Pastor Katrina's 2027 Sabbatical Announcement

In the summer of 2027, I will have a three-month sabbatical.  The sabbatical leave is not intended to be a vacation, nor is it intended to be something routine.  The sabbatical leave provides an opportunity for spiritual and physical renewal; for enrichment and spiritual growth; for study, travel, skill development or special projects; and a time for prayer, rest, and reflection. It is a gift to both the leader and to the community, providing an opportunity for new ideas, new possibilities, and the deepening of the life of each.

With the help of a sabbatical team, I am applying for a grant from the Lilly Endowment.  The Lilly Endowment Clergy Renewal Program asks, “What will make your heart sing?” This question holds profound possibilities for the ministries of the pastor and the congregation. It is not a guaranteed grant, but I am hopeful.  I have a team of St. Mark folks who will be my sabbatical committee.  My team is Bob Osolin, Mike Fager, Sandy Lindstrom, Pat Coffman, and Sharon Erickson.  I am grateful for their support.  They will help with the grant application and, if I am rewarded the grant, the follow up report after my sabbatical. 

If the grant is awarded from the Lilly Endowment Clergy Renewal Program, I plan to go to Sweden and Germany.  While I am there, I plan to visit the towns where my ancestors lived, as well as other towns and cities.  I will spend approximately 7 to 10 days in each country.  I have never been to Sweden and it has been over 30 years since I have been to Germany.  When I was in Germany, I didn’t get a chance to visited the small town where my ancestors lived.  I have always wanted to visit the places where my ancestors lived to learn more about the culture and walk the grounds they walked.  I plan to take my family to Germany.

If the grant is awarded, the funds go to St. Mark.  The majority of the funds would cover the cost of my sabbatical; however, a portion of the funds can cover the cost of supply preachers so Pastor Chad is not preaching for 3 months straight.  The funds can also cover the cost of a book study or other activities the congregation can participate in that are related to my sabbatical.  I am looking for a book that I will read while on sabbatical and St. Mark folks can read as well.

I am excited for the opportunity to travel to Sweden and Germany.  And I am grateful that St. Mark has a sabbatical policy and offers their rostered ministers a time for rest and renewal.  The Lilly Endowment Clergy Renewal Program will release the name of the recipients in August of 2026.  Please pray for clarity and focus as the sabbatical team and I work on the grant. 

Yours in Christ, 

Pastor Katrina Steingraeber

Know who you are and do it!

On Sunday, February 15^th, I asked several questions during my sermon, however I didn’t really answer them.  I intentionally didn’t answer them hoping to spark some deeper thought about who we are as St. Mark Lutheran Church.  

In a PBS special called Wisdom Keepers, Ray Suarez interviews scholars and religious leaders.  In his interview with Sister Joan Chittister he asked her about the future of the church. He noted the decline in church attendance and how people are not running to the churches like they did years ago. Her response made me think. She said, “Numbers will not save you, and numbers will not destroy you.  Know who you are and do it. And reach out to those who also want to know who you are and how you do it.”  Beloved, do we know who we are as the people of St. Mark, the people of God? Are we living out what God has called us to? 

Ray Suarez also interviewed Rev. Kelly Brown Douglas where he asked her, what is happiness and why am I here? She said, that it isn’t just happiness that people are looking for it is a meaningful life. When we live a meaningful life, it pulls us out of ourselves towards others. How do we help people find a meaningful life?  Archbishop Tutu said, “That we are children of God is a fact. That we act like it is not a fact.”  We are called to live into what it means to be children of God. How have we lived into that identity?

Beloved, I encourage you to sit with these questions. Think about how you would answer them as a member of St. Mark Lutheran Church or simply as a Christian, a follower of Jesus.  Lent is often a time for reflection and a time to sit with God in the valley.  It is also a time to take care of one another, to pray for one another, and a time for fasting.  I encourage you to fast from things that pull you away from God. Lean into what leads you to God.  Stand firm in your identity as a beloved child of God and live that identity. 

Yours in Christ,
Pastor Katrina Steingraeber

Looking Back on 2025

Dear Siblings in Christ,

As your pastors, we feel blessed to journey alongside you. We want to use this year’s report to highlight just how true that is. We may be your pastors, but you are the ones who make this community what it is. Every Sunday, we rely on up to twenty-two volunteers to make worship happen, along with anywhere from seven to eighteen musicians. Of course, there is always a bit of overlap, but worship happens thanks to everyone who wears a lanyard, stands at a microphone, plays an instrument, assists with communion, and works behind the scenes.

On average, we have had about 185 people in worship on Sundays, and online worship attendance has increased since last year. This speaks volumes to who we are as a church. Thank you for your kindness and genuine hospitality to others. Even when you aren’t volunteering in an official capacity, you contribute to the warm and welcoming atmosphere that makes this place truly special.

The two of us often joke that the real boss around here is our office manager, Jill Davenport. In truth, every staff member is amazing, and we are so grateful for all they do. Church work is not easy and can be exhausting, but it is also life-giving, in large part because of you. Our staff rely on you to do their work well, and they are supported by Sunday School teachers, committee members, front desk attendants, offering counters, one incredibly committed bulletin printing assistant, and so many others.

The generosity of St. Mark’s members is unmistakable. This summer, you went above and beyond when we challenged you to match a gift given from Ulla Kercher’s estate to fund our outreach, youth, and children’s ministries, creating an account with over $25,000 to support those ministries. Every time we ask you to support a local charity with food, gifts, or donations, you do so with enthusiasm and kindness. In the last two months of 2025 alone, you donated a literal ton of non-perishable food to our local pantries, over 130 coats for our refugee community, and 60 gifts for LSSI’s foster children.

In the community, you are the body of Christ. Through the church and on your own, members like you actively serve at Habitat for Humanity, Mosaic, the Uniform Co-op, Carpenters Place, Rock House Kids, Rock River Valley Pantry, Emmanuel Lutheran Pantry, Bridges to Prosperity (formerly One Body Collaborative), Katie’s Cup, and Cornucopia Pantry. We are so grateful for all you do in the name of Jesus.

Near the end of August, we were finally able to take action on last year’s listening campaign. Over 80 people showed up for our Kingdom Caucus to learn about what our listening team heard, and the ways we can grow in ministry. Four different task forces emerged from this meeting, focusing on Senior Supports, Gathering Beyond Sunday, Expanding Outreach, and New Member Initiatives. Those four groups will be hard at work during the upcoming season of Lent to ask for your help in making their ideas a reality.

This past year has been a year full of exciting adventures. We will continue to follow God’s call to love others in this new year, and we cannot wait to see what God has in store! 

Peace,

Pastor Chad McKenna and Pastor Katrina Steingraeber