A New Feast Day

This September, the wider Church will be celebrating a brand new liturgical festival. To put that in perspective, protestant churches have shared the same liturgical calendar for over 40 years, and this is the first time a feast day has been added to that calendar. But, it’s not just us protestants who will mark the occasion. This festival, Creation in Christ (or the Feast of Creation) marks the culmination of many years of collaboration between the World Council of Churches, the Roman Catholic Church, and the Eastern Orthodox Church. A worldwide effort like this hasn’t been seen for over a millennia, so you know it’s a big deal.

While a festival day for Creation may be new to us, celebrating God’s Creation around this time of year is an ancient practice. Since about the seventh century, the Eastern Orthodox church has held the belief that September 1st was the day that God began to create the heavens and the Earth. Later, folks latched on to the idea that Jesus began his public ministry on this day as well. For the Eastern Church, it became the first day of the liturgical year. (As a refresher, in the west our calendar restarts on the first Sunday of Advent.) In addition, this autumn observance lines up a bit with the Jewish celebration of Rosh Hashanah, the first day of the New Year and the day of the world’s creation, which occurs in September or early October.

Work to expand the Feast of Creation into the wider, western church has been going on since 1989, when Ecumenical Patriarch Demetrios of the Orthodox Church invited Christians around the world to spend the first day of September offering prayers, “both as thanksgiving for the great gift of Creation and as petitions for its protection and salvation.” Since that time, the day has become two very modern things. First, it is the biggest ecumenical initiative since the church began to fracture between East and West over a thousand years ago. Second, it has expanded from a celebration of the first day of creation into a day to also address issues of ecology and justice through our faith in Christ. As issues of eco-justice become less avoidable and more universal, it will take a new kind of unity to address the worldwide problems humanity faces together.

As with many feast days that happen in the middle of the week, at St. Mark we will celebrate the Feast of Creation the Sunday after September 1st. I am excited to come together with you that day, along with Christians around the world. On September 6th, the Church will be united in giving thanks for all that God has made. And, we will acknowledge all the ways that we can live out our faith by caring for the Creation that feeds us, clothes us, and gives a home to every human, creature, and plant that has ever lived.

Peace,

Pastor Chad McKenna

Church Traditions

I few weeks ago, I was scrolling through social media and stumbled on a video of a women who was talking about worship.  She talked about the tradition’s churches have that some might find boring. She commented that she is glad that folks find church boring.  Boring is not a bad thing.  She talked about how in worship we are connected to people (past and present), the history of the church, and the traditions set long ago. This video got me thinking a lot about the traditions we practice each week during worship. This blog will be the first in a series of blogs that I will write about some of our traditions. To begin let’s talk about the white robes and the stoles the pastors wear during worship.

Pastor Chad and I both wear a white alb (robe) on Sunday morning during the 9am worship service.  Albs are typically white, long and flowing.  Pastor Chad and I also wear a cincture which is the rope we tie around our waist.  The white alb symbolizes the white baptism garment, baptismal purity, and the common priesthood of all believers. The cincture or rope symbolizes readiness to serve or self-discipline.  The tradition of wearing an alb by pastors began around 400 A.D. and was adopted from an ancient Roman tradition.

The stoles we wear are a traditional ministerial vestment representing Christ’s yoke of servant leadership and clerical authority. As the yoke of Christ, the stole symbolizes being bound to Christ, carrying the burden of ministry, and serving the community with humility. The clerical authority represents the official duty given through ordination to lead worship, preach, and preside over the sacraments. Pastors and Deacons cannot wear stoles until they are ordained. Ordination is a public rite by which God grants a call through the church to set apart individuals for the ordered ministry of Word and Sacrament (pastors) or Word and Service (deacons).

The stoles worn during worship are typically the same color as the altar paraments.  The colors each have a meaning and are connected to a church season.  Green is the color during Ordinary Time representing “great green growing” days of life and maturation.  Blue or Purple are the colors of Advent and they represent a serious time of getting ready. White is worn during Christmas and Easter and represents pure light and joy. We also wear white during Epiphany, Baptism of Our Lord, Transfiguration of Our Lord, Holy Trinity, All Saints, and Christ the King Sundays.  Purple is worn during Lent and represents penance, sacrifice, and preparation.  Scarlet is worn during Holy Week and also represents penance, sacrifice, and preparation. Red is worn for Pentecost and Reformation and represents God’s love, the courage of the reformers, the fire of the Holy Spirit, and when the church became alive. The tradition of wearing stoles began in the 4^th century and is from an ancient Roman tradition, but wearing different colored stoles began in the 12^th and 13^th centuries in medieval Europe and was formally standardized in the United States in 1895.  The different colors of the altar paraments provide us a visual reminder of the Christian calendar.  Many of our stoles and altar paraments help tell the story of the life of Jesus. 

