On Sunday, September 28, 2025 Pastor Ali Rode and her husband Brian attended worship at both services and were welcomed at a reception sponsored by Congregational Life. At a special October 5 congregational meeting, we voted to call Pastor Ali Rode as Associate Pastor. She formally accepted our call as extended to her in the Letter of Call. Pastor Ali joined us in ministry beginning on Sunday, December 7.

Rev. Alexandra Joy Rode was installed January 11, 2026 as the Associate Pastor for Family Ministry by Rev. Adrienne Ladd, Dean of the Conference, and Bishop Emily Hartner preached. Pastor Ali presided at the Eucharist and the service was followed by a reception. A number of local clergy colleagues attended, and other special guests included her parents, Marilyn and Allen Wood; Bishop Gregory Palmer (ret.) who ordained her; and Rev. Dr. Dan Pezet, Superintendent and Missional Strategist for the Metro District, who represented the United Methodist Church. May God bless Pastor Ali’s ministry with us!

Many members, friends, and family were in attendance. We wish to thank the many people who have given to the Columbarium Fund in memory of loved ones. This fund cares for the perpetual upkeep of the Columbarium. As of 12/1, $10,070 has been given to the fund. Gifts to the Columbarium Fund may be made at any time. God bless the memory of the saints!

St. Mark’s offers Lenten meals each of the 5 Wednesdays in Lent before the Lenten Midweek Prayer, which in 2025 took place in March and April. The Men’s Group provided a supper that create table fellowship and community, as did Social Ministry, Worship and Music and Property Ministries.

On June 14, 2025 St. Mark’s Men’s group met to prepare a meal for Hospitality House Charlotte and to help clean debris from the church yard following a traffic accident the previous month that destroyed the yard’s fence, broke picnic tables, and cracked the masonry on the outer wall of the nursery. The clean up involved cutting up and discarding debris and power-washing the remaining outdoor tables and benches. The meal prep menu included sandwiches, homemade vegetable soup, fruit cups and cookies for people staying at Hospitality House from out of town as they care for families at various healthcare facilities in Charlotte. We are grateful to St. Mark’s men who faithfully care for our church building and for those in need in the wider community! 

The Men’s Group participates in the City of Charlotte’s Adopt a Street program, and met on 8925 and 11/8/25 to clean the section of road it cares for which is Scott and Kenilworth Avenues between East Blvd. and Park Road. The pictures here show bags of trash picked up and the yellow safety “Charlotte Beautiful” vests and tools the city provides. We also have a couple of signs along these roads with St. Mark’s name.

On February 28, 2025, Carolina Pro Musica performed a program titled “Celebrating Scarlatti” with harpsichord, viola da gamba, viola and baroque oboe. This exceptional ensemble is in their 47th season in Charlotte and St. Mark’s is please they are one of our musical partners. On March 28 the Baroque ensemble, Carolina Pro Musica featured the works of J.S. Bach in a program titled, “Beautiful Baroque,” which included the Cantata “Ich habe genug” (BMV 82). The ensemble was Karen Hite Jacob, harpsichord; Rebecca Miller Saunders, soprano; Andrew Mahon, bass-baritone; Holly Wright Maurer, viola de gamba; David Wilson, violin; Janelle Davis, violin; Tom LaJoie, viola; Henry Trexles, Sung Lee, baroque oboe. Photos of the performances and St. Mark’s sanctuary courtesy of John Jacob.

On October 3, Carolina Pro Musica kicked off its 48th 2025-26 season with a concert titled “German Ingenuity,” featuring the music of J.S. Bach and G.F. Handel. Bach’s wedding cantata 202, violin sonata BWV 1021, Handel’s trio HVW 390 and aria “O Had I Jubal’s Lyre” from “Joshua” were performed. St. Mark’s is honored to be the home of this fine Baroque ensemble led by Karen Jacob, Director, and Sung Lee, Assistant Director. Photos courtesy of John Jacob.

The annual premier Baroque ensemble Carolina Pro Musica Christmas concert on December 12 was well attended and included the telling of the biblical Christmas narrative by Bob Sweeten, accompanied by music and poetry. It is an honor that Carolina Pro Musica again called St. Mark’s home for its 47th season. Photos courtesy of John Jacob.

Queen City Ringers

On May 4, the Queen City Ringers presented their annual Spring Concert titled, “What a Wonderful World.” Under the baton of Laura Blauch, the QCR presented a variety of musical genres including arrangements by Buckwalter, Tucker, McChesney, Eithun, Krug, Compton and McKlveen. We are pleased that the Queen City Ringers calls St. Mark’s home!

Bach Charlotte Cantatas and Festival

On May 10, Bach Akademie Charlotte presented Bach’s Cantatas for Solo Voices, featuring Nicholas Garza (countertenor) and Edmund Milly (bass), accompanied by violin, viola, cello, oboe, and continuo organ (see picture). St. Mark’s is pleased to partner with BAC, welcoming the wider Charlotte community to St. Mark’s to experience the music of Bach in the beautiful sacred space of our sanctuary. 

The Bach Akademie Charlotte held its 6th annual Bach Festival May 30-June 7, bringing together over fifty gifted musicians from all over North America. Highlights included the entire Brandenburg Concertos and Mozart’s Requiem. St. Mark’s was pleased to host two concerts: June 3, “All in the Family: JS Bach & Sons Chamber Music,” featuring the Cantata: Also hat Gott die Welt geliebt, BWV 68 (For God so loved the world); and June 5, “Follia & Fantasy: The Art of the Trio Sonata,” including works by J.S. Bach and Antonio Vivaldi. These well-attended concerts offered the Charlotte community an opportunity to experience marvelous music in our acoustically vibrant sanctuary.

