St. Mark’s Episcopal Church Rector Search

One of the most profound expressions of success and fulfillment in recent years has been our partnership with Family Promise MetroWest (FPM), a transformative organization dedicated to supporting families experiencing homelessness. For several years, we have been privileged to walk alongside FPM in its mission to “transform the lives of families with children facing homelessness by mobilizing a diverse community to provide shelter, education, and comprehensive support.”

A moment of particular significance came when Father Phil responded to God’s call to become the Bishop of Olympia, and the rectory, a spacious 2,500-square-foot home, stood empty. In a spirit of hospitality and discernment, the vestry and parish decided to offer the rectory to FPM, renting it at a rate well below market value. This act of generosity allowed FPM to provide temporary shelter for five families, each with at least one child under the age of 18, during our search for a new rector.

In addition to offering a safe, stable home, St. Mark’s parishioners have actively supported these families by assisting FPM in addressing the root causes of housing instability—such as debt, employment challenges, tenancy skills, and health issues. Throughout their time with us, these families have experienced the warmth and care of our faith community, enabling them to live with dignity and hope as they transitioned to permanent housing and self-sufficiency.

FPM recognized St. Mark’s compassion and commitment by honoring us with the “Community Partner of the Year” award. Through this partnership, we have seen the grace of God at work in our midst—transforming lives, fostering hope, and strengthening our bonds as a church committed to living out the love of Christ in action. It is a reminder of the power of community and the deep fulfillment that comes from serving those in need.

Our liturgical style is rooted in the rich tradition of the Episcopal Church, combining reverence for the sacred with a deep commitment to inclusive community. Both of our Sunday services follow the Book of Common Prayer Rite II, embracing both the solemnity of the Eucharist and the joyful celebration of the liturgical year. Our 10 o’clock service emphasizes the beauty of sacred music, including hymns, choral anthems, contemporary music from a supplemental binder, and congregational participation, all designed to foster a sense of transcendence and connection with God.

There is a strong precedent for sermons that apply lessons and the gospel to real-world situations, thereby illustrating their relevance to our lives and how to apply Scripture to our everyday lives. In addition to our 10 o’clock Sunday Eucharist, we offer a contemplative early service at 8 o’clock, featuring quiet prayer, Scripture, and Eucharist, which provides a space for reflection and renewal. For those with young children seeking a more informal worship experience, we host a family service monthly called “Messy Church,” blending contemporary language and interactive elements with traditional liturgy, welcoming all ages to engage fully in the worship experience. We also hold services outside, some by candlelight, annually bless our pets, and work to appreciate the holiness in all things.

At St. Mark’s, we practice a broad and inclusive approach to ministry, fostering a sense of shared responsibility and mutual service. We invite participation in every aspect of our life together, from worship to hospitality to outreach. Members of the congregation serve as acolytes, lectors, chalice bearers, ushers, musicians, choir members, and leaders of various committees, ensuring that our liturgies are vibrant and fully engaging. Fellowship and service are also nurtured through events like coffee hours, parish brunches, potluck dinners, and our annual Christmas Bazaar where many hands come together in community. Our ministry includes children and adolescents. We have an active youth group that looks forward to an annual mission trip to an impoverished area, often outside of Massachusetts. Younger children are offered a welcoming space to grow in faith through Messy Church and, in prior years, Vacation Bible School. In addition, the back pew has been physically adapted to become a children’s play area. We sponsor music recitals and coffeehouse events that offer opportunities for both parishioners and visitors to experience the beauty of the arts in a spirit of hospitality.

Through interfaith collaborations with neighboring congregations within the United Parishes of Southborough, as well as Neighbors for Peace, and Central Mass Connections in Faith. We also create opportunities for collective service and leadership on the broader community. Visitors and newcomers are met with warmth and openness, and parishioners have multiple avenues to contribute their gifts to the life of the church. By cultivating an environment where everyone’s participation is valued, we build a vibrant and dynamic community of ministry that reflects the inclusive nature of Christ’s call.

As a worshipping community, we care for our spiritual, emotional, and physical well-being through both individual and communal practices. Individually, members nurture their well-being through daily prayer, Bible reading, and meditation. Wellness practices such as walking, yoga, and regular exercise also support their physical health. Communally, we offer various opportunities for spiritual growth and emotional support. Pastoral and lay visits provide personalized care, while prayer teams uphold the congregation in intercession. Our Women’s Bible Study group and Men’s Group foster fellowship and spiritual deepening. The Sunshine Group offers prayer shawls, meals, and visits to members in need, ensuring no one is overlooked.

Additionally, our outreach programs, including volunteering and service projects, support members’ well-being by strengthening connections within and beyond the church. These practices cultivate a holistic approach to health, integrating body, mind, and spirit.

Our worshipping community is deeply engaged in both the wider church and our local region. We actively lead and support initiatives like the Community Free Fridge, Family Promise MetroWest, and Out Father’s Table, providing food and resources to those in need. Our partnership with the Southborough Food Pantry ensures that we address hunger locally.

Each month, we hold an Open Plate Offering to benefit a charity, raising awareness about social issues and providing opportunities for the congregation to help. We also maintain a strong connection with St. Mark’s School, inviting students to join us for worship and community during their time away from home. Our youth group participates in an annual mission trip, focusing on areas of deep economic hardship. Additionally, our youth serve monthly at organizations like Daniel’s Table and Pearl Street Café, fostering a spirit of outreach and service beyond our church walls. Members serve the diocese through committees, events, and leadership. These efforts deepen our connection to both the wider church and the local community, ensuring we remain a presence of love, support, and hope.