The practices of wearing vestments by either pastors or deacons are considered adiaphora (meaning matters neither commanded nor forbidden by God), which gives the individual congregations and synods autonomy.

There is so much history and meaning behind the vestments pastors and deacons wear on Sunday mornings.  I didn’t realize how far back the tradition of wearing an alb and stole actually went; it is quite fascinating. If you ever wonder about the stoles we were on Sunday, please ask us.  Most of my personal stoles have a story behind them or are a treasured gift from a special occasion and person, or a pastor who impacted my life and ministry.  The stoles that St. Mark has that match the paraments tell a story. Each person may see the story a little different when they look at the paraments. Which is beautiful.   

Yours in Christ,

Pastor Katrina Steingraeber

Learning to Breathe with God

 

Learning to Breathe with God by Christine Sine

Breathing prayers are not about emptying ourselves so that we feel a void inside. They are about renewing our minds by saturating ourselves with the presence of God. I like to imagine that the outward breath creates a new space for God to fill. The inward breath draws something new of God’s character into me. As I breathe this prayer I visualize myself breathing in a little more of God and who God intends me to be and letting go of some of what is not of God.

Breathe out empty yourself: of hate, of fear, of anxiety,
Breathe in fill yourself with love, with life, with mercy.
Breathe out empty yourself of busyness, of selfishness of greed,
Breathe in fill yourself with peace, with joy, with hope.
Breathe out empty yourself of idolatry, of self-worship, of false gods,
Breathe in fill yourself with God, with Christ, with the Holy Spirit.

 

Breathing prayers can also form an important foundation for our engagement in the pain and suffering of God’s world. I wrote the following prayer to remind myself that breath cannot be held to oneself. We must breathe it back out into the world.  I am called to be both a contemplative and an activist and I as I take notice of my breathing I am reminded constantly of that.

Breathe in the love of God,
Breathe out and share it with the world.
Breathe in the peace of God,
Breathe out and share it with the world.
Breathe in the life of God,
Breathe out and share it with the world.
Breathe in all that is of God,
Breathe out and share it with the world.

 

Obviously, this is a very different understanding of the outward breath than I described above. This double meaning is very much in keeping with the physical act of breathing out however. We breathe out to expel toxic substances from your body, cleansing and renewing our blood. That outgoing breath can also be a source of life to others however. Mouth to mouth resuscitation depends on this. That breath which cleanses and renews our bodies, holds something of the life-giving presence of God which goes back out into the world to renew the life of others.

Beautiful Sky

On Wednesday, June 24, I was on my way to Flow for youth group when I noticed a beautiful rainbow in the sky.  I needed to stop at the church and I was glad that I did.  The view of the rainbow from our parking lot was breath taking, so I did what many folks would do and took a picture.  The picture is not as breathtaking as seeing it for yourself.  

After seeing the rainbow, I have intentionally taken notice of the sky.  I took note of when the sky was a stunning blue without a cloud to be seen.  I noticed the sky when it was full of fluffy clouds or light whimsical clouds.  I watched as storm clouds roll in moments before the rain began to fall.  The sky is a work of art that changes each day. 

As many of you know, I love being outside in God’s beautiful creation.  It heals my soul and helps to reset my mind. It is so good for me to be outside. Seeing rainbows in the midst of a busy day, reminds me that God is ever present.  God’s creation is so beautiful.

One of the simple things that I enjoy during the summer months is walking through the grass barefoot.  I went barefoot all the time as a child so when I walk in the grass barefoot, it reminds me of my childhood. The grass in my yard is thick and soft and when my feet touch it, I feel a deeper connection to the earth.  It is so good for my soul. 

I encourage you to stop and take notice of God’s wonderful creation, especially as we begin a busy holiday weekend.  Take a moment for yourself to just breath in all that God has created, from a small blossom on a wild flower to a beautiful rainbow in the sky.  If you are able walk in the grass barefoot, try it and take note on how it feels. Connecting with nature is good for our souls.  I hope you are able to find time to connect with God’s creation and appreciate the beauty of it all.  

