music, or food.
Invite ministry team
The Invite Ministry assists the pastor in planning, implementing, and overseeing all ministries of this congregation pertaining to its public witness to the gospel of Jesus Christ. This Ministry encourages, enlists and supports the members of the congregation in fulfilling the calling given all Christians in baptism to "go and make disciples."
This Ministry's responsibilities include coordination of ushers, greeters, element presenters and drivers; St. Mark’s website; new member orientation; publicity and advertising (primarily for musical events); the guest register and follow-up of worship guests (St. Andrew’s Society).
Nourish ministry team
The Nourish Ministry oversees and assists in the planning and support of the educational ministry of the congregation. This includes providing and supervising Sunday school, Church Day Camp (or VBS), study groups, confirmation instruction, teacher training, youth groups, supper club and other opportunities for the congregation.
Send ministry team
The Send Ministry upholds the portion of the Vision Statement that states "We exist not to serve ourselves but to live out our relationships with Christ in service to community." In keeping with this goal, the Send Ministry assists the congregation in sending the compassion of Christ to the needs of a hurting world.
Ministry projects include:
- Medical education
- Food outreach programs
- Assist homeless families through Family Promise
- Jacksonville Campus Ministry at the University of North Florida
- Habitat for Humanity
- United Community Outreach Ministries (UCOM)
- Red Cross blood drives
- Crop Walk
- Lutheran Social Services of Northeast Florida (LSS)
- Global Missions
- Florida-Bahamas Synod and ELCA benevolence and other projects
Library
The St. Mark's Church Library is located just off Luther Hall, and is available for browsing and book check-out whenever the Church Offices are open.
A variety of religious and spiritual titles are available to encourage you in your faith journey. A children's section is also available along the back wall.
Men in Mission
Men in Mission is a men’s service group that meets monthly for breakfast, fellowship, and church facility maintenance projects. This group usually meets on the first Saturday of the month, with breakfast beginning at 7:30am. Some of our projects include:
- painting
- pressure washing
- trimming trees
- mulching
- air-conditioning maintenance
Men of all ages are invited to join in fellowship, and to volunteer time and talents in maintaining and improving our facility.
New member orientation
We welcome all people to become part of our family of faith! New member orientation is provided to help incoming members feel more comfortable with the total life of St. Mark's: worship, study, youth, fellowship, and service. New member orientation is usually offered once each quarter. Watch our our home page for the date and time.
Are you interested in joining the St. Mark's family? Call the church office at (904) 396-9608 or contact Pastor Hanson by email at hansonts@comcast.net
See our Membership page for more information.
St. Mark’s Foundation
The St. Mark's Foundation exists to enhance the mission outreach of St. Mark's Evangelical Lutheran Church.
Christian stewardship involves the faithful management of all the gifts God has given: time, talents, the created world, and money, including accumulated, inherited, and appreciated resources. Christians can give to the work of the church through bequests in wills, charitable gift annuities, assignment of life insurance, and transfers of property (cash, stocks, bonds, real estate). St. Mark's Foundation exists to encourage, receive, and administer these gifts in a manner consistent with the loyalty and devotion to their Lord expressed by the donors and in accord with parish policies.
A five-person committee elected by the congregation from its voting members acts as custodian of the Foundation.
For more information, contact the church office at (904) 396-9608.
Supper Club
Supper club is a great way to get to know other members of the congregation. All participants attend a large group kickoff dinner in September and an end-of-season dinner.
From October to May, groups of 3-4 couples are scheduled to meet at various host homes for three small group dinners. The hosts are different for each dinner. Hosts prepare the main dish and contact the members scheduled for their group, who provide appetizers, side dishes, and desserts.
If you do not wish to host, you are still welcome to join since there are more than enough couples for hosting — just let the coordinators know your situation! Couples or singles may sign up to participate.
To be part of Supper Club, sign up on the bulletin board in the Narthex during the annual sign-up period during July and August.
For more information, contact the church office at (904) 396-9608.
Women of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America
The women's organization (WELCA) provides opportunities for women to gather in fellowship, service and education. At St. Mark’s, WELCA is organized into three groups or "circles" that meet regularly. Member activities include:
- Bible study
- Prayer chain
- Service projects
- Visiting shut-ins
- Delivering altar flowers
- Helping with receptions and dinners
- Attending joint circle functions
- Providing food for bereaved families
- Sending cards to the sick and shut-ins
- Supporting Lutheran Retirement Center in Deland, Fla.
Deborah Circle meets on the second Tuesday of each month at 9:30am in Hart Hall.
Priscilla Circle meets on the second Thursday of each month at 7:30pm in the Library.
Rebecca Circle meets on the second Saturday of each month at 10am in Hart Hall.
Call the church office for details and contact information at (904) 396-9608.
Privacy policy
Member contact information (telephone number or email address) is only provided to other active members of St. Mark's Lutheran Church. We do not distribute our congregation directory. If you are not a member and want to contact one of our members, call the church office at (904) 396-9608. We will pass on your message together with your email address or telephone number to our member who may then choose to contact you. Staff contact information is provided on the Contact us page.
page created: 25 JUN 2011
page updated: 04 NOV 2011
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