Many Thanks

Thank you for supporting the youth who went to New Orleans for the ELCA Youth Gathering.  Thank you to those who donated money, who helped with and supported the fundraisers, who pied a pastor, and especially for the prayers.  I appreciate you all! 

While in New Orleans the youth experienced a different culture, different food, and a hotter climate.  The heat was definitely felt by all who attended the gathering.  Besides experiencing New Orleans, the youth and the leaders heard inspirational speakers who shared their stories with the 16,000 youth who filled the stadium.  There was great music each night, which added to the experience.  The Holy Spirit was present in New Orleans.

At the end of each night we would gather and share the highs and lows of the day.  Often the lows were how hot it was, but the highs were different for each person.  While I don’t have permission to share the highs of the youth, I will share one of my highs from the trip, it was the youth.  The youth were great, they did an amazing job dealing with the crazy schedule, the miles of walking, and an eating schedule that changed daily.  They handled it all with grace.  They did better than I did.  The youth showed a level of love for others that was so beautiful.  We have amazing youth at St. Mark and Grace!  They are truly the hands and feet of Jesus in our community. 

The ELCA Youth Gathering is a lot.  It took a lot of planning, time, and money for the 15 of us from St. Mark and Grace to get to New Orleans.  At times it was pretty intense.  I am glad I had the opportunity to attend a gathering.  I witnessed how God is at work in New Orleans and how that looks a bit different than it does here in Rockford.  My hope is that each one of the youths and adults who attended the gathering left with a sense of what God is up to in New Orleans and in their own lives.  And I hope everyone left with a bit of wisdom from speakers at the mass gathering. 

Yours in Christ,

Pastor Katrina Steingraeber

Announcing a New Campaign

Over the last four years, one of the most persistent questions I have heard from St. Mark folks is, “What can we do to reconnect with each other?” There has been talk of post-pandemic surveys, phone call initiatives, and even the return of the dreaded suggestion box. While those Perhaps the best way to find out how to reconnect is to simply get together and listen to each other.

This year, the people of St. Mark will be taking part in a Listening Campaign. In fact, we have already begun. You may have seen a handful of focused conversations in the cafe on Sunday morning. Or maybe you know someone who has been asked to sit down with one of the 11 St. Mark members on the listening team. We are still in the planning phase, of this intentional, organized effort.

Our listening campaign will officially begin during worship on September 1st. In the weeks that follow, trained leaders will listen to as many people in the congregation as possible in one-to-one conversations. You may be called to have a conversation. Nobody will ask you to do anything but talk, perhaps over a coffee and donut on Sunday morning. And, no one will ask you to give anything but your time.

We are hopeful that this initiative can help us discover who St. Mark is right now, what our needs are, and what we can do to enter a future with hope. It is amazing what can happen when we simply gather to listen to one another. This sort of campaign has been shown to transform congregations, infusing them with joy and gratitude. Relationships can grow and new possibilities for ministry can surface when we get to know each other just a little better than we already do.

In the coming weeks, you will hear more about this campaign from Pastor Katrina and me, as well as our team leaders, Sheryl Crowell and Jodi Graber. And, you may see more folks in one-to-one conversations as the planning continues. I am so thankful for the team we are building, and for the willingness of all our members who will be agreeing to take part in these thoughtful conversations.

Peace,

Pastor Chad McKenna