Yours in Christ, 

Pastor Katrina Steingraeber 

Reporting on the 2026 Synod Assembly

This past weekend, Lutherans from Joliet to Galena gathered at Augustana College for the 2026 Northern Illinois Synod Assembly. Close to 380 pastors, deacons, and lay leaders gathered from this annual event to make important decisions, look to the future, and strengthen our relationships with one another.

St. Mark sent four delegates to the assembly: Bob Osolin, Karen Osolin, Mary Kay Schingothe, and our youth representative, Luke Snyder. They joined Pastor Katrina and myself as voting members. Together, we represented our congregation as we voted on new leaders for the synod, updates to the synod constitution, the synod budget, and other business matters. 

In addition to that official business, we heard from the ELCA’s newly-elected Churchwide Secretary, Rev. CeCee Mills, who brought greetings from our presiding bishop, Rev. Yehiel Curry. She reminded us that as ELCA Lutherans, our stories are woven together across the entire country. This sentiment was apparent in the number of times our folks ran into old friends who were there representing their own congregations. No matter which church we call home, or where we live, all of us are united in both faith and mission.

Our keynote speaker, Rev. Dr. Laurie Skow-Anderson is the former bishop of the Northwest Synod of Wisconsin. Since her retirement, she has been working to revitalize the wider church and help point the ELCA toward the future. She gave examples from other denominations who are imagining the future of the church as the world continues to change. For her, a future-focused church will be simpler, bolder, more empathetic, more diverse, more open to fresh expressions, and more interested in a life of faith outside of traditional church buildings. Speaking for myself, her keynote, along with the words from Secretary Mills, had me feeling inspired and excited for the future.

Our own Bob Rub was once again the lead musician for the weekend, which began with festival worship on Friday morning and had two smaller services on Saturday. As part of her role in planning worship for the assembly, Pastor Katrina opened the assembly with words of welcome before that first festive service. I also had a small role, serving on the Courtesy Committee which traditionally gives closing words of gratitude for everyone who had a hand in making the assembly happen. 

This assembly has been meeting in Rock Island since the ELCA was formed in the late 1980s. Next year, though, it will be moving right here to Rockford. Details about this move are sparse at the moment, but I am sure that it will mean St. Mark will be contributing even more to the life of the synod while the assembly happens in our own back yard!

Pastor Chad McKenna

Women in Ministry

During the month of May, the Adult Forum focused on women in ministry, particularly the women who have served at St. Mark. We talked about some hard truths about how women were treated in the late 1970’s when the Lutheran Church began ordaining women.  Despite the wider Lutheran church ordaining women, the women were not always given the same or equal responsibilities that their male counterparts were given.

St. Mark has called three women to serve as pastors; Pastor Nancy Feniuk-Nelson, Pastor Carolyn Fredrikson, and myself. St. Mark had an interim female pastor for a time, Pastor Francis Olson. Of the three women who were called to serve at St. Mark, only two have served under the title of senior pastor; Pastor Carolyn Fredrikson and myself.  I served under the associate pastor title for three years before the call to serve as senior pastor, where Pastor Chad and I are co-pastors. 

The reason I wanted to talk about the experience of the women who have served at St. Mark is because I have experienced some uncomfortable comments from folks. And comments that made me feel like I was less of a pastor, because I am a woman.  No matter the gender of the pastor, the ordination rite and the promises made during ordination are the same.  Every pastor is charged to pursue righteousness, godliness, faith, love, endurance, and gentleness. We are charged to tend the flock of God and to be servants of Christ and stewards of God’s mysteries.  I take the promises I made and the charges I received during my ordination very seriously. 

I am grateful that St. Mark is a church that values women in ministry. St. Mark is not perfect, but they are willing to listen, learn, and grow. I know it is difficult to face the hard truths of the past and present, but this is how we grow and improve.  I am confident that St. Mark can be an example of how to intentionally be equitable, no matter the gender of the pastor. 

Yours in Christ, 

Pastor Katrina Steingraeber

Joy and Apprehension

There are so many exciting things to celebrate in May; welcoming new St. Mark members, college and high school graduations, school ending for the summer, and other celebrations. There is so much to be joyful about. On May 10^th we welcomed five new members which is always an exciting time for the church.  It was a great day full of celebration and vibrant conversations in the café as we welcomed the new members to St. Mark.  The room was buzzing. 

Many folks are preparing for graduations from either college or high school.  In my family we have three graduations this year, Aiden graduates from college and Soren graduates from high school, and my niece also graduates from college.  This is a joyful time but one that often comes with apprehension for what comes next.  It is normal for joy and apprehension to be felt at the same time.  

