Acolytes
Help with the 10:30 a.m. service by carrying the cross, lighting the candles and assisting with setting up the altar for communion.
Acolytes can be as young as 8 years old and as old as 88. If you are interested in being an acolyte, contact Pastor Vicki. rector@saintmarkscolumbus.org
Altar Guild
Sets up the altar for the Sunday morning services.
There are three parts of the altar guild’s role:
The altar guild works in teams, with some of the team handling each part.
Altar Guild is open to everyone. If you are interested in altar guild, contact Gloria Wylie. gawylie@att.net
Chalice Bearers
Assist with the service by presenting the chalice to people during communion. Chalice bearers can serve at both the 8 & 10:30 services. Chalice bearers can be anyone from grade 6 through adult. If you are interested in being a chalice bearer, contact Pastor Vicki. rector@saintmarkscolumbus.org
Lectors
Lectors are the people who read the lessons and lead the prayers of the people. Lectors serve at both the 8 & 10:30 services. Lectors can be anyone from grade 6 through adult. If you are interested in being a lector, contact Pastor Vicki. rector@saintmarkscolumbus.org
Live Stream Producers
The livestream producers create the livestream broadcast for the 10:30 service. This involves managing the cameras and microphones as well as the production and broadcast of the service.
Training is provided.
Livestream producers can be high school students or adults. High school students are paid a small stipend. If you are interested in being a livestream producer, contact Mark Drew. markthephd@gmail.com
Nursery
The nursery provides care for children during the 10:30 service. There is an adult and a teenage assistant each week. The teenage assistants receive a small stipend. Adults are encouraged to take Safe Church training.
If you are interested in helping in the nursery, contact Julie Moll. Julied5.jm@gmail.com
Flower Guild
Creates the flower arrangements for the altar each Sunday. Members sign up for Sundays that work with their schedules. Training is provided. No experience necessary.
Contact Barb Keyes. Bkeyes25@gmail.com
Ushers
The ushers welcome people to Saint Mark’s, help them find bathrooms, the nursery and children’s formation if necessary. They also hand out bulletins and direct people to communion. Ushers serve at both 8 & 10:30. Ushers can be anyone from 6th grade through adult.
If you are interested in being an usher, contact Gloria Wylie. gawylie@att.net
Vergers
Vergers are the people who help organize the service. They make sure that the acolytes, chalice bearers and lectors are present and prepared. They make sure that everything is set for the service, and they troubleshoot anything that goes wrong during the service. Vergers can be anyone from high school on up.
If you are interested in being a verger, contact Bill Silliman billrsilliman@gmail.com
Canterbury Choir
Canterbury Choir is the children/youth choir at Saint Marks. Open to boys and girls ages 7 to 14. No musical background is required. Rehearsals are Wednesdays from 4:30 to 5:30 p.m.
The choir sings for the 10:30 service on the first Sunday of every month, from September to May.
If you or your child are interested in the Canterbury Choir, contact
Dr. Matthew Bester. directorofmusic@saintmarkscolumbus.org
Saint Mark’s Choir
Saint Mark’s Choir is the adult choir.
They sing for the 10:30 services from September through May, except for the first Sunday of the month. They also sing for Evensong, Lessons and Carols and other special services.
The choir rehearses on Thursday evenings from 7:30 to 9:15.
If you are interested in the Choir, contact Dr. Matthew Bester. directorofmusic@saintmarkscolumbus.org
Outreach Summits
Outreach Summits are held several times a year. These are a chance to hear about what the various outreach programs are doing, to review the outreach budget and to talk about new ideas. The summits that happen after the 10:30 service include lunch. For more information contact the outreach admin team at outreach@saintmarkscolumbus.org
Appalachian Ministries
We work with Help Me Grow in Vinton and Jackson counties to provide support to children and families in the poorest region of Ohio. Major projects include backpacks of school supplies in the fall and a baby shower for supplies in the spring along with other things.
If you are interested in getting involved, contact Barb Keyes. Bkeyes25@gmail.com
Habitat for Humanity
We provide lunches several times a year for Saturday workdays at the Habitat for Humanity build site.
If you are interested in getting involved, contact Marilyn Karl. mjkarl@yahoo.com
Migration Ministry
We support a couple of families of asylum seekers, work on providing information about issues of migration to the congregation and organize the Culture and Artisans Fair each year.
