New? Visiting? We’re glad you’re here.

Join our E-NewsLetter to learn more about the church’s activities. Sent every FRiday!

Sunday Worship with Emmanuel: Join us at 9:30 am at historic St. Mark’s on Highland St. in Ashland

Where can I park?

Historic St. Mark’s shares a parking lot with the Ashland Town Hall. A paved path leads to the church buildings. For those with mobility issues, there are two parking spaces right beside the church, at the top of the narrow driveway between the red-brick church and Sherrill Hall.

Where’s the door to the Church?

For worship, you’ll enter the church through the door under the red porch. You’ll be greeted by the priest, the deacon, or a friendly welcomer, who’ll give you a copy of the Order of Service, a handout that outlines the worship service and gives page numbers in the Book of Common Prayer and the Hymnal, our songbook. You’ll also receive a leaflet with the day’s readings from the Bible.

Where are the restrooms?

Two accessible, single stall restrooms are located on the ground floor of Sherill Hall, the brown wooden building across the driveway from the red brick church. A ramped path connects the church building to the door of Sherrill Hall, and there is an elevator between Sherrill’s two floors.

What else happens in Sherrill Hall?

Head to Sherrill Hall for refreshments, meetings, receptions, and restrooms. After services, we gather in Sherill for coffee and conversation.

What is the Sunday worship service like?

Several minutes before the service begins, our organist will play music (the prelude); conversations quiet, as many people use that time to pray privately and prepare for worship. You might want to look over the service pages in the Book of Common Prayer, which is the red volume, or preview the day’s hymns. Readings from the Bible follow, taken from a mixture of sources—the ancient holy writings of the Hebrew scriptures, and writings from earliest years of the Christian church. There’s always a reading from a Gospel, one of the four books that recount Jesus’ ministry on earth. The sermon, a short talk inviting us deeper into scripture and how it’s relevant to our lives, here and now. We pray for the world and its needs; most Sundays, we say a Confession, examining consciences, and then being assured of God’s forgiveness and love. We greet each other in Christ’s name with “the peace,” sharing a handshake, a hug, or a smile. An offering is received and brought forward to be blessed, along with the bread and wine for Holy Communion. Led by the priest, we remember Christ’s gift of himself, for us and for the world. All baptized Christians are welcome to meet Christ in the blessed bread and wine. After prayers and a final hymn, we’re sent back out into the world, to “love and serve the Lord.” Come over to Sherrill Hall and have a cup of coffee, to get you started.

What about music?

The Sunday 9:30 am service offers hymns, music led by an organist, and supported by a choir. Hymns are usually found in the blue Hymnal 1982 and Lift Every Voice and Sing. You’ll also find certain sung parts of the service in the Hymnal’s S- section, at the front of the blue book. From time to time, we use other books of music, and those will be announced. Hymn numbers are printed in the information sheet, and posted on the board at the front of the church.

Am I welcome at Holy Communion?

Yes.

Really?

Really. All baptized Christians, including children, are called to the table. If you are not yet baptized, and desire to meet Jesus at the table, you are welcome. Take turns coming forward, to receive the blessed bread and/or wine. (Gluten free wafers are available.) If you choose not to receive, you are welcome to come forward for a blessing from the priest.

I’m not baptized…tell me about that?

“In the waters of baptism, we are lovingly adopted by God into God’s family, which we call the Church, and given God’s own life to share and reminded that nothing can separate us from God’s love in Christ.” Holy Baptism, which can be performed through pouring of water or immersion in it, marks a formal entrance to the congregation and wider Church; the candidates for the sacrament make a series of vows, including an affirmation of the Baptismal Covenant and are baptized in the Name of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. They are marked as Christ’s own forever, having “clothed [themselves] with Christ” (Galatians 3:27).”

In the Episcopal tradition, a person of any age can be baptized. For babies and very young children, sponsors (or “godparents”) make the promises to grow in faith on their behalf, promises that a baptized person renews at confirmation. ( Learn more about baptism, confirmation, as well as about other ways of becoming an Episcopalian, under “Sacraments.”)

I’m attending a funeral. What do I need to know?

In addition to our parking lot (which is shared with the Ashland town hall), you may park on either side of Highland Avenue. There are two handicap spaces at top of narrow driveway, close to the church door. Seats near the front of the church are usually reserved for family members, and will be marked.

I’ve been invited to a baptism. What do I need to know?

Thank you for your presence and your support of the person being baptized! See Sunday worship (above) for the basics. Families and sponsors are usually seated near the font (which holds the water for baptism) and those places will be marked.

Other locations

Trinity Church, Holderness

The “mother church” for Episcopalians in the Pemi Valley, this 1797 wooden chapel is used by the Holderness School for worship several times a year. We often hold our Pentecost Sunday service at Trinity.