St. Mark’s is committed to working with God to create a better community and a better world. God is at work in our world and St. Mark’s parishioners seek opportunities to join God’s mission in their daily lives – at school, at home, at work and through a variety of social justice and outreach initiatives. Following are just some of the ways in which St. Mark’s is involved in the community in helping to create a better world.
Wednesday Lunch Program Since February 2015 – St. Mark’s and St. Matthew’s Episcopal Churches have partnered to prepare and serve lunch to our homeless and hungry neighbors in Evanston every Wednesday. Each week volunteers bag lunch items, assist with the distribution and cleanup. We maintain social distance from each other and guests. All of our guests and volunteers wear face coverings or are given one to put on before entering the lobby. Volunteers wear gloves and hand sanitizer is also available.
- Plastic grocery bags. Please bring those to St. Marks’s Church and drop off in Classroom 5 (next to the Parish Administrator’s office)
- Volunteer for one or more weeks from 10:45 am to 12:15 pm. Sign up here.
Creation Care The Creation Care team is always exploring ways to help St. Mark’s and the wider community be mindful of environmental stewardship. The Creation care team meets every first Tuesday of the month at 7:30 p.m. If you would like to be a part of this important work, contact Allison Ashley at creation@stmarksevanston.org.
A Sanctuary Congregation St. Mark’s is proud to be one of several congregations in the City of Evanston who have declared ourselves to be a Sanctuary Congregation. As people of faith we believe that we are all created in the image of God and find in this, the starting point for our commitment to and relationship with refugees, immigrants and others seeking a safe haven in our communities. We believe that all human beings – regardless of their place of birth – are entitled to dignity, safety, protection and welcome. To learn more about what it means for St. Mark’s to be a Sanctuary Congregation, click here.
Interfaith Action of Evanston St. Mark’s is a member congregation of this Evanston-based non-profit organization whose mission is to bring together communities of faith and spirit to serve people who are hungry and homeless and to express shared values through action, advocacy, and interfaith dialogue.
- Interfaith Action Hospitality Center for the Homeless St. Mark’s donates space to the Hospitality Center which is open mornings Monday through Friday, 52 weeks per year. The Center provides a warm, nurturing environment for daytime use by the guests who are homeless. The center is open from 7:00 to 11:00 a.m. Guests may use the services of a job coordinator or case manager, or they may make use of the facilities for grooming or making phone calls regarding jobs or apartments. To volunteer, contact Sue Murphy at (847) 475-1150.
- Producemobile On the 2nd Tuesday of each month, Interfaith Action of Evanston teams up with the Greater Chicago Food Depository to bring free, fresh produce to our neighbors in need. The distribution takes place from 9:30 – 11:30 at the Robert Crown Center. Volunteers are needed from 8:30 a.m. – 11:45 a.m. each month. To sign up click here.
Other Activities
- St. Mark’s is involved with a study program called “Sacred Ground” which helps facilitate a greater understanding of institutional racism and how we as Christians can and should respond to this legacy in our nation and in our church communities. This study is undertaken with St. Matthews, St. Luke’s and St. Augustin Wilmette. It is an eleven week course of study which concludes in March of 2023. For more information you may contact Rev. Fran Holliday at retor@stmarksevanston.org
- Raising money for and walking in the North Shore CROP Hunger Walk
- Collecting new socks, hats, mittens, and scarves for the area homeless
- Participating in the Christmas Basket Drive for ReVive Center for Housing and Healing
To volunteer or for more information on St. Mark’s Outreach projects, please contact the Social Justice and Outreach Team at outreach@stmarksevanston.org.