St. Marks Barriefield

 Dear Visitor:

Welcome to our web site. We hope that you will enjoy the description and photographs of the various activities that take place in one of Kingston's churches that we like to think is a "jewel" in the region. We like to call our parish home the "Church on the Hill" (just off highway 15 leading into the village of Barriefield).

"Parish" is a word that all of us have used innumerable times. "Parish" is a word that describes who we are and our whole relationship and function. But what does the word "parish" mean in its origin and why is it used to describe our Christian Community?

In Latin, the word is parrochia. "oikia" is the Greek word for "house" or "home." Para" as a prefix means "to be away from" - a traveler.

Our word "parish" actually is a place for those who are travelers in this world. A parish is a home away from home - it is our home while we are travelers on the way. The Incarnation/Birth of Jesus Christ marks the beginning of our "coming home" to the family of God. Christ gathers together all of humanity back to the Father's house. The Good News, the Gospel, is that the Kingdom of God is already present in our midst.

The Incarnation - the historical presence of Jesus - is continued through space and time by the gift of the Holy Spirit in his mystical body that is the Church. As followers and disciples of Jesus, we are called to be good stewards of his historical presence by the selfless gift of ourselves so that we may bear witness to Emmanuel - God with us. As we journey through the season of Advent to the joyous celebration of the birth of Jesus at Christmas, may you and yours be filled with every possible blessings.

Welcome home!

I hope you enjoy our website and, if you should so desire, why not join us for worship? You will always be made welcome.

Wishing you every possible blessing....

Fr. Eric

Rector