Join Us for Worship

St. Mark's Lutheran Church is faithful to the heritage of evangelical catholic worship we have inherited. We seek to harmonize the traditions of the past with ongoing, Spirit-led renewal. We find strength in the ecumenical creeds, calendar, and lectionary. The weekly Eucharist is the foundation of our community: the Gospel, proclaimed from the pulpit and shared at Christ's table, is the lifeblood of our congregation. Because a large part of our congregation's identity centers around worship, we offer multiple opportunities for worship in Word and Sacrament. 

9:00am SUNDAY WORSHIP 

The Sunday 9:00 am liturgy is considered "low-key," meaning that even though the worship service follows the liturgy set forth in Evangelical Lutheran Worship, the ritual and formality is not as pronounced. A typical 9:00 am liturgy is narrated below.

The congregation gathers as the presiding minister welcomes everyone to worship. Led by piano and guitar, the congregation joins in singing the Gathering Song. The presiding minister greets the congregation with the biblical Apostolic Greeting, and the congregation returns the greeting with "And also with you." The musicians lead the congregation in the Kyrie and/or the Canticle of Praise, where the congregation sings in prayer and praise to the Triune God. The Gathering part of worship concludes with the Prayer of the Day, which centers the congregation on the day's themes.

The congregation is seated as everyone focuses on the Reading for the day, usually from the Old Testament. The congregation again stands to welcome the reading of the Gospel with the Gospel Acclamation, singing out "Alleluia...You have the words of eternal life" (except during Lent). After the preacher reads the Gospel, the congregation is seated for the sermon, where the preacher connects the words of Jesus with our present-day lives. After some silence for reflection, the congregation sings the Hymn of the Day. The assisting minister leads the congregation in the Prayers of Intercession, where everyone is invited to offer their own petitions to God. After the Prayers the presiding minister offers a greeting of Peace to the congregation, and the congregation returns the greeting. The children are then invited forward for the Children's Time, where the preacher connects the gospel message to the lives of the children. After they have been fed with the gospel, the children are dismissed to Sunday School, where they continue worshipping and learning more about the Triune God.

The ushers collect our offering as the assisting minister prepares the altar-table for Holy Communion. The presiding minister leads the congregation in the Great Thanksgiving, where the congregation gives thanks to God for coming to us as Christ present in, with, and under the bread and wine, not on any part of our own but because it is God's precious gift and treasure. The congregation joins together in praying the words Jesus gave in the gospels. All are invited forward to receive this gift, but those who do not feel ready to receive may receive a blessing.

The congregation is sent out with God's blessing as everyone joins in singing the Sending Song. The assisting minister dismisses the congregation, and the congregation responds "Thanks be to God!"

If you would like more information about the worship life of St. Mark's, please e-mail worship@stmarks-sf.org.

11:00AM Choral Eucharist Worship

The Sunday 11:00 am liturgy is a more formal and ritualized liturgy, following the historic liturgical pattern of Western Christianity as patterned in Evangelical Lutheran Worship. A typical 11:00 am liturgy is narrated below.

The organ plays the prelude as everyone prepares for the beginning of worship. The congregation stands as the procession begins, led by the cross flanked by torches. On festival Sundays the choir joins in the procession. As the procession moves to the chancel, the congregation sings the Opening Hymn. The procession concluded, the presiding minister greets the congregation with the biblical Apostolic Greeting, and the congregation returns the greeting with "And also with you." The organ and choir lead the congregation in the Kyrie and/or Canticle of Praise, where the congregation sings in prayer and praise to the Triune God. The Gathering part of worship concludes with the Prayer of the Day, which centers the congregation on the day's themes.

The congregation is seated as everyone focuses on the Word. The lector reads the First Reading, which is usually from the Old Testament. The choir leads the congregation in the Psalmody, drawing on the "oldest hymnal" of Scripture. The lector then reads the Second Reading, which is one of the New Testament letters. The congregation stands to welcome the reading of the Gospel with the Gospel Acclamation, singing out "Alleluia" (except during Lent). On festival Sundays, the preacher reads the Gospel in the midst of the congregation, flanked by torches to emphasize the centrality of the Word to Lutheran Christians. After the preacher reads the Gospel, the congregation is seated for the sermon, where the preacher connects the words of Jesus with our present-day lives. Following a period of silent reflection, the congregation stands for the Hymn of the Day. The assisting minister leads the congregation in the Prayers of Intercession, where everyone is invited to offer their own petitions to God. After the Prayers the presiding minister offers a greeting of Peace to the congregation, and the congregation returns the greeting. The congregation is seated in preparation for celebrating the Eucharist.

The ushers collect our offering as the assisting ministers prepare the altar-table for the Eucharist. The presiding minister leads the congregation in the Great Thanksgiving, where the congregation joins the angelic canticle "Holy, Holy, Holy," and the congregation gives thanks to God for coming to us as Christ present in, with, and under the bread and wine, not on any part of our own but because it is God's precious gift and treasure. The congregation joins together in praying the words Jesus gave in the gospels. All are invited forward to receive this gift, but those who do not feel ready to receive may receive a blessing.

The congregation receives God's blessing, and then everyone joins in singing the Closing Hymn as the procession moves to the rear of the sanctuary. From the doors of the church, the assisting minister dismisses the congregation into mission for the world, and the congregation responds "Thanks be to God!"