St. Mark's Episcopal Church, Islip, NY

05/27/2026

The Healing Mass is cancelled for this Thursday, May 28, as the clergy have both had to be away. We apologize for any inconvenience!

05/21/2026

"A Time To Refresh Our Witness"
Sermon on the 7th Sunday of Easter - Sunday after the Ascension - May 17, 2026, by Fr. Edwin.

Enjoy the videos and music you love, upload original content, and share it all with friends, family, and the world on YouTube.

05/16/2026

Scenes from today's farewell Eucharist and celebration for Bishop Lawrence Provenzano. Check the diocesan social media for many more! 

05/16/2026

“Hear the prayer of our souls in the wilderness. Hear the prayer of our bones in the wilderness. Hear our prayer as we call out to you. Look upon us, O Creator who has made us.” - Hymn of the Sudanese Children, Martyrs of Sudan, 2011

Christianity first reached Sudan through the Ethiopian Eu**ch, baptized by the Deacon Philip. The faith had an indigenous presence in Sudan under centuries of kingdoms and empires. In 1983, the government of Sudan declared an Islamic Caliphate over the entire country. All citizens were ordered to convert to Islam or face extermination. On May 16, 1983, the churches of South Sudan made a public declaration that “they would not abandon God as God had revealed Himself to them.” The bishops, priests, and lay people who signed this agreement knew that it would almost certainly result in their deaths. Over the decades that followed, Christians suffered torture, death, violence, and severe suffering at the hands of jihadists. As in the early church, the blood of these martyrs has been the seed of the church in South Sudan, where Christianity has increased from 10% of the population in 1990 to 60% in 2012. Even in 2026, the violence in Sudan continues, where Christians are caught in the crosshairs of a violent conflict between Islamic factions. Pray for our persecuted brothers and sisters in Sudan and consider donating to organizations like that support the suffering Sudanese church.

Almighty God, you gave your servants the martyrs of the Sudan boldness to confess the Name of our Savior Jesus Christ before the rulers of this world, and courage to die for this faith: Grant that we may always be ready to give a reason for the hope that is in us, and to suffer gladly for the sake of our Lord Jesus Christ; who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.

Art & bio by Ben Lansing

Order the book 📖 today - www.ourchurchspeaks.com

05/15/2026

This past Wednesday, our partners at God's Provisions picked up this huge cache of baby-related goods that had been collected by the parish at large and especially our Episcopal Church Women over the last few weeks. May be a blessing to those and greatest need in our wider community!

05/15/2026

ST. MARK'S | Sat. 16th LIVESTREAM - Celebrating Bishop Provenzano - https://mailchi.mp/8d8b68515afc/stmarksnewsnotices-9304666

05/14/2026

ST. MARK'S | News & Notices - May 14 - https://mailchi.mp/7ef63893b91e/stmarksnewsnotices-9304594

05/11/2026

On these rogation days, through Wednesday, we give thanks in particular for the bounty of the fields, forests, meadows, and seas.

“He will give the rain for your land in its season… that you may gather in your grain and your wine and your oil.” - Deuteronomy 11:14

God designed us to be dependent creatures. Every few hours our stomachs remind us that self-sufficiency is a myth. We rely on creation and those who cultivate it to satisfy us on a daily basis. And creation is sustained only by our gracious God, who upholds all things. These fundamental realities are easy to forget in our modern society, where conveniences often separate us from the growth and harvest of the food we eat. This makes the observance of the Rogation Days all the more important reminders today. Since at least the 5th century, the Western church has set aside five specific days to petition God for blessings on the growth and harvest of the year’s produce. April 25, the sixth Sunday of Easter, and the three days before Ascension day are designated “Rogation Days” (“Rogation” coming from a Latin verb meaning “to ask”). On these days, the church remembers our dependence on God for our sustenance. We fast and pray for a bountiful year and ask blessings upon those who labor for the harvest. In an ancient tradition, these prayers are made in procession in a practice called “beating the bounds.” The clergy and congregants pray and walk the boundaries of their parish neighborhood, blessing the fields and gardens, acknowledging God as our source of life, growth, and sustenance.

Almighty God, Lord of heaven and earth: We humbly pray that your gracious providence may give and preserve to our use the harvests of the land and of the seas, and may prosper all who labor to gather them, that we, who are constantly receiving good things from your hand, may always give you thanks; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever.
Amen.

Art & history by Ben Lansing

Book available at ourchurchspeaks.com

05/10/2026

Grateful for this clericus, their support and collegiality and friendship!

Clergy of the Diocese of Long Island are gathered at the Allegria Hotel in Long Beach for the 2026 Clergy Retreat! 🌊

Our clergy spent the morning grounded in prayer and thoughtful conversation. A special thank you to the Rev. Jeremy Carlson, Rector of St. John’s, Southampton, for leading our two morning sessions and sharing his insight with those who were gathered.