St Mark's Episcopal Church

Plate Offering Support for St. Mark’s Discretionary Fund
2026-08-23 08:00 - 17:00 (America/Los_Angeles)
Our plate offering at the Aug 23rd’s Sunday services will support the Clergy Discretionary Fund, money used to help people who come to the door or contact St. Mark’s clergy for assistance. St. Mark’s gives Safeway cards to 25+ people who come to our door (approximately $700 worth) every month, in addition to many special needs and support, and the fund needs a boost. Your contribution next Sunday directly goes to people who need help. Please contribute in the plate offering, or at tiny.cc/giveSTM

Legacy Society Rector’s Tea and Sunday Blessing
2026-08-23 08:00 - 10:00, 2026-08-22 15:00 - 17:00
Saturday August 22nd, 3 p.m. and Sunday August 23 at 8 and 10 a.m.
The St. Mark’s Legacy Society will celebrate longstanding and new members with a celebratory Rector’s Tea on Saturday afternoon and there will be a blessing of members and acknowledgement of their generosity and vision for St. Mark’s on Sunday at both services. Look for the new plaque with members’ names in the New Narthex.

8 a.m. Liturgy in Chapel of St. Mary Magdalene
2026-08-23 08:00 - 09:30, 2026-08-16 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.

Taoist Tai Chi
2026-08-22 10:00 - 12:00, 2026-08-15 10:00 - 12:00
Taoist Tai Chi introductory sessions are held at St. Mark’s Palo Alto in the Parish Hall every Saturday from 10:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. Beginners are welcome to join a Taoist Tai Chi™ arts introductory sessions at any time. Group leaders will guide you through the practice which is part of an ancient tradition dating back to the 13th century. Read their Frequently Asked Questions to learn more.

Centering Prayer
2026-08-21 09:00 - 10:00, 2026-08-19 08:30 - 09:30, 2026-08-14 09:00 - 10:00, 2026-08-12 08:30 - 09:30 | 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
2026-08-20 19:30 - 21:00, 2026-08-13 19:30 - 21:00 | Sanctuary, 600 Colorado Ave, Palo Alto, CA, 94306

Good Reads Book Club
2026-08-20 16:00 - 17:00
Starting this spring and into the summer, the St. Mark’s Good Reads group will be reading and discussing Fatal Discord: Erasmus, Luther, and the Fight for the Western Mind by Michael Massing. The group meets every-other week via Zoom on Thursday afternoons. 4:00 PM – 5:15 PM
Contact Marie Highby [ mhighby@gmail.com ] for more information and Zoom link!

About the book:

A deeply textured dual biography and fascinating intellectual history that examines two of the greatest minds of European history—Desiderius Erasmus and Martin Luther—whose heated rivalry gave rise to two enduring, fundamental, and often colliding traditions of philosophical and religious thought.

“A masterly work. Massing manages to juggle the complicated biographies and life work of both Erasmus and Luther while giving the reader a well-written, comprehensive background of pre-Reformation theology.” – Publishers Weekly (starred review)

“An impressive, powerful intellectual history. . . A riveting dual biography [that] reveals the social, political, and religious tensions roiling 16th-century Europe. Massing focuses on the well-known rivalry between the Dutch humanist Desiderius Erasmus and the German reformer Martin Luther to create a majestic, deeply informed portrait of their tempestuous times.” – Kirkus Reviews (starred review)

Morning Prayer
2026-08-20 08:00 - 08:30, 2026-08-19 08:00 - 08:30, 2026-08-18 08:00 - 08:30, 2026-08-17 08:00 - 08:30, 2026-08-13 08:00 - 08:30, 2026-08-12 08:00 - 08:30 | Chapel of St. Mary Magdalene, 600 Colorado Ave, Palo Alto, CA, 94306
All are welcome for morning prayers in the Chapel of St. Mary Magdalene from 8:00 a.m. to 8:30 a.m. Mondays, Tuesdays, Wednesdays, and Thursdays.

Palo Alto Kendo Dojo
2026-08-19 19:00 - 21:30, 2026-08-12 19:00 - 21:30
Kendo is a Japanese martial art descended from kenjutsu, the traditional sword practice of the samurai. Centuries ago, practitioners developed the shinai (training sword) and kendo-gu (protective equipment) to allow for full-speed practice without the risk of injury. Modern kendo continues this tradition while incorporating a competitive sporting aspect.

