Everything Deserves a Space

A few years ago, I planted a few beautiful coneflowers in one of the sunniest spots in the yard. The little greenhouse card staked into the pot told me this was the right space for them to go. But, after a few weeks of perfect sunny days, interspersed with just enough rain, those transplants turned to absolute mush. It turns out soil is as just important as sun, and the ground where I had put them was simply too wet. For those of us who garden, knowing the proper place for a plant is often a lesson we learn the hard way.

The creation poem in the first chapter of Genesis shines a light on the importance of space. I’m not talking about a final frontier of endless galaxies. What I mean is that in the act of creation, God spends precious time establishing a specific space for each created thing to call home.

 

There is a very specific order to the way things happen. In the first three days, spaces are created— the heavens, the sky and sea, and the dry earth. The following three days then fill those three spaces in order— the moon and stars, followed by birds and fish, and finally land animals and people. The structure of the poem reveals that habitats are equally vital to creation as the creatures who inhabit them. God creates a space for all that is, and all along the way, God calls each space and every created thing good.

 

All this might remind you of that old proverb about being tidy: “A place for everything and everything in its place.” That might be a nice sentiment if you are trying to declutter your kitchen, but an obsession with storage solutions doesn’t really work outside the walls of your home. Nothing good happens when we confine people or wildlife to certain spaces simply to protect our own claim to a place. When it comes to the lives of others, order without goodness is oppression. We see this whenever walls block in entire communities or fences limit the age-old migrations of wildlife. When we read beyond the first chapter of scripture, we learn how we are tasked with preserving the habitats and housing of our neighbors so that their homes might be a place where they can thrive. And sometimes that means getting out of the way.

 

Here is one example. Earlier this week, the Prairie Band Potawatomi established the first ever tribal land in the state of Illinois. After purchasing bits of land for years, the indigenous nation handed over a mere 130 acres to the Department of the Interior to formally restore what was taken from them over 150 years ago. In relation to this, our state senate is now considering a bill that will turn all 1,500 acres of Shabonna Lake State Park over to the Prairie Band Potawatomi, who were the original stewards of that corner of our state.

 

At the end of the creation poem, God creates humankind in God’s own image, calls us good, and tasks us with continuing the joyful work of creating a world that is good for all. Every creature deserves its habitat, every peoples a free and just community, and every individual a safe place to call home.

Peace,

Pastor Chad McKenna

God at Work in Nature

One of my favorite parts of spring is watching nature come to life after resting all winter long.  It is even more joyous and meaningful because this happens in the Easter season.  I was very excited when my tulips, hyacinths, and daffodils started popping out of the ground.  This excitement quickly turned to worrying if my flowers would survive the additional snowfall in March. Thankfully most of them have fared well despite being buried under snow for a bit. 

I noticed recently that my plum tree has little flowers on it.  I just love the dainty little white flowers that blossom in the spring.  I am anxiously waiting for my redbud tree to flower.  Both of these trees are favorite spots for the birds to stop and rest as they visit my yard. 

As I look at all the new growth in my yard, I see signs of God at work in creation.  One of the places where I feel connected to God is in nature.  I enjoy being outside.  I enjoy the sounds of nature and the colors of nature.  I enjoy watching the bare trees fill their branches with leaves.  Each day it seems like something new is popping out of the ground. This is God at work in nature right in front of us.   

I encourage you to look out your window or better yet go outside.  While you do this, engage your senses and take in all that is happening in nature.  God is a work in nature and God is at work in you.  It is amazing what God can do for us if we take a moment to stop, listen, and look around at all God is doing in our lives and in nature.

Yours in Christ, 

Pastor Katrina Steingraeber  

Courageous Women

March 8^th was International Women’s Day.  It is a day to celebrate and reflect on the progress made on women’s rights and a day to call for an end to gender inequality.  As I reflect on this day, I am thankful for the strong and courageous women in my life.  I am thankful for women I have never met who helped to pave the way for me to be a pastor. 

Elizabeth Platz was the first ordained Lutheran woman in America.  She entered a field with a high rate of burnout among women due to stress and discrimination. Despite the stress and discrimination, she persisted in her career for 47 years.  Growing up I knew nothing about Elizabeth and I never had a woman as my pastor, yet God’s call to pastoral ministry was there. 

