Pastor Gary Soop
Pastor Gary Soop has been serving St. Mark's since August 2015, having previously served Lutheran congregations in Kentwood Michigan, Kingsport Tennessee, and Richmond Hill Georgia. Pastor Gary began his ministry in the Presbyterian Church, prior to completing the ELCA candidacy process in 1990. He and Mary have been married since 1981. Together, they have three grown children: Katherine, Valerie, and David, and 5 precious grandchildren!
Meet the rest of our staff
Pastor Gary's personal ministry statement is: Few people are able to do in this world what I am entrusted with doing as a called and ordained minister of the Gospel. After thirty-seven years, ministry in the Church remains my genuine passion and awesome privilege! Through this ministry I want all people to know, trust, and experience life with our loving heavenly Father, our gracious Lord Jesus Christ, and our wise Counselor, the Holy Spirit.
Meet the rest of our staff
Pastor Gary's personal ministry statement is: Few people are able to do in this world what I am entrusted with doing as a called and ordained minister of the Gospel. After thirty-seven years, ministry in the Church remains my genuine passion and awesome privilege! Through this ministry I want all people to know, trust, and experience life with our loving heavenly Father, our gracious Lord Jesus Christ, and our wise Counselor, the Holy Spirit.
Come and Worship at St. Mark's
On most Sunday mornings, we offer two worship services: a contemporary service starting at 8:30am, and traditional worship at 11am, with Sunday School for all ages in between beginning at 9:45. Each worship service is typically about 1 hour in duration. Contemporary worship features music provided by our praise bands, offering praise to God with a variety of musical instruments including guitars, drums, and keyboard. Music at the traditional service is usually led by organ or piano, along with music provided by the choir and handbell groups on a regular basis.
The congregation tends to dress casually for the 8:30am service, whereas the 11am service is typically a more formal setting although there is no dress code requirement. All are welcome for both services!
A professionally staffed nursery is always available for children up to age 5 during each Sunday morning service, but children are welcome to attend and participate in worship as families see fit. All children are invited forward for a special children's message during each service.
The congregation tends to dress casually for the 8:30am service, whereas the 11am service is typically a more formal setting although there is no dress code requirement. All are welcome for both services!
A professionally staffed nursery is always available for children up to age 5 during each Sunday morning service, but children are welcome to attend and participate in worship as families see fit. All children are invited forward for a special children's message during each service.
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We celebrate Holy Communion every Sunday during both services, as long as Pastor Gary or another ordained minister is present to administer the sacrament. More about Holy Communion and what to expect during worship at St. Mark’s.
And if you missed worship on Sunday, be sure to catch up on Pastor Gary’s Proclamation of the Word by visiting our YouTube Channel. |
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Who We Are
Saved by Grace, we are called to celebrate, serve, and make disciples for Christ
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We are a Lutheran church family, and a member of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America. The ELCA is one of the largest Christian denominations in the United States, with about 4 million members in nearly 10,000 congregations across the United States, Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands.
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The birth of St. Mark’s was made possible with the arrival of German rocket and missile scientists in 1950, upon the re-activatation of Redstone Arsenal. After World War II, these men and their families came to America under the guidance of the United States Army and were first settled in El Paso, Texas. By October 1951, 77 adults and 43 children were enrolled for membership at St. Mark's. Sixty six of the confirmed members were German scientists and their wives when the congregation was formally organized on Reformation Day, 1951. More on the history of St. Mark's
In addition to our pastor and staff, we are led by a Congregation Council. Meet them here
In addition to our pastor and staff, we are led by a Congregation Council. Meet them here
What is a Lutheran?
We get that question a lot. Although the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America has nearly 4 million members, there are relatively few in the great state of Alabama. We at St. Mark's strive to be "A place of grace in the heart of Huntsville," which reflects our Lutheran belief that we are saved only by the grace of God, only through faith in His son, our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. Good Christian works blossom as a result of our faith, but they are not the basis of our salvation. These truths are revealed through God's Holy Word. The Bible alone is the authoritative witness to the good news of Jesus Christ.
Jesus was and is the pioneer and perfecter of our faith, and is the head of the universal Christian church. Our denomination bears Martin Luther's name in recognition of his efforts to reform the 16th century Catholic church and in honor of his teachings which form the basis of our Lutheran theology. Young adults at St. Mark's are instructed according to Luther's Small Catechism, with its fundamental explanations of the Ten Commandments, the Lord's Prayer, and the ancient Apostles' Creed. What is the Apostles' Creed and what does this mean? Our Lutheran faith is further explained in the Book of Concord, which in addition to the Small Catechism includes Luther's Large Catechism and the Augsburg Confession.
The church on earth serves as a congregation of sinners and saints, in which the gospel is preached and the sacraments of Baptism and Holy Communion are administered. The Luther Rose, a common symbol among Lutheran churches, summarizes Martin Luther's theology and faith, and can be found in the stained glass adorning St. Mark's on the north side of the church. More on the symbols found throughout St. Mark's including the Luther Rose.
Jesus was and is the pioneer and perfecter of our faith, and is the head of the universal Christian church. Our denomination bears Martin Luther's name in recognition of his efforts to reform the 16th century Catholic church and in honor of his teachings which form the basis of our Lutheran theology. Young adults at St. Mark's are instructed according to Luther's Small Catechism, with its fundamental explanations of the Ten Commandments, the Lord's Prayer, and the ancient Apostles' Creed. What is the Apostles' Creed and what does this mean? Our Lutheran faith is further explained in the Book of Concord, which in addition to the Small Catechism includes Luther's Large Catechism and the Augsburg Confession.
The church on earth serves as a congregation of sinners and saints, in which the gospel is preached and the sacraments of Baptism and Holy Communion are administered. The Luther Rose, a common symbol among Lutheran churches, summarizes Martin Luther's theology and faith, and can be found in the stained glass adorning St. Mark's on the north side of the church. More on the symbols found throughout St. Mark's including the Luther Rose.
St. Mark's Lego Club - Our First Project!