What is Our Mission?

St. Mark’s mission statement is everywhere. It is on every bulletin and in every email. It has been printed on t-shirts, annual reports, and banners. It is so prevalent that if you are anything like me, you gloss over it and barely notice it’s there. It is an excellent statement, written way before I was in the picture. After everything we have been through the last three years, it would be a good idea to step back and reflect on what our mission statement can mean for this group of individuals who share life together in the community we call St. Mark Lutheran Church.

“Growing in Faith. Sharing God’s Grace.” That’s it. When we do it right, this two-part mission gives us what we need to sustain our faith, and it creates in us a desire to take part in the amazing things God is doing in our world. Worship, Sunday School, Study Groups, Circles, Outreach, and so many opportunities in between help us grow and share the good news of God’s love with the world. I am continually amazed at how well St. Mark does these things, thanks to the tireless commitment of so many volunteers, staff members, and donors.

Sunday morning will kick off Stewardship Season at St. Mark. While it is as important as ever to ensure our budget is sound, this year we will also reflect on how we might pledge our whole selves to our mission statement. The work of any congregation depends on the gifts of resources, time, and talents. Because of that, our goal is two-fold: To meet our financial needs for 2023, and to commit our time and talents to our many ministries.

The council has set a goal of $720,000 in pledged giving for 2023, which was our goal last year. We all have the opportunity to pledge toward that goal by filling out a Plan for Giving card on a Sunday, or by submitting a plan online. For the first time this year, we will also have the opportunity to complete a Servant Commitment Form, where we can recommit to the ways we are already involved, as well as take part in new opportunities. My hope is that 175 of our members complete this form during the month of October. Members will receive all the necessary materials in the mail next week, and we will have all month to pray and reflect on how we can continue to be a church united in God’s grace.

Our ministries and programs, as well as our budget, will depend on the response you give. These goals are filled with a lot of hope, and if we meet them we can continue to thrive as we grow in faith and share God’s grace!

Peace,

Pastor Chad McKenna

 

Jesus is Lord ...

A while back, I attended a meeting at a local, non-Lutheran congregation. Their building wasn’t always a church. Their store-front sanctuary shares a few walls and a parking lot with other businesses. When I stepped inside, though, it was unmistakably a house of worship. Aside from the typical layout of chairs and podiums, the wall behind the stage was emblazoned with the words, “Jesus is Lord.”

I was early for the meeting, and so before starting up a conversation with some of the other pastors present, I pondered those words for a few moments. I read them over and over. “Jesus is Lord.” 

We hear these three words all the time. Saying them is one way for folks to identify their religious preferences to others. If you want someone to know you are a Christian, you can simply exclaim, “Jesus is Lord!” But, as I stared at those words on the wall of that sanctuary, they began to sound less like a complete declaration of faith and more like a prompt— the first half of a statement, asking me to fill in the blank and complete the sentence. Jesus is Lord… of what? 

Jesus is Lord of my life. But what parts of my life?

Jesus is Lord of Heaven and Earth. But how does that truth affect the world we live in?

In the first century, those three words were dangerous. They were a challenge to the dominance of Caesar and all the cruelty and selfishness of the Roman Empire. Things are different today. Those three words no longer carry the same weight. In fact, aside from simply indicating our personal beliefs, they can lose meaning altogether. In a world where being Christian carries very little risk, our statements of faith can become overly spiritualized and disconnected from the world God created. What difference does it make to the world when we say “Jesus is Lord”?

Allow me to try and give some weight to such a declaration. Jesus is Lord of me. Jesus is Lord of all people. Jesus is Lord of the changing seasons, the migrations of birds and people, the cycle of death and new life we hold in our hands every time we dig at the earth or rake up a pile of oak leaves. Jesus is Lord of the hungry and the wealthy, those in power and those who cannot speak for themselves. Jesus is Lord of our children, our elders, and all of us in between. Jesus is Lord of every person you disagree with, every lifestyle you cannot understand, and every nation under the sun. Jesus is Lord of every creature in the sea, every insect in the field, every balanced and beautiful ecosystem created by God. Treasure these three words, and complete the sentence yourself. Jesus is Lord—

Peace,

Pastor Chad McKenna

St. Mark Update

This summer has been an amazing and busy summer.  We had a successful Vacation Bible School.  Becca Honzel was our summer intern and she did a great job.  The youth did an amazing job on their week of service.   There were three baptisms this summer, I just love baptisms.  And sadly, we said goodbye to some beloved members, who made an impact on lives of many people. 

We have had some maintenance work completed over the summer.  Randy Scott has replaced lights on the east side of the building and he continues to work on the outside lighting so all the lights work properly.  The exit signs and the emergency lights have been updated throughout the building.  Stenstrom Blacktop came out and filled some holes in our parking lot.

What is next?  Next week we will have some tree maintenance done on the trees near the clinic.  There are a few dead trees that will come down, several invasive trees that will be removed, and several trees trimmed to provide easier access for the lawn crew. This will give a fresh look to that part of the property.

For the past three years, money has been set aside to cover parking lot maintenance.  It is time to repair the cracks, seal coat, and restripe the parking lot.  This will take place on Monday, September 19^th and Tuesday, September 20th.  There will be limited or no access to the parking lot on those two days.  We ask that you please avoid coming to the church on those two days. 

The tent for SeptemberFest has arrived early, due to staffing.  Just a reminder that SeptemberFest worship is September 11^th at 10:30am, there will be donuts and coffee available at 10am and a BBQ lunch following the service.  You won’t want to miss the concert on Friday evening, September 9^th, at 7pm featuring Bob Rub, Margaret Dean, and the St. Mark Bell Ringers.  There is an opportunity to serve others on Saturday.  Lasagna Love Meal Assembly will take place from 10am until 1pm on Saturday the 10^th, please see Melinda for more details.

I want to thank the amazing staff of St. Mark for their part in making this summer a success.  We are blessed with an amazing staff.  Please join me in welcoming Pastor Chad back this Sunday, September 4^th.  

Peace, 

Pastor Katrina Steingraeber