St Mark's Episcopal Church

Yoga with Alan Twhigg
2025-11-22 11:00 - 12:00 (America/Los_Angeles) | CA
Parishioner Alan Twhigg, a trained yoga instructor, is offering free yoga classes on Saturdays, November 8, 15, 22, and 29, from 11:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. in the Kennedy Room. All are welcome to this meditative practice. Register here.

Centering Prayer
2025-11-21 09:00 - 10:00, 2025-11-19 08:30 - 09:30, 2025-11-14 09:00 - 10:00, 2025-11-12 08:30 - 09:30, 2025-11-07 09:00 - 10:00, 2025-11-05 08:30 - 09:30, 2025-10-31 09:00 - 10:00, 2025-10-29 08:30 - 09:30 and 1 more date | Kennedy Room – St. Marks, 600 Colorado Ave, Palo Alto, California, 94306
Gather to spend time with God in quiet communion and Centering Prayer

Choir Rehearsal
2025-11-20 19:30 - 21:00, 2025-11-13 19:30 - 21:00, 2025-11-06 19:30 - 21:00, 2025-10-30 19:30 - 21:00 | Sanctuary, 600 Colorado Ave, Palo Alto, CA, 94306

Scripture Discussion: Revelation for Normal People
2025-11-18 19:00 - 20:30 | CA
Starting in November, the Scripture Discussion group will be reading and discussing Revelation.
We read aloud passages of Scripture and then have discussions following Study Guide materials. All are welcome; no prior Scripture background is needed,
The group meets every-other week in the Kennedy Room (or the Library) on Tuesday Evenings 7:00 PM – 8:15 PM
Contact Ken Bencala [kenbnc@hotmail.com] for more information.
For our discussions we will be using the Study Guide Revelation for Normal People: A Guide to the Strangest and Most Dangerous Book in the Bible by Robyn J. Whitaker
It has never been more important to read Revelation well. Whether you love it, hate it, or avoid it like the plague, the last book of the Bible’s influence permeates our cultural, political, and religious landscapes. From the so-bad-they’re…still bad actually…Left Behind series, to conspiracy theories about microchips and barcodes, to all-too-real political discourse and actions, John’s visions in Revelation reach far beyond anything their ancient author could have imagined. But what did John imagine? Who was he writing for and why? And what’s the deal with all the hideous horned beasts? Join New Testament scholar Robyn Whitaker as she uncovers the real-world contexts behind this ancient apocalyptic text. A world occupied by an oppressive empire, a marginalized people, and a God committed to justice. Where a beast overthrown was a declaration of authority and a falling star was a statement of evil’s demise. Where symbols gave voice to resistance and visions provided a glimpse of hope. A world utterly and entirely ancient. Only when we understand Revelation’s ancient contexts can we begin to find meaning from it for our own.

St. Marks Book Club
2025-11-18 14:00 - 16:00 | Kennedy Room – St. Marks, 600 Colorado Ave, Palo Alto, California, 94306
The St. Mark’s Book Club is a group of dedicated readers who gather to discuss great books! We meet every 3rd Tuesday of each month at 2 p.m.
The November book for the St. Mark’s Book Group is Marriage at Sea: A True Story of Love, Obsession, and Shipwreck by Sophie Elmhirst. Nadine O’Leary will lead our discussion.
Email Kathy Gillam, kgillamk@stanford.edu, for more information and to be added to the group email.

Pilgrimage Forum with Rev. Nancy
2025-11-16 11:30 - 12:30 | CA
What is pilgrimage about? What is the Camino de Santiago de Compostela like? Join us for a forum to see pictures and hear a few stories from Rev. Nancy about her recent walking pilgrimage undertaken as both a spiritual practice and a joyful, fun thing to do (not mutually exclusive!) – and bring your own stories to share of pilgrimages you have been on and what they meant to you.

10 a.m. Liturgy
2025-11-16 10:00 - 11:30, 2025-11-09 10:00 - 11:30, 2025-11-02 10:00 - 11:30, 2025-10-26 10:00 - 11:30 | Sanctuary, 600 Colorado Ave, Palo Alto, CA, 94306

8 a.m. Liturgy in Chapel of St. Mary Magdalene
2025-11-16 08:00 - 09:30, 2025-11-09 08:00 - 09:30, 2025-11-02 08:00 - 09:30, 2025-10-26 08:00 - 09:30 | Chapel of St. Mary Magdalene, 600 Colorado Ave, Palo Alto, CA, 94306
Join us for a spoken 8:00 a.m. service from the Book of Common Prayer held in the Chapel of St. Mary Magdalene.