I am currently reading a book titled Joyful Anyway by Kate Bowler.  In her book she shares what joy is.  “She says joy is a privilege.  We all have joy moments.  Joy does not mean others suffering is invalid or that we don’t care about them. Joy is inherently unselfish. Joy is a gift. Joy makes you more hopeful.”  Joy is a big emotion and one that we all deserve to experience. Even when times are hard or we face difficult decisions, there can and will be moments of joy.   

Joy is a blessing and one that I try not to take for granted.  The joy of my families upcoming graduations also comes with a little grief.  Change can be hard and joyful at the same time. I am excited for all the graduates and for what comes next for them.  I will miss seeing them and talking to them.  I am excited to get to know the new members of St. Mark.  I love getting to know people. 

As we lean into the joy of the spring season I ask you to pray for the new members and greet them on Sundays.  Please wear a name tag on Sunday morning so folks can learn your name.  I ask you to pray for all the graduates as they prepare for what is next.  This is an exciting time!

Yours in Christ,

Pastor Katrina Steingraeber

How Long is Easter?

I learned a lesson during the children’s message a few weeks ago: Never underestimate kids. I gave them a one-question pop quiz and asked them how long Easter is, fully expecting them to say it’s only a day. After all, that’s a perfectly common response you would expect from most people. Instead, a number of them shouted, “Fifty Days!” Which, as it turns out, is the correct answer.

For centuries, Churches around the world have agreed that the season of Easter lasts for seven Sundays, culminating at the feast of Pentecost. This is why the linens decorating the communion table and lectern remain white, almost a month after Easter Sunday. It is why the pastors wear white stoles and we begin every service with a thanksgiving for baptism. Supermarkets sold out of chocolate bunnies weeks ago, but in churches around the world, it is still the Season of Resurrection. 

It shouldn’t come as any surprise that our kids have a decent grasp on the church calendar. The curriculum we use in Sunday School is tied to the same calendar, with lessons based on the readings we hear in worship. Every week, they begin their time together by examining the giant pie chart on the floor, pictured below. They talk about where we are in cycle of the year and visualize the rhythm of the Church. There is a chart just like it on the bulletin board in the hallway by the narthex, which you are welcome to examine any time you’re in the building.

During these fifty days of Easter, we focus a lot on resurrection. We hear stories about Jesus visiting the disciples after that fateful Sunday morning, as well as stories from Acts about the early church. Along with the decorations and prayers I mentioned earlier, the season has a decidedly distinct feel. But, here is something we don’t teach in Sunday school: Every Sunday of the year is a little Easter oasis. In fact, Easter itself is one of the reasons why we worship on Sunday to begin with.

In the middle of the second century, one of the earliest Christian theologians wrote about the relatively new idea of gathering for worship once a week. In his First Apology, meant to explain the budding religion, Justin Martyr wrote, “we hold this meeting together on the day of the sun since it is the first day, on which God, having transformed darkness and matter, made the cosmos. On the same day Jesus Christ our savior rose from the dead.”

When Easter is over, even next Lent when folks might feel the need to be introspective and dour, Sundays are days of Resurrection. On the first day of every week, we gather to remember the gift we have in God’s creation, celebrate the life we have been given, and hope for the life to come. And during the remainder of the week, the good news of Easter is the Good News that we share in everything we say and do as people who put our trust in Jesus Christ.

Peace,

Pastor Chad McKenna

Easter Joy!

Easter is a beautiful time in the church.  The church is decorated with beautiful flowers, there is a new paschal candle, and the white paraments adorn the altar and lectern.  People begin wearing spring colors that bring a new hope for the upcoming warmer weather.  Outside we watch the trees begin to bud and bloom.  The tulips, hyacinths, and daffodils are showing their glorious colors; things are changing. 

The church changes from the heaviness of the season Lent to a lighter and brighter Easter season. At churches around the world people proclaimed, “Alleluia! Christ is risen. He is risen indeed.  Alleluia!” It is a joy to hear the shouts of Alleluias after several weeks without them.  On Easter we remember the empty tomb was discovered by Mary Magdalene and the other Mary.  These women did not keep it to themselves they went and told the disciples.  In the gospel of Matthew, we hear that the women with fear and great joy, ran to tell his disciples.  Despite their fear they were filled with great joy for Jesus had risen. 

What has brought you joy this Easter season?  Did time spent with family and friends on Easter Sunday bring you joy?  Is it the changing season and the promise of warmer weather?  There are so many things that bring us joy in the spring.  I encourage you to look for signs of joy that are around you.  It may feel hard to find at times, but if we look with intent you will see bits of joy. 

