Welcome from the Rector

Father Paul Lillie, Rector

Aloha on behalf of the people of St. Mark's. Welcome to our website, and we look forwarding to welcoming you in person at our church.

A generous 'ohana, St. Mark's is a growing and inclusive church within the Episcopal Diocese of Hawai'i, and we enjoy celebrating our Anglo-Catholic heritage and our Hawaiian mission roots.  The patron of St. Mark's is Queen Emma, the wife of King Kamehameha IV. The Holy Sovereigns invited the Church of England to the Hawaiian Islands, and Queen Emma is known for her many works of support and advocacy for the poor and sick. She died on St. Mark's Day, April 25, in 1885.

We are a diverse parish, representing the many different peoples of O'ahu. It is our faith in Jesus Christ, expressed through our Anglo-Catholic spirituality, which unites us.  When we come together for the Eucharist, we become one in Christ. Since 1908 St. Mark's has been ministering the love of Christ to the neighborhoods of Kapahulu and Diamond Head in Honolulu. We also now serve the neighborhood of Waikiki, and on a typical Sunday, tourists and seasonal visitors worship with us too.

Whether you are new to the church, local, or visiting, please join us.

Father Paul Lillie
Rector, St. Mark's Episcopal Church

 

News from the Rector

Rector's Journal
From the Rector: The Mass as Life
From the Rector: The Mass as Life

This coming Sunday our focus changes at the Rector's Study. We will commence a study of the mass, and this focus will continue throughout early summer. We will cover the texts and rituals of the mass, drawing from the lectionary, the Prayer Book, and historic missals. Whether you serve at the altar, sing in the choir, or worship in the pews, I commend joining us on Sunday nights.

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From the Rector: Mystagogy
From the Rector: Mystagogy

Last Saturday morning I met with a cross section of lay leaders who devote many volunteer hours to our worship ministries. Our task was to evaluate what went well with Lent, Holy Week, and Easter, as well as what we might improve for the future. We also looked at the upcoming feasts.

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From the Rector: The Annunciation in Eastertide
From the Rector: The Annunciation in Eastertide

The Annunciation celebrates the announcement of the Angel Gabriel to Mary that she shall bear the Christ Child. Normally we celebrate the Annunciation on March 25, exactly nine months before Christmas, but this year March 25 was Holy Monday. Whenever this happens, the Annunciation is transferred into Eastertide. Most churches, if they celebrate the day, did so this past Monday, the first available day after Holy Week and Easter Week.

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From the Rector: Easter Joy
From the Rector: Easter Joy

We shared an amazing Holy Week this year. I want to thank everyone who worked so hard. The worship guilds, musicians, and acolytes did a superb job. All those extra practices paid off. I was especially struck by the vitality of the human relationships at the receptions after the Easter celebrations. The Easter Eve party is always a joyful occasion, and this year the Aloha Hour after the Easter Day Solemn Mass did not finish until 2:30 pm! You really enjoy spending time with each other.

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From the Rector: Backstage this Holy Week
From the Rector: Backstage this Holy Week

When Holy Week arrives at the end of March, people are surprised at its arrival. This is true for non-Christians who associate Easter with April; true for nominal Christians who have not observed Lent; and even true for faithful Christians, who find they have less time to prepare.

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From the Rector: Going to the Cross and Tomb
From the Rector: Going to the Cross and Tomb

Holy Week begins this Sunday, but first I want to thank everyone for the beautiful mass we enjoyed on Saint Joseph's Day. The choir did a superb job, as is regularly the case, and many were grateful for the Bach voluntaries by Kathy Crosier, our organist. This was the first time we celebrated this feast with more than a low mass, and as several of us reflected the day after via texts and phone calls, celebrating Saint Joseph with a sung mass was well worth it. The attendance was small, but those who came were full of devotion, and in the end we do not offer worship for ourselves but for God.

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