Seek, Discover, Share in the Heart of Claymont
St. Mark Presbyterian Church sits at 601 Claymont Drive in Ballwin, Missouri, tucked into the Claymont Subdivision in western St. Louis County. The church was founded in 1962 and has served the neighborhood for generations, building what its members describe as a warm, multi-generational congregation where preschoolers, youth, adults, and longtime members serve, learn, and grow together. The church identifies itself as a member congregation of the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.).
St. Mark's identity is shaped by a three-word Credo: Seek, Discover, Share. The Credo is treated as more than a slogan. The church treats it as a commitment, framing every ministry and program around an open, lifelong journey of faith.
The Credo: Seek, Discover, Share
The Credo anchors everything at St. Mark. Each phrase is paired with a Scripture text and a statement of conviction.
Seek draws on Isaiah 55:6, "Seek the Lord while he may be found; call upon him while he is near." The church teaches that God invites every person into a lifelong journey of seeking, and that this happens through worship, prayer, education, Scripture, fellowship, and community. Honest questions and wrestling with doubt are part of the journey, not departures from it.
Discover rests on Jeremiah 29:13, "When you search for me, you will find me; if you seek me with all your heart." Through taking the Word of God seriously, celebrating the sacraments faithfully, and experiencing life together, members discover who God is and who God is calling them to be. That discovery moves them toward forgiveness, reconciliation, and a covenantal love of neighbor.
Share rises from Matthew 28:19-20, "Go therefore and make disciples." Faith is lived out and shared with everyone. Empowered by the Holy Spirit, members share God's love through service, compassion, and generosity. Every service at St. Mark ends with a charge: "Go out and be the church."
Sunday Worship in the Sanctuary and Online
Sunday mornings at St. Mark follow a steady rhythm. The Education Hour begins at 8:50 am, with coffee fellowship at 9:30 am and childcare for infants and toddlers from 9:45 am to 11:30 am. Worship, along with Sunday Church School for children in 5th grade and younger, begins at 10:00 am.
Worship is also livestreamed at 10:00 am on Sundays, and recordings of past services are posted on YouTube for anyone who wants to catch up. A children's sermon segment, called "Time With Children," is part of the service, after which Pre-K through 5th grade children head to their own Sunday school classes. A nursery for children up to age 2 is available from 8:30 am to 11:15 am. Each child receives a numbered Sunday school card that parents use to sign them in and out.
The bulletin archive goes back several years, and a Heidelberg Catechism Q&A is published each week to support study and reflection between Sundays. The Heidelberg Catechism's recurring presence points to the church's grounding in the Reformed tradition.
Accessibility is built into the worship experience. Large print bulletins and hymnals are available, hearing assistance is provided, and a wheelchair is on hand for those who need it.
Music That Carries the Service
Music is a centerpiece of worship at St. Mark. Ethan Forte serves as Director of Music, with JeeHye Lee as Organist and Choir Accompanist. Two ensembles form the backbone of the music ministry.
The Chancel Choir welcomes singers from high school through adulthood in all ranges and rehearses on Wednesdays at 7:30 pm in the Choir Room. The Chancel Bells bell choir meets on Mondays at 6:00 pm in the Sanctuary. Bell ringing is more demanding, requiring good music-reading skills, and the church describes it as a chance to limber up arm muscles and have fun. Together the choirs support worship throughout the program year, and they lead special services such as the Christmas Cantata.
Pastoral Leadership
The Reverend Dr. Dave Burgess has served as Senior Pastor since August 2017. He came to St. Mark from calls in Southwest Missouri, Lower Alabama, and Southern California. He holds a Bachelor of Journalism from the University of Missouri, a Master of Divinity from Princeton Theological Seminary, and a Doctor of Ministry from Columbia Theological Seminary. He preaches and leads all three Sunday worship services and keeps an open door for conversation, counsel, and prayer.
The pastoral office is supported by Latisha Gilliland, Director of Children's Ministry, who came to St. Mark with experience in children's ministry and children's choir work in churches across the United States and Canada. She holds a Bachelor of Music in piano from the University of North Florida and a teaching certification from the University of Missouri.