This past week I have found joy in the flowers that are blooming in my yard. I found joy in worship on Easter Sunday, and in the conversations with the children after worship.  I found joy watching the families take pictures in the sanctuary after Easter Sunday worship.  I even got in on a few photos. I have found joy as I walked through the church this week and see the Alleluia butterflies in places throughout the building.

Dear siblings in Christ, I pray that you find the joy that is all around you.  May the joy of Easter fill your heart with what you need and may you feel the deep love of Christ every day.   

Yours in Christ, 

Pastor Katrina Steingraeber

Reflecting on Heritage and Faith

During my first year at the Lutheran School of Theology at Chicago, I was stopped on my way to the library by a group of retired alumni who were visiting the seminary. They were being shown around by a professor of mine, and they seemed friendly enough. That is, until I introduced myself, prompting one of the older pastors to remark, “McKenna? How does someone with a last name like McKenna end up at a Lutheran school?” 

I don’t remember exactly how I responded to such an asinine question. Most likely, I walked away after making some brief comment about how I didn’t grow up in this denomination but chose to be part of it as an adult. Looking back, I wish I had come up with a more snarky response. I had only identified as a Lutheran for about five years. The history class that covers Lutherans in America wasn’t for another two semesters, but this exchange was my first lesson. This was the moment I realized how ethnically entrenched our denomination can be. If a white guy like me can be made to feel othered in this church, imagine what people of color endure. If my All-American last name can seem out of place, what chance is there for people whose names signify Hispanic, Asian, or African heritage? And while we’re on the subject, what in the world does lutefisk have to do with the Lutheran doctrine of justification by grace through faith?

Despite that interaction outside the library, my heritage is a privilege. I know this, because it’s not something I have to think about on a daily basis. I get to choose how much I identify as an Irish-American, which is why when March 17th rolls around, I wear green like anyone else. That’s about it. Of course, when I’m feeling nostalgic I can always dig into my ancestry like it’s an extra-curricular research project or a fun puzzle to solve. But, such endeavors have little impact on the way I live my life.

Folks like me, whose families came to this country willingly before anyone had heard of the automobile, experience heritage as little more than traditions, celebrations, and food. We never have to worry about how our ethnic backgrounds might disrupt our future. Those who have come here more recently, though, worry about it every day.

Right now, a Lutheran pastor in our own Northern Illinois Synod is in that sort of daily struggle with his heritage. For him and his parishioners, their ethnicity is like a target on their backs. Worship attendance is down at the church because people are scared of being profiled in the streets and being taken by masked men in unmarked vans. Recent precedence reveals that the government could take away this pastor’s refugee status without cause and force him to return to a country where his life was in danger. They cannot hide their identities or forget where they came from. They can only hope that their chosen neighbors live with mercy and welcoming hospitality.

 As Christians, our scriptures call us to be inspired by our heritage to open our lives up to others. This past Sunday, we heard from Deuteronomy 24, where it is written, “You shall not deprive a resident alien or an orphan of justice; you shall not take a widow’s garment in pledge. Remember that you were a slave in Egypt and the Lord your God redeemed you from there; therefore I command you to do this.”

In our church and in our community, we are called to welcome all people with thoughtfulness and grace because we were once in need of that same kind of welcome. So, let us recognize that the thing that makes us Lutherans more than anything else is our trust in grace that is freely given by God, not because of who we are or what we have done, but because God loves us. And, let us share that same loving grace with all of our neighbors, as we work for a world where all are welcome. 

Peace,

Pastor Chad McKenna

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

 

The Parable of Jesus, According to the St. Mark Confirmation Class

One of the great joys of ministry at St. Mark is teaching our confirmation students. This group of seventh and eighth graders meets every Wednesday to connect with one another and learn about faith, scripture, and life in the church. This year, our confirmation students have been working their way through the Bible. 

We recently moved into the New Testament, studying the story of Jesus and how it is told in the four gospels. Last week, Pastor Chad asked the confirmands to draw pictures of the most important moments in Jesus’ story. A few students drew crosses. One drew a nativity. Another drew a beautifully detailed depiction of the Last Supper. All of these moments and more are vital to Jesus’ story, as well as our faith, and it is amazing to see how different aspects of the story resonate with different people. How we tell a story says as much about us as it does about the events we attempt to describe.