We engage in pastoral care beyond our worshipping community through outreach initiatives that offer food, shelter, and hospitality. The Bargain Box, located in the basement of our parish hall, offers deeply discounted clothing, making affordable apparel accessible while raising awareness of our ministries. The annual Christmas Bazaar is a highly anticipated event that connects us with the wider Southborough community, providing both fellowship and support. We also open our parish hall to local civic groups, including Boy Scouts, Girl Scouts, Alcoholics Anonymous, and other support organizations, providing a welcoming space for community gatherings. Our active participation in the deanery and diocese strengthens our bonds with the wider church, fostering mutual care and collaboration. Through these efforts, we extend pastoral care to those outside our congregation, nurturing both spiritual and practical support in our wider community. We seek to serve Christ in all persons by extending compassion and care beyond our parish walls.

St. Mark’s is home to Southborough’s Community Free Fridge. Established in 2023 in response to the wider Southborough Community’s desire to address food insecurity, the Community Free Fridge includes both a pantry and a refrigerator. People are encouraged to either drop off food or pick up food as they desire. The fridge can be accessed at any time (it is a free-standing structure located at the back of the parking lot) by anyone in need. This reflects our parish’s desire to show our faith through our works in responding to the needs of the vulnerable around us.

Additionally, in examining our relationship with God’s creation, we have created our Good News Garden, raised beds on our property where we grow fresh vegetables that can then be given to the Community Free Fridge for those in need.

By including the youth of our parish in all aspects of our worship, leadership, and community. We have two vestry positions specifically for youth; they are also represented on the rector search committee. Each year the congregation eagerly looks forward to Youth Group Sunday where the youth are greeters, read the lessons, deliver a sermon, sing, and provide musical accompaniment, and host the coffee hour.

By meeting busy families where they are, by holding Messy Church at a time and format that works for families of young children. Messy Church meets monthly on a Sunday early evening and includes the entire family in crafts, a child-centered Eucharist, and a scripture lesson, followed by dinner and time to be home for an early bedtime.

By making our welcoming and inclusive spirit more apparent by increasing and improving the signage for visitors, adding a pride flag next to our sign, and also on our Welcome brochure. There is space on our name tags for pronouns for those who would like to include them, and we have been listed on a list of safe and affirming churches for the LGBTQ+ community. We provide our meeting space to a local group, Safer Spaces, dedicated to supporting LGBTQ+ youth.

Our stewardship is rooted in gratitude and abundance. During our Stewardship season, members (including youth) speak about what makes St. Mark’s important to them. Members generously give their time as worship volunteers, lay leaders, and volunteers across our many ministries. Financial pledges sustain our operations, and we celebrate by offering them up on Consecration Sunday and then sharing in a potluck lunch. Our Open Plate Offering each week helps fund our outreach. Stewardship also takes shape in acts of service, from pastoral care, inreach, and outreach, and with many shared meals. These practices strengthen our community and ensure that we remain faithful to God’s call to serve both parishioners and neighbors in need.

Communication has been vital as people experience less conflict when they feel informed and heard. A couple of years ago, we decided that our current service schedule and 3-service Sunday format no longer aligned with our post-COVID attendance. Before implementing any change, we held listening sessions and solicited feedback in various ways. We informed the congregation that the change would take place and explained the rationale. We approached the change with joy as it meant our pews would again be filled and our community would be strengthened. We remained open to feedback once the change had been implemented.

We are a flexible parish and have generally accepted change well. We try to make clear what will be changing and get input for large changes. We successfully combined two services that had different styles of music by identifying the need and communicating it, holding listening sessions to hear people’s concerns, and working hard to find a musician who could accommodate both styles. Some people on both sides were not happy with the music mix; some preferred a more traditional approach, while others wanted more contemporary. One solution has been to pull more from the middle with pieces like African American spirituals that are old enough to please the traditional music lovers, but upbeat enough to please the people who prefer more modern music and composers from the time period between the two groups. This is a work in progress, and we are fortunate to have an organist and choir that are willing and able to adapt to our needs.

For smaller issues, we tend to be open to trying something and then deciding if it works for us or not.

We are seeking a rector grounded in a healthy prayer life and capable of leading with authentic joy. We hope for someone who can inspire spiritual growth in others, helping parishioners deepen their relationship with Christ.

Our next rector should have a strong command of Scripture and be able to teach with nuance—explaining the strengths of various interpretations and showing how God’s Word speaks to the realities of our lives today. We hope for comfort with the spiritual and mystical traditions within the Christian heritage and an understanding of how meditation can enrich our common life. Like our parish, this person should be open and inclusive, welcoming people from every walk of life and helping us continue to grow in that commitment. We would value a pastor of deep empathy, someone who can bring people together and accompany them with compassion.

Practically, we seek a preacher who is an excellent communicator, someone able to build strong relationships within the congregation. They should be willing to delegate, to invite others into leadership, and to cultivate the gifts of the community. We also hope for a rector with a clear vision for extending our ministry beyond our walls and strengthening ties with neighboring places of worship.

Above all, we desire someone who can recognize the goodness already present at St. Mark’s and partner with us as we grow into the future God is calling us toward.