Saturday Evening Worship: Unfailing Light

Sunset in the North Carolina Mountains

“The Holy Spirit calls us together as the people of God.”

Sometimes the Spirit gathers us in the evening, at the close of day. For St. Mark’s, this evening gathering happens on Saturdays.

Our Saturday service is sometimes referred to as St. Mark’s “contemporary” service, but that ambiguous term means different things to different people. At St. Mark’s, “contemporary” refers to modern hymns played on the piano – most of which would be equally suitable for our Sunday morning worship. Songs are typically drawn from Evangelical Lutheran Worship and Worship and Praise – Augsburg Fortress’ contemporary songbook that was released in 1999. Additional songs come from a variety of other sources.

We have been slowly introducing a setting of Holy Communion written specifically for this time of day. “Unfailing Light” is the title with music by Marty Haugen and several original texts by Susan Briehl.  Especially in the gathering and sending, this setting draws images from scripture that invoke eventide.

With texts like “Your canopy of vigil lights, each star you set in place, bestows a blessing on the night. . .” and “let coyote howl and night hawk circle while solemn owl her wise watch keeps,” we are presented with comforting images of the approaching night.

Lighting candles for Evening Prayer - All Saint's Chapel, University of the South
Sewanee, Tennessee

The service also reminds us of the story of the two disciples who met Jesus on the road to Emmaus. (“Stay with us, for it is evening. . .”) As it was for those disciples, bread is broken, and we are nourished.

When you can’t come to church on Sunday, please remember that we have this Saturday service on the first and third Saturdays of each month at 5:30 p.m. The mood is a little more casual, but we hear the same readings, pray the same prayers, and eat and drink at the same table.  You won’t find anything lacking.

Please join us. . .and bring a friend. 

Evening Prayer at St. Mark's

FIVE NOT-TO-BE-MISSED MUSICAL HIGHLIGHTS: FALL 2018 AT ST. MARK’S

You know it’s fall when school is back in session, summer vacations are a not-too-distant memory, and mid-term elections are looming.  At the same time, churches begin their fall programs.  St. Mark’s is no exception.

Here are five music events to watch for at St. Mark’s this fall. You won’t want to miss any of them!

1. Ensemble rehearsals begin

Our summer break from rehearsals is nearly over and our usual practice schedule resumes on Wednesday, September 5^th.

The St. Mark’s Ringers rehearse on Wednesday evenings from 5:30 – 6:30 p.m. in the nave.  We have positions for experienced ringers available, so contact Tony Cruz if you would like to play this year.  (“Experienced” means you already read music, but it doesn’t necessarily mean you have experience with handbells – we will be happy to supply that!)

St. Mark's Ringers at Riverside Park UMC in May 2017

Is this the year that you join your voice with the voices of our Festival Choir?  We are hoping that is.  We have a strong need for sopranos and altos to join our ranks, but tenors and basses are also welcome. The Festival Choir rehearses on Wednesday evenings in the music suite from 7:30 – 9:00 p.m.  All singers are welcome! The ability to read music is helpful, but not required.  If you have questions, talk to Tony Cruz or any choir member.

The Festival Choir on Reformation Sunday, 2017

Come help up lead the church’s song! 

2. Rising Star Organ Concert

Burce Xu, and AGO Rising Star

Last summer the Jacksonville Chapter of the American Guild of Organists (AGO) hosted a regional convention in Jacksonville.  St. Mark’s was an important location for that event.

The competition begins at the chapter level. Winners at that level then compete regionally.  The winner at last summer’s Jacksonville competition (held at Hendricks Avenue Baptist Church) was 14-year-old Bruce Xu who impressed everyone with his technical skill and dazzling performance of classical and sacred literature. St. Mark’s played a part in the competition because we were the warm-up site for the competitors!

This September, Bruce Xu returns to Jacksonville to play a concert on the organ at St. Mark’s Evangelical Lutheran Church.  The concert, September 9^th at 7:00 p.m., is co-sponsored by St. Mark’s and the Jacksonville Chapter of the American Guild of Organists. 

The event is free, and all are welcome.  An offering will be taken.

3. San Marco Chamber Music Society Kicks Off the Year with a Benefit Concert

The San Marco Chamber Music Society’s first concert is their always - popular community event to benefit the Juvenile Diabetes Research Fund.

JDRF’s mission is to find a cure for Type 1 Diabetes and its complications through research. Learn more about JDRF at this link: http://www.jdrf.org/

This year’s concert series includes five concerts of inspired, world-class chamber music programs by professional musicians.

SMCMS has been an important part of St. Mark’s musical outreach since 2008. Last year they took their act on the road to England.  Next summer will find them playing concerts in Germany.

The San Marco Chamber Music Society's concerts include a variety of composers and players. This picture is from a 2017 concert.

Eric and Ellen Olson, founders of SMCMS, are members of St. Mark’s.  Learn more about the group here: http://www.sanmarcochambermusic.org/home.html

4. St. Mark’s 80^th Anniversary Celebration

Pastor Trexler

St. Mark’s was founded in 1938 – which means we have proclaimed the gospel and celebrated the sacraments as a community for eighty years!

Jim Rindelaub

From our first home at the Burns Naugle Funeral Chapel, then to property at the corner of Hendricks Avenue and Lasalle Street, to the current property at 3976 Hendricks Avenue, our story has been one of worship and mission.

We’ll celebrate in worship on Sunday morning, October 14^th, at 9:30 a.m.  with music by the St. Mark’s Ringers and the Festival Choir.  Jim Rindelaub (St. Mark’s Cantor 1985 – 1999) will play the organ postlude. Pastor William Trexler (St. Mark’s Senior Pastor 1979 – 1995) will preach.

Mark your calendar now so you won’t miss this exciting day in church!

5. Our 17^th Bach Vespers Service

In 1990 a Sacred Arts Festival at St. Mark’s included a performance of J. S. Bach’s cantata no. 7, Christ unser Herr zum Jordan kam, under the direction of Jim Rindelaub. From that beginning, Bach Vespers has grown into an event that is unique to northeast Florida.

Bach Vespers is a worship service, rather than a concert.  It presents a cantata by J. S. Bach within the context of a Lutheran Vespers Service (Evening Prayer).  Singers from the community, trained soloists, an orchestra of professional instrumentalists, and Lutheran liturgy all combine to proclaim the gospel of Jesus Christ in a unique worship service.

This year’s cantata is BWV 117, Sei Lob und Her dem höchsten Gut.  The service will include music from an evening prayer service by Jacksonville composer Bob Moore, including settings of Phos Hilaron, Magnificat, and Nunc Dimittis – important hymns and canticles for Vespers.

Please tell all singers you know about this event because we would love for them to join us. Find current news and information at the Bach Vespers Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/BachVespers2013AtStMarksEvangelicalLutheranChurch/

Join us on Sunday, October 28^th, at 7:00 p.m. for the service! Your financial gifts to Bach Vespers are deeply appreciated and will allow this St. Mark’s tradition to carry on for years to come.

There’s a lot happening at St. Mark’s Evangelical Lutheran Church.  Come and See!