This past Wednesday, the students and Pastor Katrina talked about Jesus’ parables. After the discussion, she asked the confirmands to write their own parable about Jesus. As they worked together to write the parable, she asked them if we could share their writing with the congregation, and so it is with their permission that we share “The Parable of Jesus, According to the St. Mark Confirmation Class.”

There was man, who name is Jesus, he was very compassionate. Some people like him, he had a group of friends but many people did not like him. He did not care about social class, he cared a lot for the lowly and the poor. He always accepted others but he was not always accepted. 

Even though he was hated, he loved everyone so much that he was crucified for everyone’s sin. But he came back! He proved to the people who hated him, that they were wrong. They now believe in him. 

Now people tell his story all the time.

How would you tell the story of Jesus in your own words? If you could only tell that story with a single sketch, what moment of his life would you draw?  

Peace,

Pastor Chad and Pastor Katrina

How are You?

I recently purchased a new devotional book titled, Go For It, Boldly Live the Life God Created For You, by Melissa Horvath. The first devotion is titled “How Are You?” which is a valid question that we ask people we encounter almost every day. In the devotion she comments on how we ask strangers and friends, how are you and typically the response is good, how are you?  But do we ever ask someone, how are you really?  And if we ask that, are we prepared for the answer? When we ask for an honest and raw answer, we may hear that someone is sad, angry, hurting, etc.  Or we could hear that they are doing great and amazing.  We are allowed to have and feel all the emotions. 

Earlier this week I was really struggling.  I was struggling with feeling sad and angry.  I was also struggling with feeling helpless, I felt there was nothing I can do for the people in Venezuela. That helpless feeling continues today as my heart breaks for the people in Minnesota. There is nothing I can say or do that will change things for the family of Renee Nicole Good, who died after being shot by an ICE agent.  Perhaps some of you feel the same way? 

I have found myself at a loss for words to pray.  My body is noticing my struggles.  I am restless, numb, tired, and overwhelmed.  But I am grateful for colleagues and theologians who have posted prayers for me to read.  Today I found a prayer that I needed to hear from Kelly Sherman-Conroy who is a Native Theologian.  Perhaps you need it too.  Here is her prayer…

Creator God,
We bring You what our bodies are holding.
The grief we can’t name.
The anger that tightens our chests.
The fear that won’t let us rest.
We ask for permission to set some of this down.
Not because it doesn’t matter,
but because we are not meant to carry it alone.
Breathe peace into our nervous systems.
Soften what has clenched.
Release what has been held too long.
Hold the lives that were lost.
Hold the families who are grieving.
Hold the communities who are tired of surviving.
Today, teach us how to rest without guilt,
to release without forgetting,
and to care for one another gently. Amen.

Yours in Christ,

Pastor Katrina Steingraeber

Christmas and the Solstice

The worst kept secret in Christianity is that Jesus wasn’t actually born in December. Though followers of Jesus have been celebrating the story of his birth from the very start, December 25th didn’t become the official day until the middle of the fourth century.

There are a number of theories about why this specific day was chosen. Perhaps the Church wanted to replace pagan practices around the winter solstice. This time of year, nights are long and many hope for the light to return. In ancient Rome, December 25th was when folks could first observe that the days were starting to lengthen again.

As we hear in the opening verses of John’s Gospel, “What has come into being in him was life, and the life was the light of all people. The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness did not overtake it.” What better time to celebrate Jesus, the light of all people, than on the day that light begins to overtake the night once again?

All living things respond to the changing seasons. Animals hibernate or migrate when the days start to get shorter than the night. Even leaves on trees change color, not because of temperature or lack of water, but because of dwindling sunlight. When a tree branch is next to a streetlight, its leaves stay green even after all the other branches have let go. In recent years, scientists have begun to treat symptoms of seasonal depression with specialized lights that simulate the sun’s rays. Life responds to light.

Observing the winter solstice has been a universal human experience for thousands of years. From Machu Picchu in Peru to Chaco Canyon in New Mexico, ancient astronomical observatories studied the sun’s movements. In Newgrange Ireland, a large mound built from quartz stones has a single opening that only allows the inner chamber to be filled with sunlight on the shortest day of the year. The Wurdi Youang in Australia is similar to England’s Stonehenge, though it has been marking the shifting seasons for almost twice as many millennia.

There are countless customs and festivals humans have come up with to ward off the night and to celebrate the daytime during this time of deep darkness. Burning Yule logs, hanging evergreens, lighting candles, exchanging gifts, and hosting feasts are all ways that people get through this difficult span of time. These traditions are meant to strengthen our hope. For Christians, they are here to remind us of the brightness of God’s unwavering love. We use them best when we enter the new year, not with stress and anxiety, but rather with joy and confidence in our God.