I am thankful to the strong women in the bible, like Hagar, Sarah, Tamar, Ruth, and Mary Magdalene.  Hagar was brave enough to name God, Sarah laughed, Tamar was witty and daring, Ruth committed herself in devotion and love, and Mary Magdalene was the first to proclaim the resurrections.  These women played an important role in the biblical story and I am grateful for their strength and courage. 

I am grateful for the strong and courageous women who have paved the way for me.  I am thankful for the strong and courageous women in the bible who despite their gender role in that time, did remarkable things.  Because of these women I will continue to fight for women.  I will speak truth to power.  No matter how far we may seem to have come, we have a long way to go. 

I am grateful for International Women’s Day.  I am grateful for a time to remember the remarkable women in history and the remarkable women of today.  I give God thanks for the strength and courage God has given these women and the strength and courage God has given me. 

Yours in Christ, 

Pastor Katrina Steingraeber 

Between Good Friday and Easter

The last two years, a small gathering of St. Mark folks have gathered on the day after Good Friday to light candles, wander the sanctuary, and explore the meaning of Easter. You could say it’s a worship service, but it’s unlike anything else we do.

It can seem like a strange addition to an already full schedule of Holy Week services. You might think we would want to take a break and avoid having a four-day marathon of church activities. But then, egg hunts and similar events have always been a part of that quiet Saturday. With so many options around town for kids to load up on candy-filled eggs, we decided to try something different. We wanted to be unique to who we are, and to create something engaging and accessible for our whole community.

The result has been dynamic worship that moves us from the stark emptiness of Good Friday into the fullness of Easter. We start in darkness, with an empty communion table; and we end in the same bright lavish glow we witness on Easter morning, lilies and all. In the middle of the service, worshippers have been able to get up and move to different areas of the sanctuary to pray, share communion, or discover something new about the story of Easter. These stations engage all five senses, inviting folks to approach the hope of resurrection in new ways. The last two years, folks have had the chance to take as long as needed at these different worship stations. This year the flow may be different, but that sense of the unexpected will remain. 

This is a service for people of all ages. By that, I mean it’s not just for kids. The Sunday school years are full of creative activities designed to help young people approach faith with curiosity and joy. Shouldn’t we be able to deepen our faith with that same wonder our whole life long? As we plan for our third Holy Saturday service, our hope is that families with children who come might bond over the story of Easter. We have that same hope for individuals, couples, groups of friends, and guests.

                                   

And so, I would like to invite you to join us for our Holy Saturday service at 4pm on March 30th. Come engage with the story of Easter, grow closer to one another, and explore the good news of Christ’s resurrection in a more interactive way.

Peace,

Pastor Chad McKenna

 

A Time to Connect with God

Ash Wednesday begins our Lenten journey.  We begin Lent with a reminder that we are dust and we will return to dust. The ashes used during the Ash Wednesday worship service are made from the burnt palms that were used during the Palm Sunday worship service.  The confirmation class, with my guidance, burned the dried palms and sifted them into fine ashes. 

I like using the dried-up palms from the previous years to make the ashes for Ash Wednesday.  Not only does it give a new purpose to the dried palms, it connects us to the joy we often feel as we wave the palms during the Palm Sunday procession. There is beauty in those ashes.     

Bishop Dean K. Johnson writes, “Remember you are dust, the substance of the stars, animated with the Breath of Life.  Uniquely formed in the image and likeness of Divine Love.  Authored in hope, forged in joy, very good of very good, no accident we, this beloved quickened dust, knit to love and be loved. Remember you are dust. Amen.” 

Ash Wednesday is more than a reminder of our mortality, it is a reminder that we are loved.  We are formed in the image of Divine Love.  Lent is a time for reflection and renewal.  It’s a time for spiritual growth and a time to bring us closer to God.       

During Lent, I encourage you to find time to connect with God, scripture, and one another.  Reflect on how God is at work in you.  Don’t forget that you are formed in the image and likeness of God.  We are all beloved children of God. 

