Living Our Mission

For 125 years, St. Mark's has been a congregation steeped in Episcopal tradition. The ten founding families of rural North Mecklenburg County longed for community of faith that appreciated reverent worship, serious study of scripture, rational thought, and a lightness of spirit. In its long history, St. Mark's has always taken God's commandments seriously while holding one another easily. For generations this has been a family-centered church focused on knowing and supporting its members through fellowship and member-to-member care.

Today, our expansive gift for welcome and hospitality has brought many new friends to our hill. Young families, regional transplants, newly married couples, retired folk and people far from the communities they grew up in find a home in our church. Here, they make connections with gracious people. Here, they find encouragement for their faith and respect for their questions. With intention, we greet, meet, welcome and raise up the people God sends us. No wonder we are feeling the effects of healthy growth.

On any given Sunday, on many weeknights, we scramble to make room at the table for guests, newcomers, and long time leaders who come to our doors. With our growing family, we can no longer worship together in a central space. We can no longer share a common meal as one body. We have run out of meeting space for our committees, and our Sunday School rooms are inadequate for the children we have. God has richly blessed us with gracious spirirt, now we must expand our facility to match our heart and our mission.

As is our custom, before we make a grand plan or weighty decision, we gather the family. Over the course of months, we asked one another about our hopes, dreams and needs. We asked, "Where is God calling us next?" We asked and listened, prayed and discerned. Then, the leaders you raised up consulted experts in architecture and fund raising. A solid plan for who we are and what we need became clear.

To be the people and place God is calling us to be, we need a prepared Master Plan that will keep us encouraged as we continue to manage our growth in positive ways. The first phase of that plan needs to be a new parish building that functions as a larger temporary worship space and a longterm fellowship hall with an adequate kitchen. Moving into this new building will free up Osborne Hall for additional meeting space and an exciting youth space. A second clergy office will also become available. This phase will cost $2,375,000.00. It is an ambitious but obtainable project with your committment and sacrifice and with God's blessing.

St. Mark's clergy, vestry, and parish council ask each of you to Pray Confidently, Commit Boldly, Give Generously and with imagination so that we can continue to be the place that "Builds Community - Lives the Way of Christ."

We are asking you to Share our Vision; Live our Mission.