Children, Youth, and the Next Generation
St. Mark invests heavily in the next generation. Children's Ministry partners with families to help kids grow in Christ, to connect with the church family and friends, and to act out their faith through serving others. Sunday school for Pre-K through 5th grade happens during Sunday worship after "Time With Children," and weekly K-5 lessons are available online.
Youth Ministry serves students in grades 6 through 12. The program is built around five pillars: engaging study, genuine community, meaningful mission and service, committed mentoring, and empowering discipleship.
- Weekly Youth Bible Study meets Wednesdays from 6:00 to 7:00 pm, using a storying process to help students connect with the biblical narrative.
- Youth Hangout gathers on the last Sunday of each month from 4:00 to 6:00 pm in the Youth Lounge.
- Confirmation Class is an eight-month Sunday course for middle school and high school students who have not yet been confirmed, combining classes, mission activities, lock-ins, and study of the Bible, the Christian faith, the mission of the church, and what it means to be Presbyterian. Students are received as new members at the end of the course.
- Youth Led Worship happens once a year when the entire youth group plans and leads a full weekend of services.
- Mentors are paired with youth beginning in confirmation, walking alongside them in the journey.
- Mission trips and monthly service projects are a regular part of the program.
Kid Wednesdays at St. Mark offers a Wednesday evening program for children from 5:00 to 6:30 pm.
Claymont Preschool at St. Mark
Claymont Preschool has been part of St. Mark since 1962, the same year the church was founded. As an outreach program of the church, the preschool welcomes children of all faiths and admits students regardless of religious affiliation or national or ethnic origin. The preschool serves families from Ballwin, Ellisville, Chesterfield, Manchester, Town & Country, and Wildwood.
Classes meet Monday through Friday from 9:00 am to 12:00 pm, late August through mid-May, with optional Lunch Bunch until 1:30 pm for the 3-year-old and Pre-K groups. Three age groups are offered:
- 2-year-old class with a 12:2 student-teacher ratio, in one to five days per week.
- 3-year-old class with a 16:2 student-teacher ratio, in two to five days per week.
- Pre-K class with an 18:2 student-teacher ratio, four or five days per week.
Specialist teachers lead music for every age group and science for the 3-year-old and Pre-K classes. The campus features two age-appropriate climbing playgrounds, a full gymnasium, and a multipurpose room for indoor play. Preschool families regularly join in church events such as the Fall Festival, Santa Breakfast, children's musicals, Vacation Bible School, and the Bunny Breakfast.
Emily Ulmer directs the preschool. She holds a degree in Early Childhood and Elementary Education and a Master's in Curriculum and Instruction from the University of Missouri, and lives in the Claymont neighborhood with her family.
Adult Faith Formation
St. Mark offers several ongoing pathways for adult study.
The Adult Sunday School meets during the 8:50 am Education Hour in Fellowship Hall and has recently been led by Pastor Dave through a multi-week study of the essentials of the Christian faith, the Reformed tradition, and the Presbyterian Church. Childcare is provided.
The Friday Bible Study meets weekly at 9:30 am in Room 102 and via Zoom, working through books such as Adam Hamilton's writings on the crucifixion and the meaning of atonement.
Special studies, including a recent Lenten course and explorations of the Holy Spirit, are woven into the calendar alongside the Heidelberg Catechism Q&A series.
Men's, Women's, and Senior Ministries
The Men's Ministry centers on the Tuesday Morning Men's Bible Study at 7:30 am, currently working through N.T. Wright's Mark for Everyone, treating the Gospel of Mark as a source of God's active presence.
The Women's Ministry includes the Go-Getters, a monthly lunch outing for St. Mark women that meets on the second Tuesday of the month, gathering at the church or at area restaurants. Presbyterian Women (PW) brings together about 90 members in small Circles that meet monthly from September through May for Bible study, fellowship, and mission support. Circles include Eve Circle, Rachel Circle, Hannah Circle, Judith Circle, and the Ruth Knitting & Handwork Circle. A Presbyterian Women's Book Club gathers on the fourth Wednesday of the month at 9:30 am in Room 102 and virtually when feasible.
The Senior Ministry supports older adults through large print bulletins and hymnals, amplification for the hearing impaired, wheelchair availability, and caregiving services such as home communion, hospital calls, and Stephen Ministry. The Go-Getters also serves seniors with monthly luncheons at area restaurants from September through May. The pastors ask to be notified when a loved one is admitted to the hospital so they can include the visit in their routine.
