Rainbow Fellowship 

The St. Mark’s Rainbow Fellowship is a group primarily for individuals who identify as LGBTQIA+ and Christian. The group meets for fellowship, support and sharing the joys and concerns of living in these challenging days. All are welcome, regardless of age or church membership status. The group meets at 9 a.m. the third Sunday of the month in the church library. Please email rainbow@umcstmarks.org, or call the office (520-297-2062) if you would like more information. Better yet, if this group is for you – please join us anytime.

Sunday School

We currently offer ongoing adult classes: one at 9:30 a.m. and one at 11:15 a.m. You can find more details on our Classes page.

Spiritual Growth Opportunities

Adult Spiritual Growth opportunities are designed to inspire and deepen your faith journey. Whether you are just beginning your journey, or wish to expand your current knowledge of the Bible, you’ll find a variety of opportunities to grow your faith. St. Mark’s offers many short-term classes throughout the year. (Short-term classes generally last for four, six or eight weeks.) Some are offered on Sunday mornings, others during the week. Some are daytime classes, others meet in the evening. Learn more about the current list of classes.

Chronic Illness and Pain Support Group

The St. Mark’s UMC Chronic Illness and Pain Support Group meets from 10:30 a.m. to noon the second and fourth Wednesday of each month in the church library and via Zoom. We offer a time of prayer during each meeting and time to share personal joys and concerns, as you are comfortable. We want to help each other whenever we can. At each meeting, we remind ourselves that we are meeting in a safe space as we listen and share, and everyone’s confidentiality is respected and held. For more info or for the Zoom link contact April DuBoce at chronicillness@umcstmarks.org or call the church office at 520-297-2062. You do not have to be a member of St. Mark’s to participate.

Church and Society 

United Methodists and St. Mark’s continue in a long tradition of social justice. Starting with Genesis, God commanded humanity to care for creation. In the Old Testament prophets, there is reproach for the poor care Israel was providing the underprivileged and unequal distribution of wealth.  As Christians, we have the example of Jesus who ate with and advocated for the marginalized in society.

Methodism’s founder, John Wesley, was committed to improving the conditions for poor people, slaves and prisoners.  This continues through the United Methodist Social Principles, the official stance of the United Methodist Church on social issues.  In addition, through resolutions enacted by the legislative body of the church, concrete actions are provided to bring the Social Principles to fruition.

At St. Mark’s the Church and Society Committee works to educate the congregation about the Social Principles as well as implement them locally.  The committee works closely with the Missions Committee because improving the conditions for the marginalized requires both short-term acts of mercy as well as long-term advocacy for social justice.

Family Ministries

The Family Ministries Committee provides members and friends of St. Mark’s with enjoyable events and activities throughout the year which bring families together and encourage entertainment and fellowship for adults and children.

HeartWorks

Although HeartWorks meets as a group once a month at the church, participants can also contribute their time and efforts from home. HeartWorks members sew duffle bags for children taken into protective custody. Colorful fabric bags, complete with a pocket and a small stuffed animal, are a much more compassionate receptacle for a child’s quickly-packed belongings than the trash bags that were previously used to transport their items. Even people who don’t sew can participate by cutting out fabric and preparing the “kits” to be sewn.

Mark-a-ritas

The Mark-a-ritas are a group of women who believe it’s important to have girlfriends at church, too! They organized themselves to provide a fellowship opportunity for women in “that mid-life stage.” Their children (if they had any) are no longer young, and yet most of the women are still working and not available for the weekday activities of retirees’ groups. However, there are no specific age requirements, and new participants are always welcome! The Mark-a-ritas meet monthly and take turns planning the activities. Whether an event is strictly social or includes a study or service project, you can count on the fact that plenty of conversation and laughter will be included.

Marksmen

A men’s group that meets on the first and third Wednesdays of the month for breakfast and fellowship at 8:30 a.m. in the Fellowship Hall on Magee Campus. Breakfast is served from the menu and the meetings are usually about 1 1/2 hours long.

Prayer Shawl Ministry

Volunteers knit or crochet shawls for those in hospitals, care facilities, etc. Shawls are also presented at the time of baptism and confirmation. The group typically meets at the Magee Campus on the last Saturday of the month. Shawls may be created from home, once the individual has received appropriate instructions.

Quilters

The St. Mark’s Quilters meet on Thursday mornings to plan patterns, cut fabric and quilt, as well as to enjoy conversation while they work. Quilts we make are donated to different services in the Tucson area. To raise funds for batting and supplies, people bring quilts to us they wish to have hand quilted and a group of our ladies do that for a fee. Donations of fabric, batting, and monetary gifts are greatly appreciated.