Worship, Education, & Congregational Life

BLESSING OF PETS AND ANIMALS: St. Mark holds its Blessing of Pets and Animals service 6pm October 1 under the pavilion. All are invited to bring their pets for a blessing. Please have all dogs on leashes. A collection for Centre County PAWS will be taken.

The service is held in early October each year, around the time the church remembers Francis of Assisi, who had a spirit of gratitude for all of creation, including pets and animals.

COFFEE HOURS RETURN IN OCTOBER: St. Mark’s Monthly Coffee Hours return October 11. Usually held the second Sunday of each month, the coffee hours are a time to enjoy some fellowship and refreshments following worship. If you would like to help with coffee hours for one month or in general, contact Pastor David.

“UNRAVELED” BIBLE STUDY, PART ONE: Starting October 7, Pastor David will start a Bible study titled “Unraveled: Seeking God When Our Plans Fall Apart.” This is based on a series from A Sanctified Art. 

“What happens when our world falls apart? How do we press onward when our tightly-knit plans unravel into loose threads? What do we become when our identity — or the path we’re on — comes undone? … In our unraveling, sometimes life surprises us with unexpected joy, love, and hope … Sometimes we need God to unravel us, for we long to be changed.”

The study features 12 stories from the Bible that explore unraveled shame, identity, fear, grief, dreams, and expectations. Some of the stories include Zacchaeus, Saul’s becoming Paul, Peter’s sinking in the water, and more.

The classes will be held 6pm Tuesdays at St. Mark. Part one of the study, featuring six stories, will go from October 6 to November 17 (there is no class on November 3). Part two of the study, featuring the remaining six stories, will be held in the spring.

If you have any questions, contact Pastor David.

FAITH EXPLORERS CLASSES: Faith Explorers (Sunday School) classes for all ages are at 9:30am Sunday mornings. The adult class meets in the second floor classroom. This fall, the group will finish the devotional book, The Chosen: 40 Days with Jesus and start a new study.  

The family and youth class features engaging activities and conversations around life and faith today for both youth and adults alike. Anyone who is interested is invited to come and offer their input or contact Pastor David.

Come to church a little early prior worship for these 30 minutes of faith formation and fellowship!

A TIME FOR HEALING: Each October 18, churches around the world celebrate the evangelist Luke, who wrote the Gospel of Luke and Acts. Luke was believed to be a physician, so it is around October 18 each year when churches hold healing services with a laying of the hands. 

October 18 happens to fall on a Sunday this year, so St. Mark will have a Service of Healing as its worship service. There will be a time during the service when anyone will be invited to come forward to receive a sign of healing and be anointed.

EARLY SCREENING OF THE CHOSEN: Following worship on October 18, St. Mark will be showing an early screening of Season 6, Episode 1 of The Chosen, the multi season drama show about the life of Jesus and his followers. Season 6 is the season that will depict the crucifixion of Jesus.

The first three episodes of the season won’t be released until November 15 on Amazon Prime, so this is a special opportunity to get an early look at the first episode. The screening will be in the Fellowship Room.

If you haven’t watched The Chosen yet, you are still invited to come and see what it is about. You also can watch the first five seasons for free at watch.thechosen.tv or download The Chosen app on any smart device.

If you have any questions, contact Pastor David.

REFORMATION SUNDAY AND OKTOBERFEST MEAL: St. Mark’s annual Oktoberfest meal is following worship on Sunday, October 25 (Reformation Sunday) in the Fellowship Room. There will be more information sent out and also in the church narthex. Sign up by October 18 if you plan to attend and celebrate the day. You can sign up on the sheet in the narthex or message the church at stmarksnydertown@gmail.com.

ALL SAINTS SUNDAY: All Saints Sunday is Sunday, November 1. We honor those loved ones who have gone before us into the church triumphant by saying their names and ringing a bell toward the end of the service. We take this special time to pause, sit quietly, and remember those who have been important in each of our lives and in the life of St. Mark, those who have been our examples of faith and love, and those who remain in our hearts. 

If you have a name you would like to add to the list, contact Pastor David by October 25.

You are invited to bring a photo or photos of loved ones you would like to remember on All Saints Sunday and place the photos in front of the altar. 

HELP GUIDE THE FUTURE OF THE CHURCH: St. Mark’s church council will be looking for new members for 2027. Would you like to guide St. Mark in the coming year and near future? With the term of some current council members ending, the church is looking for people to be on the new council that will start in January 2027. It is a chance to play an active role in what happens at St. Mark. If you have any questions or concerns, contact Pastor David or a current member of council. The council elections will take place during the annual congregational meeting, held this year on December 13, following worship.

CALLING ALL THRIVENT MEMBERS: If you currently hold Thrivent contracts, you are entitled to direct some of their charitable funds to organizations of your choice at no additional cost to you. You need to direct these funds each year, so please consider choosing St. Mark as your recipient. If you have questions or need help, please contact Pastor David.

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 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: Council met on Thursday, September 10.

• Decisions are still pending on two synod grants St. Mark received for worship and music, and for technology.

• The church is still waiting to be scheduled to have Redmonds install a dehumidifier.

• The December council meeting will be on December 3.

• Council voted to contract with Parks’ Pest Control to perform an initial treatment for rodents and insects and then do bi-monthly checks and treatments as necessary.

• The Property Committee will be obtaining quotes for sprucing up the Sanctuary flooring, and woodwork.

The next council meeting is scheduled for 7pm Thursday, October 8.

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. 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.