our message

We are love.  St. Mark's Church is named for the most edgy and oldest gospel, Mark.  We are inspired by Mark’s rapid-fire, passionate no-nonsense gospel.  That’s us.  We are no nonsense about love.

Gospel in Anglo-Saxon means “god spell” or “good story.”  We have a good story.  We have been in existence for nearly 100 years.  Our history has been collected into a booklet that you can purchase in our store.  We sit in the world’s “most diverse neighborhood” according to The New York Times.  There are 162 languages spoken in our neighborhood. 

Our church has had ups and downs.  We have a story about resurrection we want to share with you.  We have a story about radical love. The unconditional love of Jesus, the revolution of love that the child of Jesus brought into this world, is our starting point.

We offer a bi-lingual eucharist in the Anglican Episcopal tradition.  We respond to the needs of a diverse congregation.  We foster unity and inclusiveness.  We reach out through Christian education and social support. We strive to enhance spiritual growth and development for our congregation and the larger community of Jackson Heights.  We believe our church has no walls.  We are humble.  We are here. 

Services

Sunday
10:00 am: Choral Eucharist and Sermon in English

12:00 pm Choral Eucharist and Sermon in Spanish

Each Sunday we want to spread the good news that God loves us and everyone has a gift to share. We celebrate Morning Prayer and Holy Communion at Saint Mark’s in a high Anglican style. There will be incense and bells. Sometimes there might be chanting. Currently, we offer Holy Eucharist Rite II every Sunday in both languages.

red Door SERIES - Meditation WITH A POEM

The First and Third Wednesday of every month
From September through May
6:30 pm - 7:00 pm

The first Wednesday of every month we will offer a poem with meditation.

We want to make space for silence.  We believe silence is important and God speaks to us through silence.

THE RED DOOR POETRY SERIES was founded in October of 2020.  This unique evening meditation is candle-lit, lasts for half an hour.  Guest poets are invited.  Greg Pardlo, Marie Howe, Mark Bibbins and many others come to us.  Each poet reads their poem twice with ten minutes of silence in between.  You can follow the service on Facebook Live. Call the church for more information on how to join this creative ministry.

EVENING PRAYER WITH HEALING SERVICE

First Friday of every month

6:00 - 7:00 pm

Fridays we offer Evening Prayer Rite 1 with the anointing of oil for those that need or wish to receive healing at 6:00 pm in the Lady Chapel. The service is bilingual with an officiant. The emphasis will be on prayer and song and silence more than preaching. Some Fridays, Centering Prayer will be offered. 

Bible Study

Times Vary

We offer yearly Bible studies in both English and Spanish.  We go to the Bible for inspiration and creativity.  We go to the Bible for our solutions to problems.  The Bible guides us.

We have included Diane Glancy, a Native American writer, and Rvdo. Jose Antonio Rojas, an Episcopal priest from Sevilla, Spain in these studies.  Our studies are free.  Open to all.  They meet for one hour. We have explored The Gospel of Mark and the Book of Acts. These are currently a combination of zoom and in-person, often with empanadas.

Weddings

Marriage honors the love and commitment two people have for each other. If you would like to get married at St. Mark’s Church, we will do all we can to ensure that your wedding day is a very happy one and that your marriage begins on the firmest foundations. You will be invited to make your solemn promises to each other, not only in front of your family and friends but in the sight of God and with God’s blessing.

For decades, SAINT MARK’S has supported the LGBTQIA+ community with ceremonies of Commitment, Civil Union, and now, joyfully, equal Marriage.

Couples who are not members of our church or even of the Episcopal denomination are welcome. Together, we create an experience that recognizes the importance of your spiritual bond in a beautiful, traditional church.

The process includes pre-marriage counseling and planning sessions, a rehearsal, and the ceremony itself. 

Our church seats 200 people comfortably, and our parish hall is available for receptions. Please contact the parish office for more information call Ana Castenda in our church office.

Baptism & first communion

Baptism is part of all Christian denominations, but how we understand it can be as different as the expressions of it. We understand Baptism to be a commitment to follow Jesus' teaching of love and openness to God's Spirit. 

Babies, children, youth, and adults all come to us to be baptized, and we welcome them all. 

Baptisms take place several times a year during our main Sunday morning service. The parish community pledges our support to the individual and family as they begin or continue their Christian journey. We ask that the family meet with the priest in charge one or two weeks prior for a spiritual meeting and to answer any questions.

Please call or email the parish office. We will be happy to help you set a time to attend a session for conversation and rehearsal, schedule the baptism, and answer any questions you may have.

We also offer instruction and a celebration of first communion. Typically the communicant will meet with the deacon of the parish for three or four sessions to learn more about the Christian life prior to the service.

Funerals and memorial services

As Christians, we live in the hope and reality that nothing can separate us from the love of God in Jesus Christ: nothing in life, nothing in death. Still, one of the hardest things we face in this life is the death of a loved one. The clergy and staff at Saint Mark’s are here to support families through those difficult days by helping to plan the funeral or memorial service. If you and your loved ones would like to have pastoral visits or conversations, we are here to support you. 

Please call or email the parish office to talk about arranging a funeral and memorial services at the church.

Columbarium

"Columbarium" is derived from the Latin word for "dove," the bird of peace. The St. Mark's Columbarium is a sacred place in the sanctuary for the interment, following cremation, of the ashes of parishioners and members of our extended community. It is intended especially for those who love the mission of St. Mark's and have an affinity with Jackson Heights. Discreetly placed in the portico, the Columbarium is a place of lasting memory for all those who pass through the St. Mark's campus. If you are interested in placing the ashes of a beloved one in our columbarium please contact the parish office.