Yours in Christ, 

Pastor Katrina Steingraeber

Pastor Chad's Annual Report

Our congregation is good at a lot of things, but as I reflect on this past year, I am starting to see one thing that we don’t do very well. St. Mark Lutheran Church is not great at simply going through the motions. Seasons and holidays come every year, and yet every time we find ways to make them feel new and meaningful. We always feel the need to try new things or tinker with tradition. We have that kind of creativity that helps us thrive and grow. The differences from year to year might be subtle at times, but like years before, we continued to lean into ingenuity in 2023.

Our Uniform Co-Op, which partners with four elementary schools, is already one-of-a-kind. In Advent, our congregation worked together to provide over 700 pairs of socks to those four schools. The Endowment Board also provided a sizable donation to cover the cost of socks, underwear, and other hygiene items. This all happened because the folks in charge of this ministry listened to the needs of the families and faculty, and because our congregation took those needs to heart.

We spent the better part of the year listening, planning, and transitioning into a new phase for our youth ministry. While our partnership with Grace Lutheran Church in Loves Park is still very new, it is grounded in that careful discernment, and we continue to search for the right person to lead that ministry with the same excitement and creativity which has led our youth ministries to this place. I am so grateful for everyone who has been part of this process, including Pastor Katrina, who has faithfully cared for our youth all year.

St. Mark has become quite seasoned in outdoor worship, led by our incredible Praise Band. It’s odd, then, that we had such an amazing Septemberfest inside, on a gorgeous day no less. With a packed sanctuary, a Fellowship Hall brimming with barbecue and community, and a bounce house loaded with kids, the day filled both our souls and our stomachs. 

We had regular Family Fellowship nights, creative worship on Easter Saturday and the Winter Solstice, a Wassail Sunday that felt as fresh and lively as ever. We opened the building to support groups, a Mosaic Hub, and events for the Northern Illinois Synod. We found new ways to partner with LSSI, the Rock River Valley Pantry, and other organizations.

Of course, all of this is merely a snapshot of the last year. This is also true of the church’s full Annual Report for 2023. I hope you will pick one up and take the time to read through it to remember, or learn for the first time, the many new and familiar ways we live as the Body of Christ in the world.

I want to thank our entire staff, including those who were only with us for part of the year. The type of work our staff does can be both life-giving and exhausting on the same day. This amazing and faithful group really showed their dedication this year, filling the gaps when we were short-staffed, connecting with the community, and always doing so with love and optimism for our congregation. 

Our volunteers are no different. Whether you help out for the occasional Sunday or service event, or you are at the church so often you wonder if you might actually be on staff, you make St. Mark what it is in our community. We could not do a single thing without our volunteers.

Thank you to each and every one of you for being a part of this wonderful congregation. It is a blessing to be your pastor.

Pastor Chad McKenna

Seeing with Carefulness and Love

A new year brings new possibilities and new ways for growth.  As soon as the new year started, my social media was filled with exercise programs and diet recipes to help with New Year’s resolutions.  To be honest, I struggle to keep a New Year’s resolution for very long.  It is not because I don’t want to, I try but I just can’t stay motivated to keep up with the resolution.  Perhaps I need a resolution that is not solely focused on exercise and diets, maybe I need something that also focuses on spiritual health and connection to community?  Perhaps some of you feel that way too?

In Gunilla Norris’s book “Simple Ways Towards the Sacred” she writes a poem titled To See.  As I read her poem one sentence stuck out to me.  It says, “To see with carefulness and love is a great act of faith.”  As I pondered this sentence I thought about all the things we at St. Mark see within a week.  St. Mark is a busy place where we worship together and serve others.  As people of faith, we are often called into active serving.  But sometimes serving comes in just simply seeing.  Seeing what or who is new.  Seeing what or who is missing.  Seeing who seems to be struggling. 

I encourage you to look around you with care and love.  Take in the beauty of God’s creation.  Take notice of who is sitting next to you at a restaurant, in the library, or at church.  Touch the cold snow or the rough tree.  Talk to folks you encounter in your daily life.  Check in with folks who you have not seen or spoken to in a while.  Spend time in silence listening to the sounds around you. 

January is a time for new possibilities and growth.  I invite you to think about your spiritual life and your community life. I invite you “to see with carefulness and love” for this “is a great act of faith.”  

Yours in Christ, 

Pastor Katrina Steingraeber