Advent and Christmas at Saint Mark’s

Advent Wreath-Making Workshop

December 3, after the 8 and 10:30 worship services

Everything you need to make your own Advent wreath will be available in the parish hall, including wire wreath forms, candles, greens, and embellishments. No experience is necessary as members of Saint Mark’s Flower Guild will be on hand to offer their expertise.

A Festival of Advent Lessons and Carols

Sunday, December 3, 4 p.m.

The Saint Mark’s Choir and the Canterbury Choir will come together to lead Saint Mark’s beloved Festival of Advent Lessons and Carols.

An annual parish favorite, the service of Lessons and Carols alternates Advent-themed lessons with beautiful and inspiring music, all in preparation for the Christmas season.

Music will include choral works by Thomas Foster, Ola Gjello, Simon Lindley, Sarah MacDonald, Leo Nester, Boris Ord, Craig Phillips, and Charles Wood.  The service will feature a world premiere of an anthem by the Canadian composer Sarah MacDonald, commissioned for the Saint Mark’s Choir in memory of Barbara Mayr.

Admission is free. Donations will be accepted in support of the Special Music Fund.

The service also will be livestreamed on our website and Facebook page. Please join us for the return of this uplifting event, and be sure to invite some friends!

An elegant reception will follow.

The Giving Tree

December 3 – December 17

The Giving Tree is located in front of the chapel. It has been decorated with ornaments labeled with gift suggestions requested by children.

Unwrapped gifts can be placed under the tree from Sunday,  November 27 through Sunday, December 17.

Gifts are donated to NNEMAP Food Pantry’s holiday gift shoppe, which is available to pre-registered families in the Linden neighborhood with children up to age 16.

You can use our Amazon Gift List to have gifts shipped directly to Saint Mark’s.

Christmas by the Clock

Tuesday, December 12, 2022, 6:30 p.m. – 8 p.m.

The Canterbury Choir will perform Christmas carols as part of the  Christmas by the Clock celebration at Tremont Center in Upper Arlington. Come out and support our young choristers as they represent Saint Mark’s for this fun community event, which features free sleigh rides and treats from the Goodie Shoppe, live reindeer, and an appearance by Santa and Mrs. Claus.

Advent Quiet Morning

Saturday, December 16, 9 am – Noon

A chance to take a moment to pause and reflect in the midst of a busy season.

We will begin at 9 a.m. with morning prayer.

There will be three reflections on Advent themes; each followed by time for prayer and reflection.

The morning will end with Noonday prayer.

Bring your journal, knitting, art supplies or book if you’d like.

We will gather in the Canterbury Center.

Outreach Ministry Cookie Walk

Sunday, December 17, following the 10:30 worship service

The Outreach Ministry’s Cookie Walk is a great way to try a variety of homemade cookies. Cookies are weighed and priced at $10 a pound. All of the funds raised from the sale this year benefit NNEMAP.

There will also be a smaller cookie walk between the 8 & 10:30 a.m. services.

You can drop your cookies off at church before the walk or bring them on December 17.

Advent Materials

There are Advent materials available in the parish hall in the arch-shaped book rack near the kitchen, where the Forward Day by Day booklets are located.  You can also download them from this page.

Materials include:

• A booklet of prayers for Advent
• A booklet of weekly Theological Reflections for Advent
• A booklet of prayers to use with your Advent Wreath
• Beginning with the First Sunday of Advent, we started reading the Gospel of Mark.  Here is a directed reading of 40 stories from Mark.

In 2021 we published a series of short video meditations on Advent themes for you to use at home.

Week One Video

Week Two Video

Week Three Video

Week Four Video