A Story with a Happy Ending

Have you ever wondered what happened to those special personal items you’ve donated or sold to some happy new owner?  Well, John Hargrove has such a story to share with us...a church story with a happy ending. John writes:

In early 2016, Pastor Mark began working with both the Church Council and the Worship & Music Committee on a dramatic change he envisioned for the St. Mark sanctuary.  The proposal was to remove all of the oak church pews and replace them with rows of upholstered chairs.  The rationale for the change was to both provide worshipers with more comfortable seating and give St. Mark more flexibility in arranging seating in the sanctuary for different services and events.

By the summer of 2016, new chairs had been ordered, and I was asked to find a new home for our pews.  Believe it or not, there are multiple websites selling used church pews, and we were one of hundreds of churches around the country peddling their pews.  After we moved the pews out of St. Mark to an empty building for storage, I received a call from a person representing his Mennonite congregation in southern Wisconsin.  I met these wonderful gentlemen (yes, they all wore great hats) so they could inspect the pews.  They were impressed by the quality of the pews and all the different sizes.

The congregation bought the pews and moved them to storage as they built a new worship building to accommodate the sizes of our pews. I received a phone call this past weekend from the gentleman I worked with. He wanted me to know the pews were moving to the now completed building, and that their first service in the new space would occur by the end of this month.

After serving St. Mark so well for several decades, our pews will again serve a new group of worshipers.  Thanks be to God!

John Hargrove

Worship & Music Committee       

ELCA World Hunger's Forty Days of Giving

Dear friends,

The season of Lent is soon upon us, beginning with Ash Wednesday services at Noon and at 6:45 P.M. on February 26.  This year, we are joining our brothers and sisters in the ELCA by participating in a Church-wide program called, ELCA World Hunger’s 40 Days of Giving.  Here’s a brief description: 

“Lent is a time of reflection and repentance, of sacrifice and self-examination. But Lent is also a season of hope — hope in the work God is doing in the world, even in the most challenging times. Safety and stability for refugees and migrants. The renewal of the earth. Sufficient livelihood for all. These are just a few of the things of which we dream, fueled by the Holy Spirit.

“This Lent, ELCA World Hunger is extending a special invitation to congregations: Lift up the life-changing work of ELCA World Hunger through new levels of giving – spiritually, intellectually and financially – through ELCA World Hunger’s 40 Days of Giving. Congregations will join together to raise $2 million to benefit the ministries of ELCA World Hunger. You’re invited to join together with fellow supporters to study, pray and give. Accompany us as we journey with our neighbors in hope for a just world where all are fed.”

During the Lenten season, we are asking each St. Mark household to consider giving $2.00 per day over 40 days (totaling $80) toward this effort.  You will be able to give via Pushpay on your St. Mark App, as well as by check to St. Mark, designated, “ELCA 40 Days of Giving.”  Please look for more detailed information as we approach Lent on March 1. That Sunday, former St. Mark member and now ELCA Director of Communications & Marketing, Laury Rinker, will be at all three worship services to help introduce this program.

During the Lenten Wednesday evening worship services, Pastor Chad and I will share various meditations from this program, including:

            March 4 – Safety and Stability, Pr. Mark

            March 11 – Livelihoods, Pr. Chad

            March 18 – Justice for All, Pr. Mark

            March 25 – Leadership, Pr. Chad

            April 1 – Renewal of Earth, Pr. Mark

We’re excited for this opportunity to share in the larger ministry efforts of the ELCA this Lent!

Walking this journey of faith with you,

Pastor Mark Hagen

2019 In Review

        In following with the previous post, this week Pastor Chad shares with us his annual report for 2019. 

I entered this new decade full of gratitude for the past and excitement for the future. This past year has been the busiest yet for me, and I have grown leaps and bounds because of it.

Pastor Mark’s sabbatical meant more responsibility on my end. While most of you were aware of this on Sunday mornings, with the increased duty in preaching and worship leadership. During the rest of the week, I continued to do my work while also holding down the fort for three months. In that time, we wrapped up major projects outside, including the parking lot and the updated entrance, and the council made the decision to replace a major HVAC unit for the sanctuary. Jill Davenport and I worked with PushPay in developing our new St. Mark app. The Kitchen Committee began to dream up the remodel project that is currently under construction, and we updated some technology needs in the basement. Because I am an associate pastor, these aren’t typically the kind of projects I am involved in, much less in charge of. I learned a lot, and I am so grateful to everyone who supported me in every way during the summer months.

Speaking of the Kitchen Committee, I would like to thank our chair, David Collier, and the rest of the team for all their hard work and ideas in realizing this much needed improvement to our community. Keith Iverson, Les Horowitz, Colene Vivian, Tim Vivian, Pat Schmoldt, Jill Davenport, and Melinda Alekna were all vital in this work, and their expertise and knowledge of St. Mark’s ministries have ensured that this new space will fit all our needs for years to come.

I was also grateful to have Carson Davenport be our intern this past summer. He was a terrific leader in VBS, a wonderful presence on the summer trip, and a great help in many areas of our ministry together. He led a host of events for our students during his time with us. I was amazed at the lemonade stand fundraiser he led, which involved many of our high schoolers and generated over twice our goal for childhood cancer research. Thanks to Melinda Alekna and Julie Eshleman for their close involvement in Carson’s learning.

Confirmation continues to be a source of joy in my ministry. At the end of the 2018-2019 school year, we learned about the Small Catechism. The year ended on a downer, as our Spring Retreat on April 27th was cancelled due to a snow emergency. We kicked off this school year well, though. Almost all of our 17 students were able to attend the fall retreat at the Lutheran Outdoor Ministry Center in Oregon, IL. I spent the past two years adjusting the curriculum schedule, which means this school year we are able to study the Bible from start to finish. Seven high school freshmen affirmed their faith on Reformation Sunday. I am so grateful for all these students, their parents, and our small group leaders: Sheryl Crowell, Amy Gehrke, Christy Malenchik, Justin Egler, and Grant Egler.

Allow me to mention other ministries which continued through this past year. The Men’s Bible study studied Isaiah, Ezra-Nehemiah, and Matthew in 2019. Theology Pub met at Carlyle Brewing monthly. St. Mark 20:30 met for cookouts, a book study, and other events. This group also branched out a bit to include some family service events in January and May. After the Ambassador Committee dissolved, we created the New Members Ministry Team to more directly connect with our potential members. Lastly, I took over direction of the Good News Bearers, which gave four performances this past year.

I was honored to preside over two baptisms, two weddings, and two funerals. It was a joy to teach special classes for Sunday School and our new members. In the community, I was able to open a city council meeting with prayer, dedicate a home for Habitat for Humanity, and lead Rockford Area Lutheran Ministries as its cabinet president.

These are all simply highlights of my year with you. All the in-between moments, the conversations and joys and sorrows we shared are what truly remind me how blessed I am to be your pastor. Life has its ups and downs, but we have one another and our faith in a loving God to be with us every step of the way.

Peace,

  Pastor Chad McKenna