Food 4 Kids distribution at St. James Methodist is a unique program sponsored by St. Mark, St. James, and St. Luke churches to provide food for students and families of Morningside STEM Elementary. Volunteers are needed each month.
Prison Visits to worship with St. Dysmas Lutheran Church (South Dakota prisons in Sioux Falls and Springfield, SD) are scheduled throughout the year. These are ELCA congregations located within the prisons.
Piecemakers, a quilting group, gathers every Monday morning to make quilts for the ELCA/Lutheran World Relief gathering in the fall, for Lutheran Lakeside Camp at Spirit Lake, for various social service agencies in the area, and for our high school graduates.
Neighborhood Night Out - the first Tuesday of August each year - a city wide picnic event bringing together neighbors with Sioux City Police and Fire/Rescue. St. Mark hosts this event in our neighborhood each year.
The Grocery Cart in the church entry is a gathering place of donated food items and is shared with clients of the Community Action Agency of Siouxland.
Soup Kitchen volunteers are needed periodically for work at the Soup Kitchen on West 7th Street in Sioux City. Volunteers sign up for the afternoon preparation time or the evening serving time. A staff member of the Soup Kitchen directs all volunteers
Hunger Offerings are received and given to the ELCA World Hunger Appeal. Offering envelopes are available. This is a “first Sunday of the month” tradition at St. Mark.
CROP WALK for hunger is a community-wide event held in Sioux City every October. Crop-Walkers secure financial pledges and walk in with other community members (from many other churches and community groups) to raise money and awareness of hunger issues in Sioux City and around the world.
The Giving Tree provides Christmas gifts for the less fortunate of our community. A tag on the tree describes a person and their gift wish. A present is bought, wrapped, and put under the tree with the identifying tag before being distributed.
Reverend Brian Palmer, ELCA pastor and missionary for the Lutheran Church in Liberia, has lived and served in Totota, Liberia since 2010. Missionary Support is shared through weekly sponsorship ($20 per Sunday and often additional support as a special occasion gift). A sign-up chart and envelopes are located on the sign-up table.
ELCA Seminary Student Support for Paige McGrath, a student at Wartburg Seminary in Dubuque, is shared through weekly sponsorship ($30 per Sunday). Paige McGrath currently serves as Vicar at St. Luke Lutheran Church. A sign-up chart and envelopes are located on the sign-up table
SAFE PLACE - previously called the Council on Sexual Assault and Domestic Violence, is the recipient of collections of clothing and non-perishable items donated for the adults and children in the shelter.
Community Action Agency of Siouxland - is a priority partner for a variety of St. Mark mission projects
Bread for the World receives support of St. Mark members. Bread for the World is a national advocacy organization which addresses root-causes of poverty and hunger.
Up From the Earth is a spring and summer project. St. Mark is a collection point for donating garden fruits and vegetables, which are then shared with the food pantry at the Community Action Agency of Siouxland.
Lutheran Lakeside is an ELCA outdoor ministry and retreat center in Spirit Lake, Iowa. Summer camp for kids and families, retreats, outdoor recreation and year-round rental facilities are all available at Lutheran Lakeside.
Lutheran Services in Iowa (LSI) is one of Iowa's largest non-profit human services agencies. LSI empowers families and communities by recognizing and honoring the strengths and gifts of every individual. Siouxland LSI program includes refugee resettlement and foster/adoption care.
