St Mark's Parish Groups
St Mark's Adventure Sports Club
The St Mark's Adventure Sports Club began in 2009. It was formed as a competitive adventure social group. Our first "adventure" was the Taupo Half Ironman in December 2009, in which 5 teams competed.
The Bottom Marks
The "Bottom Marks", David Webb (Run) Andrew Nickels (bike) Vicar (Swim)
The Post Marks
The "Post Marks" Geoff Laurence (bike) Bryan Haggitt (run) Damian Pethica (swim)
The All Marks
The Reverend Diana Rattray (swim) Gill Wollaston (run) Jeff Morrison(bike)
The Top Marks
Gerry Smyth (bike) Dr Sylvia Rosevear (run) Mark Sullivan (Swim)
The Free Marks
Dr Mark Thornton-Pett (run) Tom Nickels (bike) (Absent) Scott Martin (swim)
The Adventure Sports Club meets 4 times each year, the next meeting is to held Monday 8 March at 6pm at the St Marks Parish Centre for a BBQ. At that meeting we will be planning our next event.
Sunday School
The St Mark’s Sunday School meets every Sunday during school terms. Sunday School is held at 9.30am while the main morning service is conducted in the church. Teachers normally bring children over to church towards the end of the service so that they can join their family for communion. The Sunday School caters for children of primary school age.
Sunday School Nativity Play, Christmas 2005
Young People
XTripleF is the group for those at Secondary School and meets monthly, and we are starting a new ‘junior’ youth group for young people in Years 6 and 7 at school. They will meet on Fridays from 5pm. The Crazy G’s will be meeting from 6pm. We focus on three things at youth group: Fellowship, Food and Fun!
Prayer Group
A group of parishioners meets once a month to pray for people in need, especially the sick. The meeting alternates monthly between 11am on the 3rd Wednesday of the month and an evening gathering on the other month. The daytime meeting is preceded by a Communion service at 10am in the side chapel of the church. Please let us know if there is anyone for whom you would like the parish to pray.
Adult Education
Study groups are held at various times through the year. There is always a study series over a number of weeks during Lent and leading up to Advent. Through the rest of the year, a variety of study/discussion opportunities are offered on a monthly basis.
Social Gatherings
A parish dinner, Shrove Tuesday picnic, and Trivial pursuits evening are among the gatherings parishioners enjoy through the year. See our News & Events page for current events.
Sanctuary Guild
A dedicated group of people arrange flowers, care for the church linen, and clean the brass and silver, thus enabling us to offer our best to God in our worship. The Sanctuary Guild also raises funds during the year to contribute to specific projects, or to give to social service agencies.
Choir
The Parish Choir is an integral part of the life at St. Mark’s, and sings most Sunday mornings at the 9.30am service, monthly at Evensong, and at other special services and events in the year. The current Organist & Director of Music is Nicholas Sutcliffe. To find out more about the Music at St. Mark's, click here.
The Youth Choir
The St. Mark's Youth Choir was reformed in 2002 and sings at the monthly family service and on other occasions as required. The repertoire consists of works of a variety of styles from classical sacred music to contemporary worship songs. To find out more about the Music at St. Mark's, click here.
Support for Social Services
The Parish makes donations to a number of charities through the year, especially those that are part of the network of Anglican agencies. Parishioners are invited to bring gifts of non-perishable food to church to add to the basket of goods donated to the City Mission each week.
