Small Groups
Small groups are central to the life of the church and probably the best way to make friends, develop your gifts and ministries and grow as a Christian.
There are a large variety of small groups within St Mark’s. Some meet for Bible study and prayer, some for fun and fellowship, some to serve the church or wider community. We would love to help you find one where you feel at home. If you’re still not sure which is right for you, call or e-mail the church office, and we will
introduce you to one that you might enjoy.
A number of home groups meet at 8pm on Tuesdays or Wednesdays. Please contact the office or ask after a service and we will try to introduce you to a home group leader.
Serving
St Mark’s is a lively, busy church with a real desire to love and serve the local community. And for that to happen we need a great number of dedicated volunteers who, for example, set up refreshments for Sunday services, manage the IT desk, play in a music group, look after the children and young people, run the office and lead Alpha. And that’s just the start!
But volunteering on a team can be the most rewarding way to be involved in St Mark’s and make great friends in the process. The variety of activity in the life of the church is so wide there really is something for everyone. To find somewhere to serve, browse have a look at the list below and see what excites you. And if it does, give the office a call to find out who to contact.
The Welcome Team
We need friendly faces to greet people as they come into church, to show visitors to a seat or tell them where the toilets are, and to provide answers to their questions. We also need people who will look out for newcomers, such as students, and make them feel at home.
Audio Visual Team
Learn to operate the sound desk, mix feeds, record talks and facilitate multi-media presentations. This team is critical in helping Sunday services run smoothly.
Prayer Ministry Team
We will train you in praying for people in the power of the Holy Spirit, while respecting their dignity. This is an enormous privilege and an area of the church’s life we would like to expand. So if you feel a calling, do find out more.
Hospitality
We love spending time together as one big family at St Mark’s. And we love partying. That means we always need people to make refreshments on Sundays, or help with larger events, by putting out tables, and organising or providing food. This is a wonderful way of making people feel the church is their home. But your own home is a wonderful resource to bless others and invite them home to share a meal or refreshments.
Coffee Shop
We are always glad of support for our Monday morning coffee shop, where a number of local people come for a cuppa and a chat on the morning of Gillingham Market held in the High Street just outside our church doors. If you enjoy baking, like meeting new people - and don’t mind washing up, do join us.
Children’s Work & Youth
Children and young people are a vital part of our church life. It is an enormous privilege to serve them in the most formative years of their lives, and to have a share in enabling them to grow into mature faith. Besides, the children’s work is one of the most fun parts of the church, involving arts, crafts, biblical teaching, worship, and games each. And we can learn so much from them. If you love kids and want to help out on Sundays, or virtually any other day of the week, we would love to hear from you. We believe children are part of the church of today, so we value their ministry as Christians, just as much as adults.
Faith and Light
Faith and Light was founded in France by Jean Vanier for people with learning disabilities, their parents and friends, who all share together and encourage each other. Within a Faith and Light community, each member is valued, and each has a unique contribution.
Our local community meets fortnightly, with some holiday breaks, in the Old Vicarage Hall on Vicarage Road on alternative Wednesday evenings between 7:15pm and 9:15pm. Contact: Rachel Littlewood via the Church Office
Ladies Group / Women’s Group
The St Mark’s Ladies Group meets on Wednesday mornings from 10:00am at the Old Vicarage and is for women of every age. We study the Bible, share our prayer needs with one another. And of course, there’s always time for coffee and chat. A crèche is available for young children in the Old Vicarage Hall, and we’d be delighted to have more volunteers - especially some surrogate “Grannies”, so that younger mums can have the rare chance to study and pray, and deepen their faith.
We can promise you a very warm welcome and look forward to seeing you! Contact: Helen Towers, Martha Prankard, Margaret Weston or Lucy Day via the Church Office.
Lydia Prayer Group
Lydia groups are for women who feel a calling to intercessory prayer. St Mark’s Lydia Group meets in the Old Vicarage once a month on Friday mornings. For more information contact: Rachel Littlewood via the Church Office.
Mission Task Group (MTG)
The Mission Task Group meets on the fourth Monday of every month at 8pm in the Garden House opposite the Old Vicarage. It provides an opportunity to hear news of St Mark’s missionaries, working all over the world, some in very difficult circumstances, and to pray for whatever their particular needs are. See our mission links page.
Students
The number of students in Gillingham has grown dramatically in the past few years. Many are from overseas and find UK traditions and the language difficult. Others have left home for the first time and find it hard to settle. A few are looking for a welcoming church community which will love them and make them feel part of a wider family. Sadly, a large proportion lose their faith in their university years. Could you offer a meal? It might make all the difference.
The Alpha Course
The Alpha Course runs each Autumn and Spring term for 10 weeks and includes a weekend away. If you want to be on a team, either to head up discussion on a table or help out ‘behind the scenes’ in making food, washing up dishes, or setting tables, these are crucial to make this excellent course happen. http://uk.alpha.org/
Worship and Music
We are always looking for musicians and singers who want to develop their worship leading skills or be part of a band. Providing worship for the church is an enormous privilege, and absolutely vital for our Sunday services. If you are gifted in this way, do please let us know.
Giving
Making a regular financial contribution to the work of the local church is not only biblical, but a very practical way of sharing in the life of the church and demonstrating your commitment and support. Contributing to the inevitable bills - heating and lighting, and maintaining and improving our buildings, is a vital part of belonging. Financial resources also enable us to employ staff such as youth and children’s workers, who bring huge benefit to the church and the local community.
A full financial report, audited accounts and annual budget is published each year and made available at the Annual Parochial Church Meeting. The elected PCC scrutinises and authorises expenditure throughout the year. In addition, 10% of donated income is used to support St Mark’s missionaries or given in charitable aid to overseas agencies.
Visitors to the church are under no obligation to give.
How can you give?
You can give by contributing to the collection on a Sunday, but by far the easiest and most tax-efficient form of giving, helpful for our own budget, is to set up a Standing Order. For more information please contact the church office. If you are a UK taxpayer, filling in the Gift Aid declaration will enable us to claim back the tax you paid and use it for God’s work.
Electoral Roll
The Electoral Roll is the official membership list of St Mark’s. If you are on the Electoral Roll, you can nominate, be nominated and vote for PCC and Deanery Synod membership.