Worship & Congregational Activities

WEATHER WATCH: As we are now in the heart of the winter season, just a reminder about how we will communicate any changes to worship or other events at St. Mark.

If weather conditions or something else causes us to postpone, cancel, or change anything happening at St. Mark, we will use our Call Multiplier system with an announcement, send out an email to anyone on our email list, and post on our social media platforms — Facebook and Instagram. If you aren’t on our Call Multiplier list and/or email list, and would like to put on them, message Pastor David.

PARSONAGE UPDATE: Before the parsonage is publicly listed as being for sale, there will be two open houses exclusively for any St. Mark members and family to see it and decide if they would like to make an offer. Soon after, the house will be listed publicly. If you have any questions, you are invited to contact a member of council.

FAMILY PROGRAM: St. Mark’s Youth and Family Faith Explorers will present a Christmas program as part of the worship service on January 4. News reports from the busy town of Bethlehem are mixed with the congregation singing some Christmas hymns.

INSTALLATION OF NEW COUNCIL: St. Mark’s 2026 council will be installed during the January 4 worship service.

CELEBRATE EPIPHANY ONLINE The Feast of Epiphany on January 6 concludes the Christmas season with a celebration of how God’s glory is revealed to all nations in the person of Jesus. Pastor David will have a brief worship service on Zoom and Facebook Live to celebrate Epiphany at 2pm Tuesday, January 6.

TIME TO PUT AWAY THE DECORATIONS: Sad as it may be, it’s time to take down the Advent/Christmas decorations. We can use help if you are available on Saturday, January 10, starting at 1pm, to take down the decorations. 

SPECIAL MONTHLY COFFEE HOUR/BRUNCH IN JANUARY: St. Mark’s monthly coffee hour is January 11, and it will be a special brunch as we take time to congratulate Bishop-elect Kevin Shock as he prepares to become the next bishop of the Allegheny Synod. Pastor Kevin will take over as bishop on February 1, and he will be installed as bishop during a special service on February 7. You are invited to spend some fellowship time following worship on January 11 and wish Bishop-elect Kevin well as he prepares for his next call.

St. Mark’s Monthly Coffee Hours are usually held the second Sunday of each month. It is a time to have some fellowship together following worship and enjoy some refreshments. If you would like to help with coffee hours, contact Pastor David.

EXPLORE YOUR FAITH WITH OTHERS: Faith Explorers (Sunday School) classes for all ages are at 9:30am Sundays, and they resume on Sunday, January 11 following a Christmas break. The adult class meets in the second floor classroom. This fall the group will be going through the devotional book, The Chosen: 40 Days with Jesus.  

The family and youth class features engaging activities and conversations around life and faith today for both youth and adults alike. 

Anyone is welcome to come anytime you can! If you are interested in helping or have ideas for activities and discussion topics, contact Pastor David.

MORNING PRAYER: Pastor David will resume holding weekly morning prayer on Facebook Live. The morning prayer services will usually be held at 9am Wednesdays, starting January 7. If the time or day changes, it will be posted on Facebook.

SHARE YOUR NEWS: Have you recently received a promotion at work? Changed jobs? Does your child/grandchild have a ball game or a part in a play coming up, or made honor roll? If there is something you would like to share with the St. Mark community, let us know! 

It is wonderful that we share our prayer requests and if we or someone we know has any needs. It also is good to share news that is something we want to celebrate as we journey on in our lives of faith here. We can celebrate together.

If you want to share any news, email stmarksnydertown@gmail.com or email Pastor David and we can include that in our weekly or monthly communications. And if you or another family member is doing something that is open to the public, such as a ball game or play or concert, etc., let us know and we can pass it along for people to mark on their calendars if they are able to attend.

We share the Good News of Jesus Christ with one another and with all we meet, and we can share in the good news each of you in this community may have.

COUNCIL MEETING HIGHLIGHTS: Highlights from the council’s meeting on December 11:

• Redmond’s Complete Comfort spoke to the council, along with members of the property committee, about his proposal to install three mini-split Bryant units in the church. 

• Council reviewed the Endowment Committee’s suggestions for organizations St. Mark could support with donations from the fund’s interest. Council voted to support: Centre Volunteers in Medicine, Clinton County Dental Clinic, Ingraham Fuels for heating assistance for homes in need, Undine Fire Company for Rich Kelley Helo Pad, St. Mark Food Pantry and Howard Food Bank, and Lutheran Campus Ministry at Penn State.

• Council was notified that St. Mark will be receiving two grants from the Allegheny Synod — one for technology upgrades to help with streaming worship services and one to purchase music for a Christmas Cantata.

• The next council meeting is 7pm Thursday, January 8.

CONGREGATIONAL MEETING HIGHLIGHTS: Highlights from the annual congregational meeting held on December 14:

• New council members were voted on and approved to serve a two-year term on council, beginning in January 2026.

• The 2026 budget was discussed and approved.

• Council president presented a proposal from Redmond’s Complete Comfort to install three Bryant High Heat Ductless mini split systems. Two of the units will manage the Sanctuary, and the third will be used for the Fellowship Room. The bid was accepted and approved by the congregation.

YOUTUBE CHANNEL: Yes St. Mark has its own YouTube channel @stmarksnydertown. Currently, the site has videos of Sunday worship services. We are looking to include content that would be meaningful to you and your faith formation/journey. If you have ideas, please contact Pastor David.

ENJOY SINGING? JOIN THE CHOIR: St. Mark Choir welcomes anyone who is interested in singing. Choir practices are held 7pm Tuesdays. Anyone who is interested in joining either the St. Mark Choir or Christians with Rhythm Choir, or both, is invited to join! If you have any questions, contact Pastor David.

HELPERS ON SUNDAYS: ​​Thank you to everyone who volunteers to help on Sundays — greeters, readers, etc. It is much appreciated and needed! If you would like to help on Sundays, you can contact Pastor David. Thank you!

GIVING ONLINE: Did you know you can make offerings to St. Mark online and also set up a schedule for continued offerings securely online using a credit card or bank account? This is done through the church’s online giving platform Tithely. Visit https://bit.ly/3bhr907 to give online. If you have any questions, contact Pastor David. 

MEETING WITH PASTOR DAVID: If you would like to meet or talk with Pastor David about anything, either in person, on Zoom, or a phone call, you are invited to contact him to set up a time.