There are many opportunities for service at and through St. Mark’s. These opportunities include ministries in the community and in the world on behalf of St. Mark’s, and ministries within the congregation. The following are examples of some of the ways that you could be of service based upon your passion, capability, and availability.
Interfaith Winter Shelter
We are again be hosting unhoused neighbors in our ULC auditorium from January 19 – February 12, 2024. As with years past, we will be preparing and serving breakfast for the days that we host. Additionally, this year we will have a limited number of dinners that we prepare. See the descriptions below for information about current and upcoming volunteer opportunities:
Breakfast/Dinner Lead Cook: Responsible for arriving at 5 a.m. (or 5 p.m.—to be confirmed) and letting other volunteers in. Manages the preparation and serving of breakfast/dinner. Makes sure the kitchen is cleaned up (with help from volunteers) and locks up the church. Menu will be planned and all food will be stocked in the church kitchen ahead of time.
Dinner Host: Responsible for arriving at 5 p.m. (to be confirmed) and letting other guest dinner preparation parties into the church building. Assists guest group in locating kitchen utensils, if necessary. Watches the door to ensure security of the building. Makes sure that the guest group cleans up the church kitchen.
Breakfast/Dinner Cook: Arrives at 5 a.m. (or 5 p.m.—to be confirmed) to help with preparation of breakfast/dinner and then serves breakfast/dinner and helps clean up.
Breakfast Server: Arrives promptly at 6 a.m. to help serve breakfast. Helps clean up after breakfast.
Baker: Provides homemade baked items that can be stored for a few days and provided as an extra item for breakfasts. Drop-off occurs on Sundays or by arrangement on other days.
Sign up is available here. Please reach out to Rachel Boles at rachelmboles@gmail.com or Kelli Broin at kellibroin@gmail.com for more information.
Interfaith Food Pantry
St. Mark’s members staff this food pantry on several Saturdays throughout the year at Old First Church in SF from 7:30 to 11:30 a.m.; validated parking is available for the Old First Parking Garage. You can help for any length of time by unloading the food from the truck, setting up the distribution sequence, or handing out food to over 300 people.
Our next St. Mark’s date to serve at the Interfaith Food Pantry is November 13. We continue to ask that all volunteers be fully vaccinated and wear a mask. Please sign up here. If you have any questions, please contact Rachel Boles. We look forward to serving with you!
San Francisco Night Ministry
A ministry begun by St. Mark’s to reach out to homeless people at night (10:00 p.m. to 4:00 a.m.). You could help by being a presence of love and good will for this perilous population of our society. Learn more at sfnightministry.org.
San Francisco Interfaith Council
St. Mark’s is a member of this interfaith organization that coordinates inter-religious gatherings and responses to crises in the city. You are welcome to attend the monthly gatherings at St. Mark’s as a representative of the congregation on the second Thursday of each month at 8:00 a.m.
Faith in Action
St. Mark’s is a member of this community organization that brings together various faith communities and other organizations for the purpose of addressing pressing social needs in the region. You could represent St. Mark’s in these deliberations.
Sister Congregation in El Salvador
Join a delegation from St. Mark’s to our sister parish, Cordero de Dios, in San Salvador, and further the relationship that we have established with the members of this faith community during the past several years. A delegation goes at least once every two year.
St. Mark’s Knitting Ministry
Members knit year round to provide scarves, lap robes, prayer shawls, and baby blankets for various homeless and low-income residents in SF, as well as for people in need in other parts of the world. If you like to knit, or would like to learn how to knit, please email knitters@stmarks-sf.org.
Community Garden
If you like to grow vegetables, St. Mark’s has a small plot at the south end of the church where vegetables are grown for the local farmer’s market.
Monthly Community Garden Days: Please join our garden volunteers Brian and Margaret for a new series of Gardening Days in our fenced garden behind the church. Each Gardening Day will be on the last Sunday of each month. We gather at 12:15, and garden for about an hour. No experience is needed—all are welcome! It’s a lovely little garden that we look forward to sharing with one another.
Worship
Members of St. Mark’s have an opportunity to participate in worship leadership in several capacities: assisting minister, communion assistant, lector, acolyte, sacristan, usher, choir, special music, altar guild, bread baker, visual arts, etc. If such is your interest, you may speak with one of the pastors.
Hospitality
Members of St. Mark’s take turns providing the refreshments for after worship services on Sunday morning. This team also organizes special social events throughout the year in order to bring members of St. Mark’s together for fellowship, as well as receptions after memorial services.
Event Host
St. Mark’s is the host site for many concerts, public presentations, and weddings. If you like to host such events, you may be interested in serving in this capacity as an event host or wedding coordinator.
Property
Members of St. Mark’s gather periodically to do projects within the church and around the grounds of the church. The breadth of skills needed for these tasks is endless. If you like to fix things, paint, do woodwork, do yardwork, wash windows, etc., this team is for you!
Education
One of the major ministries at St. Mark’s is the education that takes place to nurture and strengthen the faith of those in attendance. This education happens at all levels—children, youth, and adults—and involves not only teaching, but also facilitating arts and crafts, directing plays, and leading small groups.
Other Committees and Teams
St. Mark’s has several committees and teams that could use specific skills as identified by the name of the committee or team. They are: Worship Team; Endowment Committee; Finance Committee; Outreach Team; Youth Team; Social Ministry Team; and Audit Committee.