St Mark Lutheran Church

Sunday School:
Sunday school classes are offered to children ages 3 years old (by September 1) through 5th grade. Classes are held from 9:30-10:30 a.m. on Sunday mornings. Students meet downstairs in the lower level for a brief worship experience and then gather in their classrooms. Parents are invited quarterly to Sunday school to participate in our Family Fun Celebration Days. Students participate in an annual Christmas program during a worship service in Advent. Students are involved in several outreach events during the year, such as Heifer Project, Rock Valley Food Pantry, Compassion Ministries, Cows for Kids, Lutheran World Relief, ELCA Domestic Disaster Response, and Rockford Rescue Mission.

Our Sunday school year begins with Rally Sunday, the first Sunday after Labor Day, and continues through mid-May. Registration is held in the spring for the coming year, but students may begin Sunday school at any time during the year. There is no charge for Sunday school and visitors are always welcome. The Sunday school office is located in the hallway to the rear of the sanctuary.

First Holy Communion:
Students take their First Holy Communion in second or third grade and prepare for Holy Communion by attending pastor-led classes with their parents.

Nursery:
Nursery care is available on Sunday mornings from 7:45 a.m.-12:15 p.m. and for special events. Our nursery is available for children ages 6 months through 3 years old and is staffed by adults. Nursery services are free of charge.

Cradle Roll:
Children birth to 3 years old are a part of our Cradle Roll. Their parents receive Splash, a monthly, Christ-centered, developmental newsletter.

Good News Bearers:
Good News Bearers is our Bible drama group for 2nd-5th graders. Students meet on Wednesday evenings from 6:15 p.m.-6:45 p.m. GNB's perform monthly during the 9:30 service. They also read Bible story books at home to prepare for their annual Bible trivia contest that is held the week before Lent begins.

Vacation Bible School
Vacation Bible School will be held on June 9-13. VBS will meet on Monday from 12:30-3:30 p.m. and on Tuesday through Friday from 9 a.m.-noon. Children entering kindergarten through 6th grade participate each morning in fun songs, crafts that support the theme of the week, Bible stories, outreach, experiential sruprises, games and snacks. Cost is $20 per child with a family max of $50. To register, call the church office at 815-398-3557 or register on-line at https://www.groupvbs.com/webtoybox/myvbs/stmarkrockford.

St. Mark offers small group ministry to its members and visitors to encourage spiritual growth. The topics are constantly changing and new groups are beginning on a continual basis.

Currently, the following options are available:

Panera Bread Study Group:
Participants meet from 7:30-8:45 a.m. on Tuesday mornings at Panera Bread on Perryville Road in Rockford. The group is currently studying the book Lutheran Questions, Lutheran Answers by Martin E. Marty. The Panera studies are led by Pastor Mark Hagen. Interested persons may contact the church office at 815-398-3557 to order a book and sign up for the study, or to find out about upcoming topics.

In-Home Bible/Book Study Groups:
Numerous small groups meet at varying times and days during the week at St. Mark members’ homes. Topics have included The Will of God as a Way of Life, Biology and Belief: Conversations in Faith and Science, Finding God in the Questions, a Bible study entitled No Experience Necessary, The Rapture Exposed, and When You Pray…The Lord’s Prayer. The groups meet for eight to ten sessions for one and a half hours each week. New members are welcome, and new groups are forming as needed. Please call the church office at 815-398-3557 if you are interested in becoming a part of in-home Bible/book study.

Retreat Ministry:
St. Mark offers retreat ministry at various times during the year. A marriage retreat is planned for February 9 & 10 and a men’s retreat is currently being planned. Other retreats, including a women’s retreat, are in the planning stages. Please call the church office at 815-398-3557 for more information.