| Coffee Shop Bible Study | Every Tuesday at 10:00 a.m. | We meet at The Mill House Café at the corner of Diamond Blvd. and Luzerne Street in Old Westmont for study and fellowship. |
| Pet Food Pantry | Tuesday, Wednesday, & Thursday, August 6 – 8 9:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. | We provide free pet food for dogs, cats, puppies, kittens, hamsters, gerbils, guinea pigs, rabbits, and birds in order to help low-income pet owners care for their pets. |
| Community Common Prayer | Sunday, August 18 6:30 p.m. | The theme of this month’s service is “Prayer Service for the New School Year.” |
| Memorial Service for Miss Ethel Jane Kerplunk | Saturday, August 24 10:00 a.m. | This special service will honor the life and works of Miss Ethel Jane Kerplunk, the founding inspiration for The Ethel Fund, Inc. |
Author Archives: stmarksepiscopal7
July 2019 Special Observances & Events
| Coffee Shop Bible Study | Every Tuesday at 10:00 a.m. | We meet at The Mill House Café at the corner of Diamond Blvd. and Luzerne Street in Old Westmont for study and fellowship. | |
| Pet Food Pantry | Tuesday, Wednesday & Thursday, July 9 – 11 9:30 a.m. – 12: 30 p.m. | We provide free pet food for dogs, cats, puppies, kittens, hamsters, gerbils, guinea pigs, rabbits, and birds in order to help low-income pet owners care for their pets. | |
| Community Common Prayer | Sunday, July 21 6:30 p.m. | The theme of this month’s service is “Christmas in July” |
June 2019 Special Observances and Events
| Coffee Shop Bible Study | Every Tuesday at 10:00 a.m. | We meet at The Mill House Café at the corner of Diamond Blvd. and Luzerne Street in Old Westmont for study and fellowship. |
| Pet Food Pantry | Tuesday, Wednesday, & Thursday, June 11,12, & 13 9:30 a.m. – 12:30 p.m. | We provide free pet food for dogs, cats, puppies, kittens, hamsters, gerbils, guinea pigs, rabbits, and birds in order to help low-income pet owners care for their pets. |
| Community Common Prayer Service | Sunday, June 16 6:30 p.m. | The theme of this month’s service is “Walking the Labyrinth |
| Strawberry Festival | Thursday, Friday, & Saturday, June 20-22 11:00 am. – 7:00 p.m. | Free live entertainment in the Courtyard. Luscious strawberry desserts, bottled water, hot tea & coffee available for sale in the Parish Hall |
May 2019 Special Observances and Events
| Flower & Plant Fundraiser | Coupons available now Expire 6/01/2019 |
Hanging basket/pouch and Flat (8 market packs) or five annuals in 4 1/2″ pot coupons are available from the church office |
| Coffee Shop Bible Study | Every Tuesday at 10:00 am. | The Mill House Café at the corner of Diamond Blvd. and Luzerne Street in Old Westmont |
| Pet Food Pantry | Tuesday, Wednesday & Thursday, May 14, 15 & 16 |
9:30 a.m. – 12:30 p.m. |
| Community Common Prayer Service |
Sunday, May 19 at 6:30 p.m. | A special prayer service commemorating 1889 Johnstown Flood & St. Mark’s special role during and in its aftermath |
May 2019 Special Observances and Events
| Flower & Plant Fundraiser | Coupons available now Expire 6/01/2019 | Hanging basket/pouch and Flat (8 market packs) or five annuals in 4 1/2″ pot coupons are available from the church office |
| Coffee Shop Bible Study | Every Tuesday at 10:00 am. | The Mill House Café at the corner of Diamond Blvd. and Luzerne Street in Old Westmont |
| Pet Food Pantry | Tuesday, Wednesday & Thursday, May 14, 15 & 16 | 9:30 a.m. – 12:30 p.m. |
| Community Common Prayer Service | Sunday, May 19 at 6:30 p.m. | A special prayer service commemorating 1889 Johnstown Flood & St. Mark’s special role during and in its aftermath |
A Community Common Prayer Service Commemorating the 130th Anniversary of the 1889 Johnstown Flood

On Sunday, May 19, 2019 at 6:30 p.m. St. Mark’s Episcopal Church, located at 335 Locust Street, Johnstown, PA 15901, will host a special Community Common Prayer Service commemorating the 130th Anniversary of the 1889 Johnstown Flood and the special role that St. Mark’s played during and in the aftermath of the flood. The service will be a memorial to Father Alonzo Potter Diller, Rector of St. Mark’s, his wife Mrs. Marion Diller, their children, all of whom perished at St. Mark’s, and all 2209 victims of the 1889 Flood. It also will be a service of healing prayer for the community, the nation and the world. A brief written history of St. Mark’s will be provided to those who attend the service.
In the aftermath of the 1889 flood and despite considerable damage to the 1874 church building and rectory, the death of its Rector, and over half of its communicants, St. Mark’s congregation continued meeting in the “Ark,” a temporary small wooden structure furnished by the American Red Cross (ARC). The response to the 1889 Johnstown Flood marked the first time the ARC was mobilized. The head of the ARC, Clara Barton decided to build “Red Cross Hotels” to house the homeless of Johnstown and surrounding areas. Bishop Whitehead of the Episcopal Diocese of Pittsburgh gave the St. Mark’s site to the American Red Cross for use in the Johnstown recovery efforts. The first “Red Cross Hotel” was built on the St. Mark’s site.

