2010
News &
Articles
12.28.2010 - Kids Day Out - Cookie Baking
12.22.2010 - Advent Wreath-making
12.22.2010 - A Christmas Carol
12.4.2010 - Trip to Corning Glass Museum
12.4.2010 - First Communion - Third Grader Bible Milestone
12.2.2010 - Teen Lock-in
12.2.2010 - Operation Christmas Child
11.16.2010 - Fall Fun Fest
11.10.2010 - All Saints Sunday
11.9.2010 - Celebrating Consecration Sunday
10.28.2010 - Harvest Home Sunday
10.28.2010 - Fun at the Maze
9.29.2010 - Dick Lakey moving on
9.29.2010 - New confirmation students begin study
9.13.2010 - Four Confirmed
9.9.2010 - Sunday School Kick Off
8.31.2010 - Progressing to College
8.31.2010 - 'Tweens Day
8.30.2010 - Choir Camping in Oz
7.5.2010 - St. Mark's, Hot Dogs and Popcorn
7.1.2010 - Vacation Bible School
6.7.2010 - Annual Picnic
6.4.2010 - Audit Committee Gets to Work
6.4.2010 - Jane Larson retires as Stephen Leader
5.5.2010 - St. Mark's Annual Report Posted
5.4.2010 - Family Promise Set to Open
4.27.2010 - Iron Chef Williamsport
4.21.2010 - Icon Tea
4.20.2010 - Successful Spring Clothing Sale
4.20.2010 - Preparing for Easter
4.19.2010 - Easter Vigil Baptisms Celebrated
4.9.2010 - Easter Egg Hunt and Breakfast
4.8.2010 - Passover Seder
3.30.2010 - Pysanky Egg Dying
3.22.2010 - Iron Chef Challenge Accepted!
3.6.2010 - Prayer Pillow Milestone Celebrated
3.6.2010 - 50 Years in Our Nave!
2.21.2010 - 2009-10 St. Mark's Basketball Teams
2.21.2010 - Stephen Minister Sunday
2.16.2010 - All the languages milestone awarded
1.23.2010 - Baking Bread for Epiphany
1.21.2010 - Commemorating Baptisms
February 28, 2010 - Fifty years ago this very day, the congregation took leave of the old St. Mark's building and moved in procession up the street. They paused at the door to recite Psalm 24, and then entered the building as they sang Open Now Thy Gates of Beauty. This was the beginning of a week of events where the whole community was welcomed to experience worship in this beautiful space.
As far back as anyone could remember, the
people of St. Mark's had been hoping for a new church. A
long-cherished dream came true with the dedication service and
the initial uses of this structure. Funds had begun to be
accumulated by 1929, funds that were for the most part lost in
the ensuing depression. The trials of World War II further
delayed the dream, as well as the departure of long-time Pastor
J. Ray Houser.
With the coming of Pastor
Frederick Hasskarl, planning began again. The
congregation had enlarged its vision of worship and
Christian education, and needed a building to match
the vision. In the fifty years since then, we can
see that the ideas of the congregation and architect
for the future have indeed served us well.
As we enter the narthex, we realize that the architect T. Norman Mansell has given us a rather confined space with a very low
ceiling. He did not intend that we spend much time there, but step
directly into the nave. As we approach the nave doors, we note the
series of etchings on the glass dividing wall.
These etchings are of six
Milestones in our Christian life: Holy Baptism, Confirmation, verbal
proclamation, Holy Communion, Marriage, and the Funeral Service. Almost every person who enters
the nave for the first time utters one word, “Wow!” The architect wanted
us to be struck with the awe of God, his majesty, and honor. Our eyes
are drawn up, first to the cross as the saving event of our faith, and
then to the great ribs of the room which shelter us as would a ship in a
storm.
In the center aisle, we are on a path of the Christian
life from the entry door to the altar of Holy Communion. Along the way,
the windows to our right (south side) from the Willet Studios of
Philadelphia depict the various parts of the worship service, and the
windows to our left (north side) remind us of how our faith guides all
that we do during the rest of the week. The windows that were installed
in several stages from 1962-68 are made with chunks of thick glass that
have been faceted in order to gather light even more brilliantly. The
pieces are held solidly in place in a matrix of poured epoxy. The older
style of thin stained glass pieces held together by strips of lead is
used in the 1949 windows that were reinstalled in the chapel.
A dozen years ago we made some minor alterations in the nave, which we believe are still in keeping with the architect's vision. The communion rail was moved to the nave level to make it more accessible. The rail was made removable for the sake of flexibility for concerts and other occasions. The choir pews were replaced with individual chairs that can be positioned wherever needed. As an innovation, the House of Grace was constructed to house in one place the chief Means of Grace: the pulpit Bible, the Body and Blood of Christ, and the Oil of Baptism and its shell. We also added the sanctuary candle, and reused the four evangelists glass panels from the 1949 chapel.
Although it had been recommended by Luther almost 500
years ago, very few altars before 1965 were moved away from the eastern
wall. St. Mark's took this step in 1960 ahead of others. The organ
screen above the altar bears plaques that were hand-carved by a
Philadelphia designer Val Sigstedt. No one has been able to explain the
order of the placement of the plaques.
As we turn from the altar, the great west window
becomes visible, Christ with his arms raised in prayer and blessing. It
is of very unique construction; the design is of glass when viewed from
the interior of the church, and it is a glorious mosaic when viewed
from outdoors. The tower beside the nave carries a carillon of 10 bells
that were cast in Holland and proclaim the Gospel in song to the whole
community.
There are always things to do in caring for a building. There are roofs to replace, heating systems to renew, air leaks to be sealed, dampness and insects to be kept at bay, and more. But the integrity of the architect's design remains, and continues to provide us with a wonderful space for the proclamation of the Gospel in word and music. As Bach always prefaced his compositions: Soli Deo Gloria , To God alone the glory.