Good Reads October Book Club
2025-11-13 16:00 - 17:00 | CA
In November, the Good Reads Book Group will be reading and discussing Miracles and Wonder: The Historical Mystery of Jesus by Elaine Pagels.
The group meets bi-monthly via Zoom on Thursdays at 4:00 p.m. Contact Marie Highby at mhighby@gmail.com for the Zoom link!

Pledge Ingathering & Gratitude Brunch
2025-11-02 11:30 - 12:30 | CA
Join us after the 10:00 a.m. service on Sunday, November 2 as we enjoy a brunch in the Parish Hall to celebrate and dedicate all the pledges that made our Stewardship Season successful. All are welcome!
Why do we call it an ingathering? From BibleHub.com: “The concept of Ingathering in the Bible is rich with agricultural, cultural, and spiritual significance. It serves as a reminder of God’s provision and faithfulness, while also pointing to the ultimate gathering of believers in the eschatological future. Through the observance of the Feast of Ingathering, the Israelites were called to remember their dependence on God and to celebrate [God’s] abundant blessings.”
At St. Mark’s, we will “gather in” all our pledges and the community these pledges will serve as we celebrate God’s provision in gratitude and hope. All people are welcome, regardless of how or whether they participated in our pledge drive!

All Souls Service
2025-11-01 09:00 - 10:30 | CA
On Saturday, November 1st, we will observe All Souls’ Day at St. Mark’s. You are invited to join us as we gather in All Souls Memorial Garden for a special service to remember by name our beloved faithful departed with thanksgiving and hopeful prayer. We will begin at 9:00 a.m. in the garden and then process to the Chapel of St. Mary Magdalene for Holy Communion.
Please join us if you are able. If you are unable to join us at St. Mark’s on Saturday, please be with us in prayer as we remember our loved ones and move forward in faith strengthened by their love.
May the souls of all the dearly departed rest in peace.

Good Reads October Book Club
2025-10-30 16:00 - 17:00 | CA
In October, the Good Reads Book Group will be reading and discussing Peace Like A River by Lief Enger
The group meets bi-monthly via Zoom on Thursdays at 4:00 p.m. Contact Marie Highby at mhighby@gmail.com for the Zoom link!
About this month’s book selection, via Kirkus Reviews:
Handsomely written, rich with the feel and flavor of the plains—and suited mainly for those whose yearnings are in the down-home, just-folks style of the godly. Minnesotan Enger pulls out the stops in this readable albeit religiously correct debut about a family with a father who may be touched by God and a son by the Devil.
Jeremiah Land’s wife left him years ago, and now, in a midwestern town called Roofing, in 1962 or so, he’s janitor at the local school and sole parent of chronically asthmatic Reuben, 11 and the tale’s teller; his precocious sister Swede, only 9 and already an accomplished poet of western outlaw-romances; and Davy, who at 17 becomes a killer—though possibly a just one. Two town boys from the wrong side of the tracks have a grudge against custodian Jeremiah (he caught them in the girls’ locker room) and, after vowing revenge (and briefly kidnapping Swede), they appear one night in the upstairs of the Land house, whereupon Davy (did he lure them there?) bravely and determinedly shoots them dead.
There’s a trial, a conviction—and then a jailbreak as Davy escapes, not to be seen for some months. Miraculous? Well, Reuben has seen his father walk on air (“Make of it what you will,” he advises the reader), and now there’s a miraculous meal (a pot of soup is bottomless), the miracle of the family’s being left an Airstream trailer—even the miracle of Jeremiah being fired, leaving the family free to take to the road after Davy. The direction they go (toward the Badlands), how they avoid the police, what people they meet (including a future wife for Jeremiah), how they find handsome Davy—all depend on what may or may not constitute miracle, subtle or wondrous, including the suspenseful events leading to a last gunfight and the biggest miracle of all (preceded by a glimpse of heaven), all followed by certain rearrangements among the lives of mortals.

Help Create our All Souls Altar
2025-10-26 11:30 - 12:00 | CA
On Sunday, October 26, after the 10:00 a.m. service, our children will lead the creation of an All Souls Altar to remember loved ones who have passed away. All parishioners are invited to participate.
You may bring a photo of a departed loved one (no originals, please!) or an item you wish to place on the altar. The altar will be inside the church, and items can be taken home after the altar creation activity or the following week. Photos will remain part of the altar until it is taken down for the Advent season.