If you are interested in joining, we encourage you to observe one of our practices. This will provide an opportunity to learn more about kendo and our dojo’s specific approach to training.

Please contact us ahead of time to schedule your visit at info@paloaltokendo.org. We would be happy to answer any questions you may have.

Gnostic Gospels Breakfast with Rev. Kirsten
2026-08-19 08:00 - 17:00
Wednesday, September 9, 7:15 a.m.

You are ALL (men AND women) cordially invited to attend the St. Mark’s Men’s Group special breakfast as they host an in-depth discussion, led by Rev. Kirsten, of Elaine Pagels’s, The Gnostic Gospels. The Men’s Group meets biweekly for a potluck breakfast where we regularly discuss a book that we are reading together. The special event on Sept. 9 will be a more in-depth discussion. As many have read Elaine Pagel’s, The Gnostic Gospels, or you have interest in the topic, the Men’s Group wants to invite the Parish to join in. An RSVP to paul.milo2@yahoo.com would be appreciated, but not required, so we can decide which room to use. As is the Men’s Group custom, attendees can bring a breakfast item to share or just bring themselves!.
The Gnostic Gospels is the third book by Elaine Pagels that the Men’s Group has read or is reading. In several years, there is only one other author, C. S. Lewis, who has been chosen three times. Dr. Pagels also hails from Palo Alto and is surely known to some parishioners.

Young Adult Brunch
2026-08-16 11:30 - 13:00
August 16, 11:30 a.m.
Everyone 18-39 is invited to join for a meet-up after the 10:00 a.m. service. We’ll go to a local restaurant. Gather on the labyrinth. St. Mark’s will pick up the tab for all students.

Rosalie Rendu Center Forum
2026-08-16 11:00 - 12:00
On August 16, 2026, we will have Forum speakers—Maria Lozano, Executive Director, and Sister Trinitas Hernandez (Sister T), Founder— from the Rosalie Rendu Center in EPA, who will speak to us about their successful language partner program. Learn more about them at www.rosalie-rendu-center.org.

Simple Summer Agape Coffee Hours
2026-08-16 11:00 - 11:30
At the helpful suggestion of several of our stalwart Agape Hosts who have been stepping in to fill frequent Sunday gaps in Agape Host sign-ups: to ease our need for Agape Hosts amidst folks’ busy summer plans, clergy will provide coffee/tea and juice and a snack from July 5 – August 30– as we continue to enjoy the truest Agape: our wonderful fellowship and conversation together after worship. We will revisit our Agape process in the fall.

10 a.m. Liturgy
2026-08-16 10:00 - 11:30 | Sanctuary, 600 Colorado Ave, Palo Alto, CA, 94306

Parish Work Day - Prep for Community Faire
2026-08-12 08:00 - 17:00
Saturday, August 29, 9:30 a.m. to 11:30 a.m.
Come help set up canopies, tables, and chairs for the Community Faire. We’ll also be trimming plants and sweeping walkways. Any amount of time you can give at any point in the morning is appreciated; families are welcome, too. It’s a great way to meet and socialize with members of our community, especially if you are new to St. Mark’s. Many thanks in advance from the Building and Grounds Commission. Questions? Contact Mary Murphy [mkemur@yahoo.com] or Marius Milner [mariusm@gmail.com].

Men's Breakfast
2026-08-12 07:00 - 08:00
The Men’s Breakfast is open to all men of St. Mark’s. We meet every other Wednesday morning at 7:15 a.m. in the Parish Library. We typically choose a book to discuss based on a consensus of what’s on the minds of our members. Breakfast is truly spirit driven with folks bringing what they like, or nothing but themselves…all are welcome! Lively and open discussion are always on the menu.

Multifaith Voices for Peace “Peaceful Presence”
2026-08-11 19:00 - 21:00
Tuesday, August 11 – 7:00 p.m. in the Kennedy Room
Come gather as St. Mark’s hosts August’s “Peaceful Presence” gathering, a monthly prayer service on the evening of the 11th of each month, offering a time of quiet multifaith prayers for peace and justice and strength for the journey.