If you are interested in getting involved, contact Elizabeth Anstaett. elanstaett@aol.com
In Our Own Backyard
Working with the Tri-Village Packers group, we are providing shelf stable food to Tremont Elementary for those students who come to school hungry, but who don’t qualify for free lunch or breakfast programs. If you want to get involved, contact Leslie Winters. msleslie@gmail.com
NNEMAP
NNEMAP is the Near North East Material Assistance Program. It is a food pantry and other services. Saint Mark’s has been a NNEMAP partner for over 40 years. If you have shelf stable food or personal hygiene products to donate, you can put those in the baskets by the front door.
On the second Wednesday morning of the month, we gather to make packets of spices and wrap stacks of diapers to be distributed at NNEMAP. We participate in their Christmas Shop through our giving tree. We support NNEMAPs fundraising efforts.
Members of Saint Mark’s volunteer at NNEMAP. If you want to get involved, contact Bill Karl. Mrbill.karl@gmail.com
Street Church
We are long term partners with Saint John’s Episcopal Church in the Franklinton area of Columbus. We provide lunch for Street Church several times a year. This involves providing the food for the lunch and travelling a few miles down to the Street Church site to distribute the food. If you want to get involved, contact Robert Morton. notvmorton@gmail.com
If you have ideas for new ways for Saint Mark’s to engage with helping those around us or if you have questions about Outreach ministries, you can contact the Outreach Administrative Team at outreach@saintmarkscolumbus.org
Adult Formation
Happens between 9:30 & 10:15 on Sunday mornings in the parish hall.
2025-26 Schedule:
September/October – What happened to the disciples?
November & December – Celtic, Coptic, African & Eastern Christianity
January – New Perspectives on Paul
February & March – History of the Book of Common Prayer & Using it as a basis for spirituality
April & May – The Book of Daniel
Children’s Formation
Children’s Formation happens during the first half of the 10:30 service.
Younger children participate Godly Play which uses Montessori theories in approaching stories from the Bible.
Older children participate in Children’s Chapel which combines stories, discussion and art & other kinds of projects. Children return to the service during the Peace.
Children’s Formation does not meet on the first Sunday of the month. On those Sundays children are with their parents for the whole service.
Pub Theology
We meet at 7 p.m. on the third Tuesday of the month.
We talk theology until about 8 p.m.
Pastor Vicki has some topics prepared, but bring your own ideas, thoughts and questions too.
Check the announcements for where we are meeting each month.
Sisters in Faith
A Saint Mark’s women’s group that meets the third Monday of the month from 7 to 8:30 p.m. The group discusses spiritual growth with the help of a book and the wisdom of the room.
For more information, contact Michele Johnson. michelebjohnson@gmail.com
Youth Group
Youth group is for all youth in grades 6 to 12. We meet after the 10:30 service on the first Sunday of the month. We do a variety of activities, some fun, some spiritual, some a combination of both. Lunch is provided. Most meetings end at 1:30 p.m.
Golf Group
Open to golfers of all abilities. The group plays on Mondays during the golf season. Contact Bruce Johnson. michelebjohnson@gmail.com
Knitting Group
Gather to work on your own project (knitting or not), get some help or just have fun and conversation. Daytime Group meets the first and third Thursdays of the month from 1 to 3 p.m. Evening Group meets the second Monday of the month from 6:30 to 8 p.m.
Book Group
Meets the 4th Monday of the month to discuss books that have been chosen by the members. Contact Pat Iams. Pati51@aol.com
Marksmen
Marksmen is a social group that meets regularly for fellowship and fun. They also provide pancakes for the Shrove Tuesday Pancake Supper and BBQ for the Pentecost Picnic. Contact Mark Drew. markthephd@gmail.com
Supper Group
Supper Group gathers in the parish hall on the first Saturday of the month September through June for a potluck supper, often around a theme. Contact Gloria Wylie. gwylie@att.net
Coffee Hour
Coffee Hour after the 10:30 service is an important part of Sunday morning. Coffee Hour hosts work in teams with each team responsible for one week a month. Coffee Hour hosts make coffee and lemonade and iced tea, bring food and set up and clean up coffee hour. There are also bakers who provide food once a month. If you are interested in being a coffee hour host or a baker for coffee hour, contact Megan Bowman meeisenman@gmail.com
Special Events
We also provide receptions for things like funerals and other special events. If you are interested in helping with receptions, let Pastor Vicki know.
Communications
The communications team produces the monthly Epistle newsletter and helps with overseeing the website and Saint Mark’s social media.
We are looking for a few new additions to the communications team.
Contact Pastor Vicki. rector@saintmarkscolumbus.org