Angels in the Architecture

On Sunday, June 15, the ensemble named Angels in the Architecture presented “Under the Skies: 500 years of Music in Paris,” featuring music of the 13th-18th centuries. Seven musicians performed vocal and instrumental pieces featuring over thirty different instruments with Kristen Overdahl as vocalist on several pieces in French. The concert was a magical performance giving life to medieval and early baroque period compositions rarely heard performed today. St. Mark’s is proud to partner with many musical ensembles in Charlotte offering quality sacred and classical music that helps create musical community in our church.

North Carolina Baroque Orchestra

On August 8, the NC Baroque Orchestra performed “Magnificent Orchestral Music of the Baroque,” a selection of works by J.S. Bach, Vivaldi, Heinichen, and de Boismortier. The NCBO is comprised of professional musicians specializing in 17th & 18th century music performed on baroque period instruments. Their passion brings joy and new life to the music of this era.

American Guild of Organists 

On August 17 St. Mark’s hosted the American Guild of Organists Summer Recital Series with a performance by Les Ackerman, Charlotte Symphony Orchestra trumpeters, Alex Wilborn and Jonathan Kaplan who offered a program of “Music for Organ and Trumpets” with works by Purcell, German, Vivaldi, Walther, Tomasi, Viviani, Gawthrop and Holst. We are grateful to the AGO Board of Directors for offering this yearly series and to the Congregational Life Committee for arranging a marvelous reception after the concert.

Approximately 250 people attended the event, and Michi Calcagno, JAS Executive Director and Tomoko Deguchi, JCAC President, gave greetings.

There was a student taiko drumming group from the South Academy of International Languages; Japanese pottery; an Aikido demonstration; Japanese dolls and crafts; and performances of dance and song. Baked goods and Japanese foods were also available.

                    

Room In The Inn began hosting the homeless in our community on 1/7/2025, and St. Mark’s Council members were on deck the first night. This year’s season is every Tuesday night during January and February. We are thankful to all of our members who help make this vital ministry happen. Their generosity is a sign of Jesus’ love active in this world!

We are grateful to Gifts & Memorials for the purchase of new steel cots that lift the mattresses off the floor, adding both comfort and safety for our guests. We are also grateful to Clayton who works behind the scenes every week by setting up.

On 2/18 St. Mark’s Men’s Group made dinner (barbecue baked chicken, green beans, biscuits, and cake for dessert), and on 2/25 the Wenzel family made and served a dinner of homemade pork barbecue, baked whipped potatoes, cole slaw, and dessert.

May God bless all of our guests with the peace and protection of Jesus Christ.

Internationally renowned instrumentalists performed on period instruments including cello, violin, traverse flute, viola and harpsichord.

Pictured above: Rehearsals and setup, and unique “red harpsichord” of the Bach Akademie Charlotte. 

Pictured above, UNC Charlotte Chorale vocal warmup (left) and Orchestra warmup (right).

Lester Ackerman, Director of Music Ministry at St. Mark’s, performed on organ, and is pictured with Dr. Dungee.

The three frame collage above, taken through the choir balcony arch, shows Dr. Dungee directing at the end of the Hallelujah Chorus. Soloists were, Christina Pier, soprano; Tia Wilson, mezzo-soprano; Christian Souza, tenor; and Dareion Malone, bass. We are grateful to the generosity of UNCC and to all who attended the event.

We are pleased that Carolina Pro Musica again calls St. Mark’s home for the 2024-2025 season. On October 18, 2024, the program, “Premiering Hasse,” brought together a good crowd to enjoy a delightful Baroque program. Karen Hite Jacob (harpsichord) continues to lead the ensemble which included, Rebecca Miller Saunders, vocals; Holly Wright Maurer, viola da gamba; Sung Lee, oboe; Janelle Davis, violin, viola; Matvey Lapin, violin. As always, the audience enjoyed fellowship after the recital with members of the ensemble. Photos courtesy of John Jacob and Les Ackerman.

On 12/13 Carolina Pro Musica offered a tremendous Baroque Christmas program containing scripture, readings by Isaac Watts and T.S. Eliot, and works by Corrette, Altenburg, Zopoli, Telemann, Bach, Gruber, and Scarlatti. The program told the story of the prophetic birth of Jesus Christ in word and song with hope and joy. Photos courtesy of John Jacob and John Cosmas.

Ryo Terukina Piano Recital

On 11/30 nearly 60 people were treated to a marvelous piano recital by Ryo Terukina, who was visiting Charlotte from Japan. Works by Debussy, Chopin, Putscher, Hisaishi, and Okano were performed, and afterwards a time of fellowship was enjoyed by all. We are very grateful to Mr. Terukina for this performance.

Queen City Ringers Christmas Concert

On 12/22 the Queen City Ringers, under the direction of Laura Blauch, performed a spirited program, “Traditions of Christmas,” that included a broad array of hymns, carols and seasonal pieces. The QCR calls St. Mark’s home, and we are grateful for our continued musical partnership in the Charlotte community.

Les Ackerman and Gabe Slesinger also gave insights into the pieces they performed.

We had record attendance for the August 18 Vespers/Summer Series concert at St. Mark’s, co-sponsored by the Charlotte Chapter of the American Guild of Organists. The AGO board estimates there were 230-250 attendees. The offering/collection for the Young Organist Scholarship fund was also record, $740.00 in plate receipts, not including the contributions made through PayPal.  Thank you to Les Ackerman and Gabriel Slesinger!

The reception by our Congregational Life Committee was well received, and much appreciated!