Advent Devotionals (paper & online)

For the Advent season of waiting and preparation, pick up devotional booklets for children and adults from the church entrance (Door #2) or from the table next to the Café. The adult devotional is a collection of reflections on Henri Nouwen’s writings in a booklet called “A Little Child Shall Lead Them.”  

Additionally, we will offer daily devotionals on our social media channels. Beginning December 1, there will be a daily “morning moment” with a short scripture, plus an evening meditation with seasonal music. On Fridays (11/29 before Advent, plus 12/6, 12/13, 12/20) and Christmas Eve, our Facebook and YouTube pages will have an Advent video reflection from our pastors and Children’s Ministries, Youth, and/or Adult Discipleship staff members.  Follow the daily devotionals and videos on our Facebook page. 

Churchwide Advent Study: All the Good

Both The Current and the traditional worship services will be preparing us for Jesus’s birth with the Advent series All the Good: A Wesleyan Way of Christmas. This 4-week study will dig into an Advent journey guided by the practices in John Wesley’s means of grace. The book’s biblical passages, illustrations, and stories will look at preparing the way for God, the impact and significance of prayer, the substance of good works and caring for others, and sharing God’s mission to the world.

Books are available at St. Mark’s for $9 for group or individual study. 

How can you get involved? Join a study group meeting on:

• Sundays, December 1-22 | 10-11am with Foundations & Friendships class in Room J-K (no sign up needed, just drop in). Reading the full book in December, beginning Dec. 1 with the Introduction and first chapter.
• Wednesday mornings, December 4-11| 9:30-11am | Room J/K for final 2 chapters.
• Wednesday evenings, December 4-18 | 6:00-7:15pm | Room B/C for final 3 chapters.
• Thursdays, December 5-19 | 10-11am | Room B/C for an abbreviated run through the entire book in 3 sessions in December.
• Fridays, December 6-13 | 9:30-11am | Room B/C for the final 2 chapters.

Mission Opportunities & Ways To Serve

Adopt a Family for Christmas 2024

Would you or your small group like to sponsor a family in need this holiday season? This year, St. Mark’s is excited to be partnering with Good Samaritan Network of Hamilton County to “Adopt a Family” for Christmas. Your family/group will need to provide children’s toys & clothing items, along with non-perishable food or a gift card for food, then deliver gifts to the family no later than December 14.

If interested, please contact Amy Adams at aadams@stmarkscarmel.org or 317-846-4912.

Event Calendar

Christmas Eve Worship Services

December 24 at 5:00, 7:00, 9:00 and 11:00 PM

Candlelight & Communion
(traditional)

11 PM

Join us for a traditional service of lessons, carols, candle lighting and communion on Christmas Eve.  Our pastors, musicians, and readers from the congregation will lead us through the Christmas story on this most sacred night of the year. 

This service will not be live-streamed. 

December 29

Special All-Church 10 AM Service

Join us at 10:00 a.m. on December 29th for a delightful combined worship service! Our regularly scheduled 9:00 Traditional service and 11:00 with The Current will come together for a single service where we welcome and encourage everyone to come, connect, and worship our newborn Savior together. Children are invited to stay with us throughout this service (there will be no kidz church programming this day) and experience the joy of worship with all our generations.