St. Mark's Episcopal Church

10/19/2026

Our parish choir knocked it out of the park yesterday, singing Robert Ray's "He Never Failed Me Yet." Great job, choir!

Fun fact: This piece was published in 1982 and was dedicated to Berlinda Hubbard and the Echos of Grace of Second Baptist Church in Evanston, IL. Our neighbors!

Performed on 10-18-2027 in our 10am service."No Matter What the T...

10/12/2026

Today, we observe the federal holiday Indigenous Peoples’ Day, a day to honor the native peoples who inhabited North American lands before being displaced by white European colonists. We are called as Christians especially to remember the indigenous populations of this land in our thoughts and prayers.

Land Acknowledgement: St. Mark’s, Evanston, rests on land that was home to the Potawatomi, Odawa (Ottawa) and Ojibwe Tribes, also known as the Niswi-mishkodewinan (Council of the Three Fires), an alliance of Anishinaabeg peoples. It also served as an important crossroads and meeting place for a number of other Indigenous tribal nations, including the Ho-Chunk, Illinois, Inoka, Kickapoo, Miami, Menominee, Peoria, and Sac and Fox Nations. We acknowledge and honor the original people of this land, as well as the Indigenous people that still call this area home, and support their continued work for justice, self-determination, and sovereignty.

10/03/2026

What a joy this morning was! At 11 a.m., humans and pets gathered at St. Mark's for our annual Pet Blessing. The dogs greeted everyone like long-lost friends, and the guinea pigs, though small in stature, arrived with plenty of opinions and stole the show anyway.

Each animal was blessed by name, a simple and beautiful reminder that every creature is known and loved by God. Some friends brought photos of pets who couldn't make the trip, and those beloved companions received their blessings too. We also paused to remember and name the pets who have crossed the rainbow bridge, giving thanks for the love and companionship they shared with us.

Thank you to everyone who brought a pet, a photo, or a memory to share in the celebration, just in time for the St. Francis Day tomorrow.

We close with the Prayer of St. Francis:

Lord, make me an instrument of your peace.
Where there is hatred, let me sow love;
where there is injury, pardon;
where there is doubt, faith;
where there is despair, hope;
where there is darkness, light;
and where there is sadness, joy.
O Divine Master, grant that I may not so much seek
to be consoled as to console;
to be understood as to understand;
to be loved as to love.
For it is in giving that we receive;
it is in pardoning that we are pardoned;
and it is in dying that we are born to eternal life.
Amen.

09/30/2026

"Theology on Tap" is tonight at Prairie Moon in Evanston - come join us from 7-8:30pm for suds, appetizers/dinner if you so desire, attractive non-alcoholic options, and a fun discussion with fellow parishioners, friends and neighbors. Come and brave the weather and find us downstairs in the back room, ask for "Saint Mark's" if you need any assistance (there IS an elevator to the lower level). This will be a monthly event, too, and tonight Greg will review the future dates we have planned, AND ask for suggested topics! Cheers 🥂🥤🍺

09/29/2026

Thank you to everyone who filled the sanctuary at St. Mark's yesterday afternoon for the opening concert of our Fall Concert Series! What a way to begin.

Violinist Sara Su Jones and pianist Tatyana Stepanova took us on a remarkable journey, opening with Gounod's "Ave Maria," that timeless melody floating over Bach's first prelude, and moving through the lush warmth of Amy Beach's Romance. We heard the Melody by Charles Gates Dawes, a tune written by the future vice president who called Evanston home, and then things got delightfully mischievous with Audrey Call's "The Witch of Harlem." Myroslav Skoryk's achingly beautiful Melody from The High Pass left the room hushed, and the afternoon closed with Chicago composer Stacy Garrop's "Repair the World," a fitting and hopeful benediction for all of us.

Watching these two artists listen to and answer one another was a gift, and the room knew it. There's a particular kind of silence that happens just before applause, and we heard it more than once.

Our deepest thanks to Sara and Tatyana for their artistry and generosity, and to all of you who came out to share in it. Live music is always better with a full room, and you made it one.

If you missed it (or want to relive it), the full concert is now available on our YouTube channel: https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLC4Q8dIY_5TE

Our Fall Concert Series continues on October 26, and we hope to see you there! For more information, visit www.stmarksevanston.org/concerts.

09/25/2026

St Mark’s Rally Day photos made the “top of the fold” for the Diocsese this week! Thank you all again for a wonderful event 👏

09/17/2026

This is only the beginning! We kicked off our program year on Sunday, September 13, with our annual Rally Day! We had services at 8 a.m. (spoken Eucharist) and 10 a.m. (choral Eucharist), then moved out to the lawn for a potluck picnic for all ages.

Special thanks to the many hands that helped with setup and cleanup, and to everyone who brought a dish to share. So many hands to thank!

As we move through our church year, we pray:

Gracious God, bless our parish family as we begin this new program year. Guide our worship, strengthen our fellowship, and open our hearts to serve one another and our community in your name. Amen.

📷 by Melissa Ferguson

09/14/2026

We are two weeks from the start of our 2026 Fall Concert Series!!!

Evanston's St. Mark’s Episcopal Church is pleased to announce its 2025 Fall Concert Series, a free, community-centered celebration of live classical

09/01/2026

Exciting news from St. Mark's Music Ministries! Our 2026 Fall Concert Series kicks off Monday, September 28 at noon with pianist Sara Su Jones and violinist Tatyana Stepanova—and it's the fifth year we've been able to offer this series free and open to all. Bring a friend, a neighbor, or the whole family and join us in St. Mark's beautiful sanctuary.

And if you've ever thought about singing, now's the time. Our parish choir starts its season the Thursday after Labor Day, rehearsing Thursdays from 7:30 to 9 p.m. and singing at the 10 a.m. Sunday service. No audition required—just come with a willingness to join in. Interested in our first rehearsal on Thursday, September 10? Send Westley an email ([email protected]).

Check out the full Ridge Notes newsletter at:

As summer draws to a close, we turn our attention to the season ahead—one that promises both music and community in equal measure.