Later, the site of St. Mark’s was returned to the Diocese and the present day church was built and consecrated on May 31, 1891, the second anniversary of the 1889 flood. During the 1936 and 1977 Johnstown floods, St. Mark’s sustained property damage but no communicants were loss. The present day church contains two architectural features original to the 1874 church and many appointments dating back to 1891 that are memorials to the 1889 flood victims. Guided tours of St. Mark’s will be available following the May 19 service.
The May 19, 2019 Community Common Prayer Service is free. All are welcome.
April 2019 Special Observances and Events
| Invitation to a Holy Lent | Every day throughout Lent | This booklet is intended to provide you with opportunities for Prayer and Study during Lent |
| 2019 Lenten Meditations from Episcopal Relief & Development | Every day throughout Lent | Receive daily via e-mail |
| The Stations of the Cross | Throughout Lent | May be walked anytime the Church is open or call (814) 535-6797 (church office) to schedule a time |
| Flower and Plant Fundraiser | Coupons available now. Expire 6/01/2019 | Hanging basket/pouch and Flat (8 market packs) or five annuals in 4 1/2″ pot coupons are available from the church office |
| Coffee Shop Bible Study | Mondays, April 1 and 8 Tuesdays, April 16, 23, 30 | 10:00 a.m. at Millhouse Cafe |
| Lenten Learning Series | Tuesdays, April 2 & 9 | 6:30-8:00 p.m. |
| Lenten Lunches | Wednesdays, April 3 & 10 | 11:00 a.m. – 1:00 p.m. |
| Pet Food Pantry | Tuesday, April 9 and Thursday, April 11 | 9:30 – 12:30 p.m. |
| Palm Sunday Holy Eucharist | Sunday, April 14 | 7:30 a.m. and 10:00 a.m. |
| Holy Week Holy Eucharist Service of Forgiveness and Reconciliation of a Penitent | Monday, April 15 | 12 noon and 6:00 p.m. |
| Holy Week Holy Eucharist Healing Service | Tuesday, April 16 | 6:00 p.m. |
| Holy Week Holy Eucharist Rite II | Wednesday, April 17 | 12 noon |
| Agape Meal (Love Feast) | Wednesday, April 17 | 6:00 p.m. |
| Maundy Thursday Holy Eucharist with Foot Washing | Thursday, April 18 | 12 noon |
| Maundy Thursday Holy Eucharist with Foot Washing & Stripping of the Altar | Thursday, April 18 | 6:00 p.m. |
| Maundy Thursday Garden of Repose in Lady Chapel | Thursday, April 18 | 7:00 – 9:00 p.m. |
| Good Friday Liturgy and Stations of the Cross | Friday, April 19 | 12 noon and 6:00 p.m. |
| Holy Saturday Easter Vigil | Saturday, April 20 | 5:00 p.m. |
| Easter Sunday Holy Eucharist | Sunday, April 21 | 7:30 a.m. and 10:00 a.m |
| Easter Egg Hunt | Sunday, April 21 | Following 10:00 a.m. service |
March 2019 Special Observances and Events
| Invitation to a Holy Lent | Wednesday, March 6 – Saturday, April 20 | This booklet is intended to provide you with opportunities for Prayer and Study during Lent |
Ash Wednesday Holy Eucharist Rite II with Imposition of Ashes | Wednesday, March 6 | 12:00 noon & 6:00 pm |
| Ashes to Go | Wednesday, March 6 | 7:30 am – 9:00 am 3:30 pm – 5:00 pm |
| 2019 Lenten Meditations from Episcopal Relief & Development | Every day throughout Lent | Receive daily via e-mail |
| The Stations of the Cross | Throughout Lent | May be walked anytime the church is open or call (814) 535-6797 (church office) to schedule a time |
| Ham Loaf Sale | Sunday, March 10 | Deadline to Order |
Pet Food Pantry | Tuesday, Wednesday, & Thursday, March 12, 13, & 14 | 9:00 am – 12:30 pm |
| Lenten Learning Series | Tuesdays, March 12 – April 9 | 6:30 pm – 8:00 pm |
| Community Common Prayer: Celtic Service | Sunday, March 17 | 6:30 pm – 7:30 pm |
| Diocesan Lenten Learning Day St. Brendan’s, Franklin Park, PA | Saturday, March 23 | 9:00 am – 4:00 pm |
| Film: “Plastic Paradise: The Great Pacific Garbage Patch” Free screening at Church of the Redeemer, 5700 Forbes Ave.,Pittsburgh, PA | Monday, March 25 | 7:00 pm |
| Lenten Lunch | Wednesday, March 27 | 11:00 am – 1:00 pm |
| Lent Quiet Day | Saturday, March 30 | 9:00 am – 1:00 pm |

Church Closed Due to Inclement Weather
St. Mark’s Office will be closed and all church activities cancelled on Wednesday February 20, 2019 due to inclement weather.