Unfortunately, too much of Christmas has been commercialized. Traditions meant to restore hope have become commodities with a price tag. Rituals meant to bring peace have been stuffed with high expectations. All the music and light designed to take our minds off of winter has been pushed earlier and earlier into autumn. So many of us enter January burdened by debt and defeat, unable to tell if the days are actually getting longer.

Do what you can this season to lean into hope over obligation. Embrace traditions that remind you of the warmth of God’s love, and hold onto them well beyond Christmas Day. Keep the lights up and the joyful music playing. Take care of yourself and those you love. Remember, as John wrote, that “the true light, which enlightens everyone,” has come into the world. This is good news worth celebrating all year round!

Peace,

Pastor Chad McKenna

Prepare, Ponder, Love and Joy

We all know that we are well on our way to Christmas, only a short amount of time to finish buying gifts, preparing for family, etc.  But we still have some days of Advent left before we find ourselves looking at a tiny babe in a manger.  I am trying to keep my heart and mind in the season of Advent by reading reflections or devotions on Advent, so I take my time getting to Christmas. Today I read a reflection/devotion on Advent from the book Speak it Plain, Words for Worship and Life Together by Meta Herrick Carlson.

Here is the reflection: The sacred call “Prepare!” does not ask for lists or logistics.  We do not “Keep awake!” only to ensure we are not forgotten at the rapture.  Nor is the stillness sedentary. So, do not simply go looking for a candle scent to capture what it means to Ponder, or a gift to prove your Love, or a tall tree to announce, “Joy to the World!”

Advent lays bare visions of time bending into already and not yet, by the God who tears apart the hustle, the heavens, the temple curtain! With no intention of mending back together our favored boundaries. This is the thin space where stillness is powerful and God is changing our hearts, so sacred Ponder, Love, and Joy can birth and shelter. The miracle grows with slow strength in the one place we have all called home, where we do not yet know another way, while our fullness is being prepared, carried, and nourished by the One who says, “Yes.”

As I read the Advent reflection, I was drawn to the words Prepare, Ponder, Love, and Joy. Advent is a time for us to ponder and prepare.  It is a time to reflect on what is important in our lives.  It is a time to share our love and joy with others and a time to share the love of Christ Jesus with others through simple acts of kindness. I hope that you can find some moments of peace where you can reflect on the Advent Season.  I hope you can find moments to prepare your heart and mind for the fast approaching Christmas Season. 

In the remaining days of Advent, I encourage all of us to lean into the season and to spend time in the stillness.  We may be surprised at how God changes our hearts with sacred pondering, loving, and joy. 

Blessed Advent,

Pastor Katrina Steingraeber   

The Spiritual Practice of Stewardship

The ELCA writes that, “We are a church that shares a living, daring confidence in God’s grace — our congregations are evangelical mission centers where courageous and wise stewards are grown. Congregational stewardship begins with a healthy understanding of gratitude and generosity. We have first received and therefore we give.”

How do we respond to God’s call to serve and love our neighbors? We faithfully steward the gifts God has so abundantly given to us. Stewardship is more than a financial response to God’s love.  Stewardship encompasses how we use all that God has entrusted to our care — our time, our talents and our treasures — to love God and our neighbors, both inside and outside of the church walls and our homes.

Stewardship calls for a blending of our faith and the way that we live our lives — we are a church that is energized by lively engagement in our faith and life. Stewardship is a mindset, a culture and a discipline that can never be contained in an annual campaign. According to Clarence Stoughton, former president of Wittenberg University, stewardship is everything we do after we say “I believe.” It is the way in which we use all of the resources that God has entrusted to our care so that we can love God and our neighbor. Stewardship is about love.

The spiritual practice of Stewardship forms the way we see the world and ourselves within it as people of faith.  We are called to steward every part of who we are for love’s sake.  A holistic practice of stewardship is the inseparable pairing of giving and serving.  Holding these practices together help us emphasize a life of self-giving.

Stewardship is as much an individual spiritual practice as it is shared in community.  When we strengthen the bonds of love among each other, we strengthen our community. When stewardship is rooted in love it embodies joys and a shared table.

Like I mentioned in my sermon on Sunday, November 9^th, 2025.  I am extremely grateful for how generous you all are.  When there is a need, you all step up.  You are a gift to me, the church, and our community.  St. Mark could not do what we do without each and every one of you.  You are a gift to St. Mark and I am so glad you are here. 