Stephen Ministry: A Twenty-Year Tied Ministry of Listening
Stephen Ministry has been part of St. Mark for more than 20 years. The program trains and organizes lay members to provide one-to-one, confidential Christian care to anyone who wishes to receive it, including people who are hospitalized, terminally ill, bereaved, in a job crisis, home-bound, lonely, going through divorce, new to the church, new mothers, or simply looking for a caring Christian friend. While most caregiving is from church member to church member, support is also available to others who reach out. The ministry was featured on PBS' Religion & Ethics news program.
A Mission Church with Local and Global Reach
Mission is not a side program at St. Mark. The Mission Committee's statement frames it as "what we are called to do through the active use of our time, talent and treasure to serve those beyond our St. Mark congregation who need our help."
Local partners include:
- Circle of Concern food pantry
- Isaiah 58 Ministries food pantry
- Lafayette Industries sheltered workshop
- Mound Ridge retreat and mission center
- Peace Meal Project weekly community meal
- Presbyterian Children's Home & Services
- UKirk college student outreach
Global partners include Marion Medical Mission (clean water), Medical Benevolence Foundation (medical support and training), PC(USA) International Agricultural Missions, PC(USA) Mission Co-workers, the Peru Joining Hands Network, and PC(USA) Nicaragua Plan Grande 2 (secondary school scholarships).
The church participates in the PC(USA) special offerings: One Great Hour of Sharing, the Pentecost Offering, Peace & Global Witness, the Thanksgiving Offering (used for the Pastor's Discretionary Assistance Fund), and the Christmas Joy Offering.
Presbyterian Women independently supports an array of local projects, including Lydia's House, Newborns in Need, Ashley House in Springfield, Missouri, Little Dresses for Africa, Mound Ridge, Circle of Concern, Presbyterian Children's Home & Services, Third Presbyterian's homeless programs, and Arch City Defenders.
In-kind donations such as canned goods, paper products, toiletries, and coats can be dropped off at the church office or during worship services, with volunteers making regular deliveries to local mission partners.
Boy Scouts and Rooted in the Community
St. Mark sponsors Cub Pack 631 and Scout Troop 631, both long-standing programs at the church. Cub Pack meetings are held once a month, with den meetings twice a month during the school year, and the program serves Cub Scouts in grades one through five. The annual program has included the Pinewood Derby, Blue and Gold Banquet, Rain Gutter Regatta, and Scouting for Food.
Scout Troop 631 has been active since 1966 and is recognized as one of the top troops in the Greater St. Louis Area Council, producing well over 200 Eagle Scouts. Annual activities include a cabin camp-out at Babler State Park to work on merit badges, a bus outing, Crossover at Camp Beaumont, rock climbing and rappelling at S-F Scout Ranch, and Summer Camp at S-F Scout Ranch.
The Wider Neighborhood and the Wider Church
St. Mark sits within reach of The Pointe, the City of Ballwin's recreation complex with an indoor pool, fitness center, playground, and facility rentals. Castlewood State Park and Queeny Park are nearby, and the greater St. Louis area opens up Forest Park, the Gateway Arch National Park, and a wide range of professional sports and cultural attractions.
The church serves as a gateway to the wider Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.). The Discover Us page links directly to PC(USA)'s "What We Believe" so that newcomers can explore what it means to be Presbyterian. A Membership Exploration Class is held regularly, including the next round of classes scheduled for September 2026 at 8:50 am.
Getting Connected
Visitors are warmly welcomed. The church office is open Monday through Friday from 8:00 am to 4:00 pm, and the staff can be reached at (636) 394-2233 or smpoffice@discoverstmark.org. Pastor Dave Burgess can be reached at extension 113 and dburgess@discoverstmark.org.
Worship bulletins are posted online, and past services are archived on YouTube. Online giving is available, with special offerings and gifts directed to particular programs, memorials, or special offerings handled separately. The St. Mark Messenger newsletter keeps the congregation up to date on activities and events.
From the preschool hallway to the sanctuary, from the choir room to the mission committee, St. Mark Presbyterian Church is a neighborhood church with a big heart for the world, living out its Credo one Sunday at a time.