Good News
Our church is named after Saint Mark. Most scholars believe that the Gospel of Mark was written anonymously, and that the name of Mark was attached to link it to an authoritative figure. This was a common way of naming a writing.
Mark was not one of the 12 Apostles but he was a disciple of Jesus who was right at the heart of the events which surrounded the explosion of the Good News of Jesus and Mark’s Gospel is from the eye witness accounts of the life and times of Jesus. This Gospel writing about Jesus was so good that 90% of it is used in Matthew’s Gospel and over half by the Gospel of Luke. The writing has been dated soonest after the crucifixion and resurrection of Jesus, between AD60 and AD70.
In the earliest Christian art the four Gospel writers were represented using the symbolism recorded in Revelation (4:7) of winged creatures. St Mark a lion, St Matthew a creature with a face like a human face, St Luke an ox, and St John a flying eagle. The lion symbolism also appears in a vision of the Prophet Ezekiel (1:10). The wings symbolism reminds us of angels who were seen as messengers from God.
The winged lion of St. Mark the Evangelist is used as the logo for our church. Mark’s Gospel begins with the mission of John the Baptist "crying out in the wilderness." His voice is said to have sounded like that of a roaring lion. St Mark the Evangelist is specially remembered in the church year on 25 April.
From the Vicar
We live in a society that has in many ways abandoned its traditional patterns of mourning.
A time to relax and to reflect on the efforts made by trade unions to get this balance.
God gives us shelter from both rain and sun and picks us up when we stumble
Parish Officers
Parish Governance
The executive team of Vicar, churchwardens and treasurer meet constantly on parish business.
Parish Groups
Worship leaders, lay readers, servers, ushers, greeters, flower arrangers, cleaners, counters, intercessors and cup bearers all join together to support the service.
From the Vicar
We live in a society that has in many ways abandoned its traditional patterns of mourning.
A time to relax and to reflect on the efforts made by trade unions to get this balance.
God gives us shelter from both rain and sun and picks us up when we stumble
Community Fair bringing affordable toys, books, china, vintage clothes and more from the Opawa - St Martins Parish.
