St. Mark's Episcopal Church has many ministries in which you can participate. They encompass the needs of the people within our church, community and around the world. You can also offer your gifts to serve in a variety of ways during church services and special church activities. Every gift is precious in God's sight, from brewing coffee and baking cookies to serving at the altar or visiting the homebound. On this page you will find information about how you can be involved and offer your gifts and service to those around you.

Church Services and Functions

Serve during our Sunday services
There are many ways in which you can help serve during our Sunday services.

  • Lay Eucharistic Minister – a Lay Eucharistic Minister assists the priest during a church service and bears the chalice during communion. They may also read one of the lessons or the prayers of the people and may carry the cross or the St. Mark's banner in the processional line. LEMs also take communion to those who are homebound or sick. New LEMs are always welcome. If you would be interested in serving in this capacity, please talk to Father Andrew about training and scheduling or call the church office at 247-1129

  • Lay Readers – a lay reader reads the new or old testament lessons for the day. Readers may occasionally be asked to read the prayers of the people or other prayers that may be offered, such as during a baptism service. If you would like to be an Usher, please contact Cheryl in the church office. 247-1129.

  • Acolytes – Acolytes play an important part in the church service. They carry the torch candles in the procession or gospel processional lines. They also may be chosen specifically to carry the cross in the processional lines. They assist with the offering plates during the offertory and they help the priest in preparing the table for communion. Acolytes are usually young people within the church. An acolyte training may be offered once a year in order to train new acolytes. If you are interested in having your child serve as an acolyte, talk to Father Andrew about training and scheduling or call the church office at 247-1129

  • Ushers – Ushers are the 'official' greeters. They pass out the church bulletins to people as they arrive and may also help those who need some assistance due to some physical handicap. The ushers also select people to carry the bread and wine to the altar during the offertory as well as the food basket. The ushers also pass the offering plates and offer them at the altar during the offertory. During communion, the ushers will help guide the pew rows to the altar. Ushers count of the number of people who attend the service and record the number in the church record book. If you would like to be an usher, please contact Cheryl in the church office. 247-1129.

  • Altar Guild – The Altar guild plays a very important behind-the-scenes role. The guild is responsible for maintaining all of the vessels and accouterments used during church services. They prepare the communion tray for each service and clean up after each service. St. Mark's is very grateful to Bill and Henri Morrow of King Center Laundry for caring for the vestments and other laundry needs of the church. If you would like to serve on the Altar Guild, please contact Cheryl in the church office. 247-1129.

  • Music – Music has long played an important role in St. Mark's services. If you sing or play an instrument, please contact Scott in the church office at 247-1129, ext. 14.


    Hospitality Ministries

    Coffee and more!
    Help St. Mark's extend hospitality and friendship among our visitors and members. Here's how:

  • Bake visitor bread – St. Mark's has a group of people in a rotating schedule that bake small loaves of bread. These loaves are wrapped in a string of raffia with a message attached, then they are distributed to visitors during the announcements in church. Bread-baking volunteers have the opportunity to bake bread about once every two months. To get involved, call the church office at 247-1129

  • Host Coffee Hour – St. Mark's has several people in a rotating schedule that host the coffee hour after the 8:00 and 10:15 services. This entails brewing the coffee, offering some goodies like cookies or doughnuts and maybe a cold beverage. To get involved, call the church office at 247-1129

    910 E. Third Ave. • Durango, CO 81301 • (970) 247-1129