Hospitality Hosts
Contact: Jerry C and Diane M
This consists of two groups of people. One is the relatively fixed group of people who see to it that the kitchen is always stocked with food, coffee, creamer, sugar, salt, pepper, tea, paper plates, paper cups, plastic forks, plastic knives, plastic spoons, and everything else that allows the kitchen to serve its desired function. If you want to get involved in what food and supplies the church has, volunteer for this group.
The other group of people is those who serve those supplies – The Hospitality Hosts. These are the people who make the coffee and set out and sometimes cook the food on Sunday mornings, and for funerals and other church functions. Additional needed functions in this area are cleanup activities. If you want to get involved in these types of activities, volunteer as a Hospitality Host for one or more Sundays or for special events. The folks who stock the kitchen will see to it that the supplies are there. Volunteer to be someone who serves those supplies and/or helps with cleanup. Hospitality Hosts are recruited by the Church Administrator and not by the contact people listed above.
Quilting Group
Contact: Dorothy R
The St. Mark Quilters have been meeting for 20 years now, and we continue our Wednesday morning meetings throughout the year. Meeting time is 9:30 a.m. until 11:00 a.m., sometimes until 11:30 a.m. to make quilts which are given to our high school graduates, soldiers from our congregation who are deploying, and to Lutheran World Relief and many other organizations to support their many worthwhile projects worldwide. Some women spend the gathering time assembling the quilt tops made at home with batting and a backing layer and then tying them into a comforter style quilt ready for binding. The binding step is done at home by one of the members of the group.
Comparing our first year of sending approximately 50 quilts to foreign missions through Lutheran World Relief to sending 110 quilts in early November 2025, indicates that we have doubled the quantity of finished quilts we made in our quilting year of November when quilts are shipped through October of the following year. We have also given quilts to our graduating high school seniors and others as tokens of appreciation or farewell.
We have been blessed with generous donations of beautiful fabrics and are always willing to accept more when it is offered. We also welcome any new willing hands that are looking for a rewarding way to volunteer and spend time in the company of our group of quilters who enjoy being together and making beautiful and useful quilts.
Co-Ed Softball
Contact: John M
Co-Ed Softball is open to any member that has an interest in playing softball. The season runs from April until August and games are one night a week at the beautiful Regional Athletic Complex in Lacey. We are part of the Independent Church League (ICL), which is an interdenominational league founded in 1966 when a local pastor saw the need for organized church sponsored recreation. The ICL has 60 softball teams. Families can play on the same team as the age limit is anyone thirteen to over sixty.
St. Mark Old Guys (SMOGS)
Contact: Tony B
SMOGS was a group of older men (self-defined – open to all) of the church who gather monthly for breakfast, fellowship, planning, and execution of Church maintenance projects. This is a great way to get to know other men in the church. This group needs to be reformulated. If you are interested in joining such a group, please call the church office and you will be given contact information.
Contact: Dorothy R
Women of the ELCA (WELCA) is a national church-wide organization which has conventions and cluster group meetings with women from other ELCA churches. The website of this organization contains many resources including free downloads of a number of electronic publications. Another resource is the website of Gather Magazine. An excellent source of WELCA information is the newsletter of the Southwestern Washington Synod Women’s Organization (SWATCH). It is published six times a year and is free via electronic mail. The best way to see the SWATCH in a timely fashion is to get on the SWATCH email list. If you would like to be on that e-mail list you can send an email to linnea@gsolympia.com. Alternately, the SWATCH may be viewed on the bulletin board in the main St Mark hallway or on the synod website.
Craft Night
Contact: Jan S & Dorothy R
Craft Night occurs on the 4th Monday evening of the month from 6:00pm to 8:00pm. Women gather here at the church in the Parish Hall, for a meal together and to work on any individual personal craft projects that may interest them or to work on prayer shawls. Meals are provided by volunteers from the previous meeting who may prepare the food either at home or at the church. There is no charge for the meal, although a good will offering which goes to purchase yarn for prayer shawls is appreciated.
Prayer Shawl AND Baptismal Blanket Ministry
Contact: Jan S, Dorothy R, or Anne L.
Prayer shawls are knitted or crocheted by members of the group and congregation. These shawls are given to those with medical issues or other needs, or to help celebrate a life milestone. Since June of 2025 we have given out 13 prayer shawls, and there are 18 prayer shawls available. We currently have 12 baptismal blankets available. This past year we gave out two.
Quarter Circle
Contact: No Designated Leader
Quarter Circle meets quarterly in individual homes for a book discussion and to enjoy a meal. Check the calendar for announcements on the Quarter Circle dates.
Seniors Together
Contact: Diane M
The “Seniors Together” group meets at 10:00 a.m. in the Parish Hall on the first Wednesday of each month. If you are a retiree and new to St. Mark, or if you have been a long-time member, come join us for fun, fellowship, and good conversation. If anyone is in need of a ride, we will see that it is provided.
South sound youth group
Contact: Darrin L
South Sound Youth Group (SSYG) meets monthly and continues to be a meaningful and life-giving collaboration among congregations in the Southwestern Washington Synod of the ELCA.
St. Mark Lutheran Church participates alongside Faith Lutheran Church in Shelton, Gloria Dei Lutheran Church in Olympia, and The Lutheran Church of The Good Shepherd in Olympia. Together, these congregations provide opportunities for youth to grow in faith, build friendships, and experience community that extends beyond any single congregation.
For St. Mark, participation in SSYG is especially important. With a smaller number of youths in our congregation, being part of this larger group allows our young people to connect with peers their age, form lasting friendships, and experience the energy and joy of a broader faith community. We are deeply grateful for this partnership and the ways it helps strengthen our youth ministry.