Contemporary worship is also held outdoors on special occasions.  In recent years, we have worshiped at Kermit's Park on Memorial Day Weekend and for Rally Day. Outdoor services feature music, worship, food, fellowship, and activities for adults and children.

The Praise Team is open to auditioning musicians and singers. If you would like to explore becoming a member of the Praise Team, contact the church office at 828-459-2161. 

Traditional worship uses the resource: Evangelical Lutheran Worship. This service is more formal, includes traditional liturgy, and hymns and music that are led by organist and choir director, Emily Schuttenberg and the Chancel Choir.

The Chancel Choir is open to new members.  If you would like to explore becoming a member, please contact the church office. (828-459-2161).   

In addition to the organ, St. Mark's has a grand piano to enhance worship services.

Palm Sunday

While most Protestants celebrate the Sunday before Easter as Passion Sunday, in Catholic and other church traditions– Lutheran included– it is also celebrated as Passion Sunday anticipating the impending death of Jesus. 

Many churches incorporate an emphasis on the Passion of Jesus into services on Palm Sunday as a way to balance the celebration of Easter Sunday. Rather than having the two Sundays both focus on triumph, Passion Sunday is presented as a time to reflect on the suffering and death of Jesus in a Sunday service of worship. This provides an opportunity for people who do not or cannot attend a Good Friday Service to experience the contrast of Jesus’ death and the Resurrection, rather than celebrating the Resurrection in isolation from Jesus’ suffering. 

Maundy Thursday

Maundy is an English form of the Latin word for commandment. The primary theme of the day is Jesus’ new commandment to “love one another even as I have loved you;” a love sharply focused by the contrast of the betrayal which followed. Jesus’ love is demonstrated both in his example of servanthood and in the gift of himself in Holy Communion.

Good Friday

The word “tenebrae” comes from the Latin word meaning “darkness.” The Tenebrae is an ancient Christian Good Friday Service that makes use of gradually diminishing light through the extinguishing of candles. The flow and steps of Tenebrae symbolize the events of Holy Week from the triumphant Palm Sunday entry through Jesus’ burial. The gradually increasing darkness symbolizes the approaching darkness of Jesus suffering. The service concludes in darkness with the Paschal Candle carried out of the sanctuary, symbolizing the death of Jesus. A loud noise is made to symbolize the closing of Jesus’ tomb. After the service you may leave or remain in silence to meditate on Christ’s death.

On Easter morning we celebrate Christ's resurrection with a Sunrise service at 8:00 a.m., and a Traditional service at 10:00 a.m.  Special music is very much a part of these celebrations as well lilies that adorn our worship space. Breakfast is held between services in the Family Life Center. 

We celebrate Christ our Victor who has overcome sin, death and evil for us, and for the world. We celebrate new life given to us in Christ by the power of the Spirit for growth in grace and faith, individually and corporately as a Church. We celebrate and move into the new horizon of hope and promise given in Christ and the Spirit knowing that our destiny in life and in death is good.   

Two outdoor worship services are held at Kermit Park each year. The Memorial Day worship also includes our members who are in the military. Rally Day is held just before school starts to launch the new Sunday School year.

One service is held that day beginning at 10 a.m. Following worship, the congregation enjoys a meal, fellowship,  and activities for adults and children.

The Day of Pentecost marks the end of the 50 days of the Easter liturgical celebration. After showing himself to the disciples and after having ascended, Jesus’ followers received the promised gift of the Holy Spirit. Our Lutheran worship is filled with festivity, color and movement as we both conclude the Easter celebration and welcome anew the gift of the Holy Spirit.

On the first Sunday of November, we celebrate and commemorate All Saints Day. We remember our members and loved ones who have joined the Church Triumphant in the last two years. We list those to be remembered in a special insert in the church bulletin that day. During the service they are remembered by the reading of their names accompanied with the ringing of a bell. Family members are given the opportunity to come forward to light a candle in their memory, and to go to the altar to pray. 

All Saints' Day reminds us of God's redeeming and life giving grace. We celebrate and recognize that it is only by the life, death and resurrection of Jesus Christ, and the power of the Spirit, that Christians - those living and those in the Church Triumphant - are fit to be called made saints.  

Each year in November, the women of St. Mark's lead the worship service in support of the national W-ELCA Thankoffering, providing grants and scholarships for Lutheran women, and also to raise money for a designated W-ELCA project at St. Mark's.

The church is beautifully adorned with mums and various fall items. As part of the fundraiser, there is a bake and craft sale between worship services. Items included are homemade pies, cakes, pudding, casseroles, canned items, and crafts. The mums decorating the church can also be purchased.