CHRISTMAS AT SAINT MARK

“For behold, I bring to you good news of great joy that will be for all the people: Today in the city of David a Savior has been born to you. He is Christ the Lord!”

Luke 2:10-11

Our Worship Schedule

Christmas Eve

5:00 p.m.

Children’s Worship live-streamed from the Mary Woelper Living Room. This service will be available on our Facebook Live and will be online only.

7:00 p.m.

Live-streamed service from the Saint Mark Sanctuary - this service will be in-person and online. For those who attend in-person, masks will be required and social distancing will be encouraged. See letter from Dana below for more information on the changes being made to this service to keep our Saint Mark family safe and healthy.

Christmas Day

There will be no Christmas Day service.

December 26th

11:00 a.m.

We will air a pre-recorded worship service similar to what we published in early 2021. We hope that, similar to our staff and clergy, you will take this day to relax at home, or spend time with loved ones enjoying the Christmas season.

 

A Letter from Rev. Dr. Dana Everhart

Friends,

I bring you good news … your Saint Mark family loves you and wants more than anything else these days to keep you safe and free of the COVID virus. 

With that in mind, the Health and Wellness Task Force and the Worship Staff met in a called meeting today to discuss the increasing numbers of cases in Atlanta of the Omicron Virus. Churches are experiencing outbreaks all over metro Atlanta. With the knowledge that not all have had a booster yet, not all our children have been vaccinated, and especially those under 5 are in danger, we are adjusting our Christmas Eve Worship schedule.

  • 5:00 pm will be live-streamed from the Mary Woelper Living Room. There will be no in-person worship at 5 pm. We will only be on Facebook Live with Sheila and Jess sharing this beautiful story and offering music for our children, youth, families, and anyone who would enjoy this time together. 

  • 7:00 pm will be in person and live-streamed with changes. We will not have singing during the worship service. Singing even with a mask is proving dangerous with Omicron. We will have a limited liturgy, a homily, and candle lighting. After candle lighting, we will move to the patio for Holy Communion – outside. The organ will continue to play till all have received it. 

  • 11:00 pm will be canceled, and we encourage all who would have come to 11 to join us at 7 in person or online at Facebook Live at 7:00. The 7 pm service will be posted immediately to YouTube for watching at 11:00 if you prefer that option.

  • There will be no in-person worship on December 26th. This service is pre-recorded and will go live on Facebook at 11:00 am on December 26th. We will allow the church building to clear all possible contaminants and again keep you safe. 

We know that this is disappointing to our Saint Mark family, and we share your disappointment. Still, we do not want to have such a gathering, and then two or three days later, an outbreak of Omicron overcomes the Saint Mark family, especially our children. We do this because we love you and the numbers say to do otherwise is to place you in danger at this very critical time. 

Please pray for Saint Mark to not only hear this as good news of love but also to find the joy of the season by the Holy Spirit's leading. Pray for all people who are dealing with this virus. Pray for a new year where this pandemic can be brought under control, and where people care enough about each other to make the sacrifices to do good, to do no harm, and to help all stay alive and well to love God.

With love, 

Dana Everhart