BAPTISM...

Baptisms are customarily performed at St. Mark's Lutheran Church during a regular worship service.  We schedule baptisms on the second weekend of every month at the 5:30 p.m. service on Saturday or at the 9:00 a.m. or 10:30 a.m. services on Sunday morning.  Although infant baptism is customary, persons of all ages are regularly baptized here.

More information about baptism is available in our pamphlet Planning Your Baptism.  Copies are available at the Welcome Center or by contacting the St. Mark's office at (630) 897-6891.

Baptisms can be scheduled by telephone during business hours or by e-mailing Deb Arcilla at darcilla@stmarksaurora.net

CONFIRMATION...

Confirmation, or the Affirmation of Baptism, is a very important rite in Lutheran tradition.  At St. Mark's preparation for confirmation begins in grade 6 with confirmation day at the end of October for High School Freshmen.  We use the new "Here We Stand" curriculum from Augsburg Press.

Instruction is integrated into a comprehensive after-school program on Wednesdays, called "Faith and Daily Life." Students share mealtime, friendship-building activities, and music as well as formal classroom learning.  The program is open to non-members, but the curriculum is designed to emphasize Lutheran Christian identity.

For more information, please call or e-mail Pastor Pat Geiseman, pgeiseman@stmarksaurora.net

PLANNING A WEDDING...

Weddings are events that require a good deal of advance planning.  It is necessary to contact the church as soon as you have chosen a date for your wedding so that we can be sure our calendar is open.  We also expect couples to spend time with a pastor in pre-marriage consultation.  The inclusive fee for a wedding is $500.  However, the fee is $550 for weddings after 2:00 p.m. on Saturdays or on Sundays.  No Saturday weddings may be scheduled later than 3:00 p.m.  In general, we only perform weddings for members, prospective members, and close friends or relatives of members.

To schedule a wedding and receive a copy of the booklet, Planning Your Wedding, call or e-mail Deb Arcilla, darcilla@stmarksaurora.net

FUNERALS AND END OF LIFE CHOICES... 

Death is usually a very sensitive subject in our culture.  But as Christians, we believe that even in the midst of grief and sadness we can celebrate the gift of this life and the promise of eternal life. We encourage people to consider planning the kind of funeral service you would like to have.  It is a wonderful gift to the loved ones who will be grieving at the time of your death, to know that you have left a record of the scripture readings and music that has been most meaningful to you.

Please feel free to call or e-mail one of our pastors if you would like to have a conversation about planning for this final rite of passage into the joy of God's presence.  The pastor can also help you with issues related to "power of attorney" designations and a living will.