who we are

Pastor

The Rev. Mark G. Dickson-Patrick (he/they)

was called to serve as the next Pastor of St. Mark’s on March 15, 2026. Prior to this call, Pastor Mark served at the Pastor of St. Luke’s Evangelical Lutheran Church in Dundalk. Previously he also served as Founding Pastor of the Oratory of St. Dismas as well as a brief stint as Interim Pastor in the United Methodist Church, and has served as a Spiritual Director, Director of Formation, and Director of Liturgy in various contexts.

He attended the College Seminary of the Immaculate Conception at Seton Hall University (BA, 2014) as well as the St. Joseph’s College in Standish, Maine (MA, 2019).

Mark is married to his husband, property management professional Alex Dickson-Patrick, and they have 4 pets: Brody the Standard Poodle, Dawson the Moyen Poodle, Charlie the Mini Bernedoodle, & Norbert the Bearded Dragon. They make their home in the North Harford Road neighborhood of Baltimore City.

Contact Pastor Mark about: pastoral care appointments, church membership, church leadership, church curiosity, LGBTQ+ welcome, weddings, and funerals.

Pastor@StMarksBaltimore.org

Staff

James Harp wears a blue striped button up and blue suit coat with a perfectly trimmed beard and smiles outside the St. Mark's building

James Harp, Cantor

is well known in the Mid-Atlantic area as a pianist, organist, stage director, singer, composer, lecturer, writer and conductor. He began his musical career at age 7 as a church soloist, and has concertized in Italy, France, Greece, Israel, the Bahamas, and extensively throughout his native Southern United States. Among his more unusual musical experiences include singing “My Old Kentucky Home” as a soloist on National Television at the 1981 Kentucky Derby, coaching Lily Tomlin in arias from AIDA for an Emmy-nominated “Homicide” segment, and nearly drowning after falling backwards into the Sea of Galilee while conducting madrigals.

He has been the Cantor (Organist/Choirmaster) at St. Mark’s since January 4, 1987 and over the years has done much to encourage lively liturgical worship in the grand church music tradition. His Mass setting “Missa Sancti Marci” as well as anthems and liturgical propers are found in the music libraries of many other churches. He has been the organist for the Baltimore Symphony Orchestra since 1983 and has been featured in works such as the Saint-Saëns Organ Symphony and Handel’s Messiah. In demand as a silent film organist he has over 25 original movies scores in his repertoire.

He holds Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees from the Peabody Conservatory and is the Artistic and Managing Director of Maryland Opera, the Mid-Atlantic’s newest opera company and arts organization, where he is building a comprehensive and innovative opera and opera education/outreach program to serve the entire state of Maryland.

Contact Mr. Harp about: singing in the choir, offering music in worship

jharp@marylandopera.org

Taré Suriel, Administrator
(they/them)

Contact Taré about: reserving space in the church, adding events to the calendar, submitting to the e-newsletter, requesting prayer, reporting building needs and repairs, and any other general questions you have about St. Mark’s

admin@stmarksbaltimore.org

Deacon

Members of The Order of St. Stephen, Deacon (OSSD) serve in calls of Word and Service, serving as Assisting Ministry during worship and visiting and caring for congregants and neighbors.

Connie Lisch arrived at St. Mark's in August of 1988. She felt the call to the Diaconate in 1992 and entered classes. She was set apart as a deacon in May of 1995. Since then, Deacon Lisch has continued to serve St. Mark's in the choir, as Assisting Minister on Sundays and visiting our homebound members and members who are in the hospital. She has also served at the Keswick Multi Care Center since 1996 as an Associate Chaplain with a Deacons Mass and serving communion. Since July of 2021 she has also served as Sacristan of St. Mark’s. This involves preparing the altar for every service and maintaining all of the linens placed on the altar, ordering all things related to worship, such as communion wafers, candles, etc. She also provides flower arrangements for every Sunday that is requested. Her backround as a florist is helpful!

Contact Deacon Connie to: receive pastoral visits in the hospital or at home, sponsor flowers for the altar.