We believe that all of St. Mark’s members should have the opportunity to participate fully in our worship together.  We offer two services of Holy Eucharist (or communion) on Sunday: a more traditional, spoken service at 7:45 a.m. and a less formal service at 9:45 a.m. that includes a wide range of music using piano, organ, and percussion accompaniment.  Children are welcome at either service and regularly assist in worship leadership.

Pastoral Services

Baptism – We offer the ritual of baptism to those individuals who would like to make a commitment to living and growing within a Christian community.  Most families choose to baptize infants or young children, but we also welcome adults who wish to be baptized. 
 

Confirmation – People who have been baptized as infants or young children may decide to offer a mature commitment to the faith as older youth or adults.  High school students participate in a one-year period of study and practice; adults usually meet for a shorter period of time.  Confirmation is offered at the Bishop’s annual visitation, which varies from year to year.

Weddings – Christian marriage is celebrated within the life of the faith community.  Couples interested in being married at St. Mark’s should begin attending worship services and then make an appointment with the clergy at least six months before the wedding date.

Blessing of Holy Unions – In accordance with diocesan guidelines, the clergy of St. Mark’s are not authorized to officiate at a marriage service or to sign a marriage license for a same-sex couple.  In 2007, members of St. Mark’s will begin a series of meetings and discussions about how we as a parish view marriage, what our role is in preparing couples who wish to have their unions blessed, and how we welcome them into the life of our congregation.

Altar ServerS

Altar Servers are one of the many ways children participate in our service.  Children may begin serving in third grade as Torch Bearers, moving up to Acolytes in middle school and then crucifers in High School.  Altar Servers participate in the weekly Sunday service and for Holy days and special occasions.  The children fulfill their duties wonderfully and their participation is encouraged.

Altar Guild

Altar Guild members share the responsibility of preparing the sanctuary for Sunday Holy Eucharist services and special events such as Baptisms, Weddings, Funerals, and Confirmation.  Participants help decorate the narthex for Christmas, Palm Sunday, Holy Week and Easter and maintain the room known as the Sacristy, which contains all the supplies used during services.

Bell Choir

The St. Mark’s Bell Choir is a unique musical organization featuring the beauty and resonance of a 3 octave set of English Hand Bells.   The choir generally consists of 10 ringers and 1 director and plays during Sunday morning worship as well as festive services.  The repertoire consists of sacred music from spirituals to arrangements of works by classical composers.  Rehearsals are usually held on Sunday evenings twice a month with extra rehearsals as needed.

Choir– Senior

The adult choir is an opportunity for service to the parish and fellowship through music, open to all adults and young adults of high school age who love to sing. Music reading and/or previous experience is not necessary. With the aid of the music director, the choir rehearses service music and anthems for approximately forty services throughout the year, including Christmas Eve and Holy Week services. The rehearsals are on Wednesday evenings and Sunday mornings.

Additional short term projects such as a Men's Choir, Women's Choir and special Festival Choirs during the Advent/Christmas and Easter seasons provide other opportunities for participation and are announced in the newsletter.
 

Choirs- Youth
The two youth choirs at St. Mark’s – the Wildcats Choir and the Lionhearts Choir – provide youth with a terrific opportunity for music, fun, fellowship, and leadership development.  The Wildcats Choir includes kindergarten through grade 4, and the Lionhearts Choir is for grades 5 to 9 (but is open to any youth in high school who would rather participate in the youth choir than the adult choir).  Both choirs sing at one 9:45 am service a month during the school year, as well as at Christmas Eve and Easter services.  Rehearsals are on Sundays after church school.

Lay Eucharistic Ministers
Lay Eucharistic Ministers read the lessons, lead the prayers, and assist the Priest in the distribution of Holy Communion and to bring Holy Communion to shut-ins and others who can not attend the altar.

Lectors
Lectors are members of the parish who read the lessons during the worship service.

Ushers
Two parishioners usher each week at the worship service.  They greet and welcome people as they enter the church, hand out programs, welcome new members, carry the obligations to the altar, arrange for the communion gifts to be brought to the altar, take the collection and invite all to receive communion.  At the conclusion of the service they tidy up the pews and record the Service’s attendance.

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St Mark's Episcopal Church
116 South Street - PO Box 148
Foxboro, MA 02035
Office@stmarksfx.org
508.543.8191