Yours in Christ, 

Pastor Katrina Steingraeber    

Your Generosity is a Celebration

It’s that time of year again. Let’s talk about the budget, shall we?

The good news is that giving has gone up the last couple years, and this year offerings have been higher than the council anticipated. We are not in a state of decline, and St. Mark continues to grow in our ministries of service and faith formation. The generosity of St. Mark’s members is unmistakable. This summer, we challenged you all to match a gift given from Ulla Kercher’s estate, and you went above and beyond. Those funds are being used to support our outreach, youth, and children’s ministries. 

Every time we ask you to support a local charity with food, gifts, or donations, you do so with enthusiasm and kindness. You gave 133 pounds of cereal to the Rock River Valley Pantry in September. Right now the hallway is overflowing with coats for Rockford’s refugee community. Soon, you will no doubt buy Christmas presents for 60 foster children in LSSI’s annual Adopt-an-Angel program. It is a joy to behold your goodness.

Of course, you know what is always paired with good news. I hesitate to use the word, “bad,” so I’ll say that the less good news is that, like your generosity, expenses are also on the rise. Anyone who has bills to pay and groceries to buy knows that rising prices are the unfortunate reality everyone is living under. Households, businesses, healthcare providers, non-profits, and local governments all feel the pinch when everything costs more than it used to. Expenses have grown so much that, even with your increased giving, we will most likely end this year with a deficit.

Your offerings are used with care to support everything from music ministry, worship, faith formation, outreach, and staff salaries. Over the last few years, our staff and council have worked incredibly hard to trim our expenses to be as lean as possible, while still providing these ministries. As one ministry leader put it, there isn’t any fat in our budget.  To get it balanced again, we need everyone’s help. 

In November, St. Mark members will be asked to make a pledge for giving in 2026. Our goal this year is $800,000. As we approach Stewardship Sunday, I ask you to pray about your commitment to our ministry and to carefully consider increasing your pledge for the coming year. If giving increased by a dollar a day per household, we would exceed that goal! At the same time, a pledge of any amount will get us closer to the finish line.

I was hesitant to call rising expenses bad news earlier because every dollar that we spend goes toward sharing God’s love with the community and meeting the spiritual needs of this congregation. Our entire budget is a celebration of our values as followers of Jesus Christ. I am confident that you will once again rise to the occasion and support this wonderful congregation of ours to the best of your ability. Thank you for all you do for St. Mark, and all that you will continue to do in the coming year! 

Peace,

Pastor Chad McKenna

Connections Provide a Strong Ground

I was sitting at a local coffee shop on a Thursday morning, while I wrote this month’s blog.  After I arrived and got settled, I scanned the room to see what the other people at the coffee shop were doing. The man sitting a few tables away was on a video call, there were several others working on their laptops, a few folks were talking with friends or family, and a dad was playing games with his kids at the table across from me.  I don’t often work from a coffee shop, but on Thursday it worked best for my schedule. 

Despite all the people around me, I felt peaceful and I felt grounded.  I don’t often find that in a busy, public place. Why does this coffee shop bring me a sense of peace that I needed on Thursday morning? Why do I feel grounded in this place? Is it because I was sitting alone against the outer wall?  Is it because there was no TV playing the news or any other program, just some nice quiet music in the background?  Perhaps it was a combination of both. 

Brené Brown in her book, Strong Ground, talks about the importance of being grounded.  I have noticed that when I am grounded, I feel more at peace.  While I pride myself on my ability to work well when things are busy and chaotic, it is good to remind myself that I need to slow down.  Early in her book, Brené Brown writes, “Right now, the thought of slowing down to do anything can be paralyzing.  But at the very least, we should be building new capabilities while at the same time doubling down on core stability and functional strength. Developing core stability and functional strength in organizations means investing in people, because for an organization, people, and our connection to each other are the strong ground.”

As I thought about what Brené Brown wrote and how I was feeling at the coffee shop, I think it was the people in that space that helped me feel grounded and peaceful. I could relate to the dad playing games with his children.  I saw the value in conversations between friends or family. It was a great space to work or study. I connected with the people in the coffee shop without even knowing their names.  We had something in common.

The connections we make with other people are important and a valued part of our shared humanity.  We need people in our lives; those who come in just for a moment and those who have been there for many years. It is in these connections that we find purpose and strength, and love. 

Yours in Christ,

Pastor Katrina Steingraeber