Pandemic closes St. Mark's
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The Reverend David Tembey writes:
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Our priority, since the pandemic began, has been to ensure the safety of all who came for worship or for private prayer. It is with a heavy heart that we have decided that St Mark’s church will be closed with immediate effect. This means that there will be no services on Sunday or Wednesday and the church will not be open for private prayer.
We will review the situation as time goes on. In the meantime I will continue with the Facebook reflections, I will keep in touch with as many of you as I can, and I will pray for you all. I am here for you if you would like to talk; please do not hesitate to pick up the phone. Please keep safe.
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God Bless.
Reverend David Tembey
To all my dear friends at St. Marks.
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Following the introduction of the latest lockdown measures all churches have been given the opportunity to decide whether to close for the foreseeable future if they felt that was in the best interests of their community.
St Marks Virtual Coffee Mornings
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We meet for a chat and a coffee on alternate Wednesdays at 11.00am: 24 Feb, 10 March & 24 March​
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Click here to join the Zoom Coffee Morning
(The same link works for each meeting)
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All you need is a phone, ipad or computer that connects to the Internet - if you use Skype, you probably have all you need.
Make yourself a cup of coffee, click the link and join the Zoom meeting. The session includes a brief 'Thought for the Day'
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The Zoom meeting opens at 10.45am to give everyone time to sign in and the meeing lasts about 45-50 minutes.
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Regular Giving
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The work of St Mark's Church continues, even more so during these dificult times. Please continue to support the work of St. Mark's Church.
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If you are unable to attend church at present please send your contribution through St. Mark's Just Giving page. ​
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Please remember to tick the GiftAid box if you wish us to reclaim the tax on your gift. You can make a single gift or arrange or to make a monthly donation.
Nativity Star stays illuminated
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The Nativity Star on the tower roof remains illuminated as a sign of hope during the pandemic.
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"It has been a sign of Christian hope . . . It reminds me that the church is always there for us" - just one of scores of comments.
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"We hadn't realised how important the star was to so many people," said a spokesman.
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The 'Star of Hope collection boxes in Marske Homeware & Giftware and in Coopers Chemists have raised £133.14 and a further £80 has been received through our Just Giving page
towards to cost of maintaining the star. Our sincere thanks to everyone for your support. (The collection boxes remain in place until the end of this month.)
Shop online and support St Mark's Church
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EasyFundRaising is a UK based service that has set up discount deals with over 4,400 online retailers and services. Join the service and nominate St Mark's PCC as the charity that you support - it's free!
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There are over 4,400 shops and sites ready to make a donation including eBay, Argos, John Lewis, ASOS, Booking.com and M&S, Plusnet, Sky and Vodaphone. It won’t cost you a penny extra to help us raise funds.
These online websites donate between 1% and 5% of the value of your purchases to help us maintain St. Mark's church. The donations are taken from their 'mark-up' - they don't cost you a penny extra!
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To join the service, sign up to EasyFundRaising and download a small app that will alert you whenever you visit a website that supports the service. That's virtually all you need do.
The website will automatically donate a small percentage of the value of your shopping basket - at no cost to you - and pass it to your nominated charity.
New Flat roof on the meeting room
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The old roof was completely resurfaced at the beginning of November. The new improved roof incorporates a layer of thermal insulation and is finished with a plastic polymer resin which will far outlast the previous mineral felt covering. The total cost was around £10,000 as budgeted.
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Floor coverings - After the roof, new floor coverings were laid in the man hall and in the smaller 'coffee bar' room. The new meeting room already has a new floor.
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Sale of pews - when GiftAid was added in, the recent sale of pine pews raised over £600.
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New Meeting Room
New Toilets
The White House
Major building improvements
We have raised and spent over £54,000 during the lock-down period. While the building has been standing unused we have siezed the opportunity to complete a wide range of improvements.
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New heating system
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A new small meeting room
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New windows
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New toilets
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Flat roof replaced over new meeting room
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New floor covering in the Main Hall
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New floor covering in Small Hall (Coffee Bar Room) and entrance
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The work continues:
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Install a new kitchen £10,000
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Decorate the two main halls & new light fittings (£13,000)
- Improve wheelchair access
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Resurface the drive/parking area
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Paint the outside
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We already have over £1,000 in the 'kitty' towards the £10,000 for a new kitchen. Please help if you can. There is still a long way to go and we need all the help we can get in order to create a building we can all be proud of.
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The church has a Just Giving page. Please support this essential work which benefits so many of Marske's community groups.
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Sign up to our Easy Fund Raising scheme. When you purchase from any of 4400 online retailers and services, they will donate a small percentage of the value of your 'basket' to St. Mark's PCC. It costs you nothing! Sign up to our 'Silent Army of Fundraisers as you as you shop online.
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If you prefer to make a BACS transfer, please email the church treasurer for our bank details.
Regular Meetings:
Please check with group leaders during the 'lockdown' restrictions
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Al Anon: Mondays, 10.00am
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Healthy Fit: Wednesdays 5.00pm & Fridays 6.00pm
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Sing Song Community Choir: Alternate Saturdays -
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Slimming Mondays 9.30am -
World: Bridget - 07429 624987
Mondays 3.30pm, 5.30pm & 7.30pm - Julie 07989 673359
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Tai Chi: Fridays 9.30am
Take Heart: Tuesdays 9.30am & Thursdays 6.30pm
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Weight Watchers: Thursdays 9.00am
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Yorkshire Countrywomen's Association: Monthly 2nd Tuesday 1.00pm
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The White House is available to hire for your community or charity event as well as for functions such as children's parties, weddings, family celebrations and regular meetings.
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Enquiries: Mrs. K Callaghan - 07412 656492
The Most Reverend Stephen Cottrell was enthroned as the 98th Archbishop of York at a service of Evensong on Sunday 18 October at York Minster during choral evensong.
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Archbishop Stephen said: “I am delighted and humbled to be the 98th Archbishop of York. I have begun my ministry at a time of huge hardship and challenge and at the moment Covid19 is having a particularly devastating impact in the north.
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“As Archbishop Stephen took his oath on the York Gospels, he placed his hand over gospels that have survived over a thousand years.
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Click the links for a full report and photo gallery and to see a short video introducing Archbishop Stephen
Time to sign up . . . now!
Can you serve? Confirmed members of the congregation are invited to assist at
the communion table, to help with home communion, or to serve by joining the
bible reading or prayers rota. Contact the Vicarage to discuss how you might help.
David Tembey, Vicar
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Tel: 01642 482896 or send an email via the CONTACT button at the foot of the page