Outreach Ministry

“..for I was hungry and you gave me food, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you welcomed me…”      Matthew 25:35

 

Filled with the grace and compassion that God has first given to us, we life out that love in serving our neighbors in our community and throughout the world.

 

We do this ministry of outreach by:

  • Being in fellowship with each other so that we may grow in relationship with God and deepening our faith.
  • Serving the greater community near and far away through programs and ministries of caring, empowering and encouraging those who need a hand or heart.
  • Sharing the Word of God and the Sacraments of our Lord so that all people may have the opportunity to know God and the salvation of Jesus Christ.

Ongoing Activities

 

The St. Mark Outreach Ministry conducts events regularly during the year. They are open

to both current St. Mark congregation members as well as to those in our community. We invite you to bring your friends and join

in the fun, to meet new people, and to share interesting conversation.

 

Fellowship Time

Frequently after Sunday morning services is a wonderful opportunity for us to mingle with our members and guests each week. 

Visitors are welcome to come to St. Mark. Enjoy the service, hear a compelling message, and join us for conversation and treats & coffee. Until then, we've got coffee and juice and cookies (or other great goodies).

 

We are always looking for volunteers to serve; a sign-up sheet is posted in our office hallway for the current period. Please contact Barb Baublitz with any questions (phone number is shown below). 

 

A sign-up sheet for volunteers to set up, set out goodies, and clean up is posted in the office hallway

or anyone can contact Barb Baublitz to pick a date or answer any of your questions at 717-637-9076

Our Sewing Group meets on Thursdays at 9:00am. Join us for sewing fun and for lively discussions. The Sewing Group will meet again after St. Mark resumes normal activity.

Knitting Ministry Many of us at St. Mark enjoy yarn—buying it, using it, knitting, crocheting, you name it! So, we are starting a yarn group. We have different donation opportunities and project ideas. As with the Sewing Group, the Knitting Group will meet after St. Mark is able to resuem normal activities.

 

The Prayer Square project led by Jo Kuhns is doing great. The basket of sqaures is located at the Willow Street entrance and the Fellowship Hall door for all to partake. Please feel free to take one for yourself or take several squares to give to those who might need them. Patterns, yarn, needles, and hooks are available in the basket in the office hallway. Thank you, Jo Kuhns, for heading this project.

Garden Club --  ISt. Mark is host to the Hanover Garden Club. They are a group meeting each 3rd Tuesday afternoon to discuss, share, learn about plants and other gardening tips. Check out their facebook page.

 

Neighbors Helping Neighbors - Hospice Volunteering can make such a difference not only in the lives of those needing support, but also in your life!

 

SpiriTrust Lutheran Home Care & Hospice is looking for caring individuals interested in serving our local community by becoming hospice volunteers. Their volunteers are part of the SpiriTrust Lutheran Home Care & Hospice team and provide emotional support to clients and their families, relief to caregivers, and friendship at a time when companionship is needed most. All volunteers receive specialized training before assignment to client and families.

 

Volunteer training is FREE. For information on when the next training sessions are to be held, please contact their office located at 260 W. High Street, Gettysburg, PA. There is no area of SpiriTrust Lutheran Home Care & Hospice where the expertise and enthusiasm of the volunteers is not a valuable asset.

 

Please consider becoming part of this very important and life changing ministry by calling their Volunteer Coordinator at 717-337-4469.

Prayer Crosses: As sign of evangelism, crosses are available to be picked up and given out as a gift of faith and support from St. Mark Church. They can be found in a basket on the welcoming table in our bell-tower room outside the narthex. Please take one to give to someone in need of prayer, faith, or support. These crosses are made in the Holy Land from olive wood and are specially made to give away as a gift from God. Then remember to share with pastor how the giving of a cross has been a blessing in your journey of faith

What else do we do?

We serve our community through several events. Some are once per year events. Others occur regularly throughout the year. They focus on those in need, whether the need is clothing to survive a cold winter or provide a friendly interaction with those who may be lonely. 

At St. Mark, here are other things we're involved in:

Here is just a small list of some of the outreach ministries we do here at St. Mark

 

  • Valentines, Easter, Christmas  and birthday cards to shut-ins. Who doesn't get a spirit boost from a card full of well wishes, whether you are giving it or receiving it?
  • Diaper collection. We collect diapers to be distributed through local agencies to needy young families.
  • We do the Provide A Lunch (PAL) every fourth Sunday year around. This is a meal served by local churches at the Hanover Council of Churches on Carlisle Street, 365 days a year. Our Congregation has three teams that rotate working one time a quarter for that 4th Sunday of the month from 9:00am to 1:00pm.  
  • Annual CROP Walk to end hunger. Walkers and sponsors participate with other churches through the Hanover Council of Churches.
  • Soup preparation and No Bake sale to benefit Safe Home.
  • Advent Knit Tree collection of scarfs, hats, mittens, socks, and gloves all go to benefit needy persons.
  • SOUPER Bowl collection of money and canned goods every year on Super Bowl Sunday go to thelp feed the hungry through the foodbank at HACC.
  • God's Global Barnyard collection of loose change is collected rolled and counted. Then the Sunday school classes use that money to donate animals and other supplies to third world families to help them live sustainably. 
  • Support Lutheran World Relief and Diaster Relief through special collections.