With Gratitude

Dear St. Mark friends,

I began my sermon last Sunday acknowledging that my retirement was close at hand.  I shared a famous anonymous quote that seems quite appropriate for this situation: “Don’t cry because it’s over.  Smile because it happened.”  I believe there’s room for both tears and smiles as we anticipate closure to our shared ministry over the past fifteen years.

We can all relate to departures and the subsequent transitions that result from them.  Life is largely defined by the way we handle these transitions.  In his book, Managing Transitions, William Bridges writes, “It isn’t the changes that do you in, it’s the transitions.  Change is not the same as transition.  Change is situational: the new site, the new boss, the new team roles, the new policy.  Transition is the psychological process people go through to come to terms with the new situation.  Change is external, transition is internal.”

Thirty-seven years ago, I was ordained into the holy ministry of Word and Sacrament.  I knew what I was getting into: a vocation that would involve a lengthy sequence of hellos and good-byes; a series of exciting beginnings, as well as grace-filled departures...a lifetime of transitions.  Tears and smiles serve as salt and pepper, seasoning our lives as we serve God and neighbor.  I realize that, for some of you, my retirement may seem like a mixture of salt and pepper.

Pastor Chad will become St. Mark’s primary pastoral leader in June, as is the case in the vacancy of the senior pastor position.  I encourage you to fully support Pastor Chad in his new role during the call process.  It’s also important to clarify the boundaries that I intend to observe as a newly retired pastor.  Professional etiquette requires that I find a new church to join in the coming months.  Thus, I will not attend any future worship services or church events at St. Mark unless specifically requested by the new senior pastor.  The one exception to this will be an available Sunday down the road once we have returned to our church nave for full worship services.  I look forward to preaching one final sermon in your presence in the weeks to come!

I will also refrain from any pastoral care in my retirement.  This includes weddings, funerals, baptisms, counseling, and any other pastoral acts on behalf of St. Mark.  While I intend to honor the friendships that exist, I will refrain from engaging in any discussions or activities surrounding the many ministries of St. Mark.  This vital separation of pastoral expectations and activity is necessary and healthy for all of us, allowing St. Mark to move forward with new leadership and bold visioning for the future.  God is faithful...you are in good hands!

Finally, I want to thank you for giving me the opportunity to serve St. Mark these past fifteen years.  Together, we have served this community with faith, courage, and innovation.  We have wept together, and we have laughed together.  We have endured many trials and hardships, and we have celebrated significant growth and accomplishments.  We have done it all as one family of faith. 

Regardless of the numerous transitions that define our individual journeys, we will continue to serve one Lord and one Church.  In that light, we will always be together in the Spirit...sharing in the common work of serving Jesus!

With deepest gratitude,

Pastor Mark

Our Wilderness Wandering

Dear St. Mark friends,

Last week, we learned that Illinois will have a modified stay-at-home order beginning May 1.  Thus, we will continue to offer online Sunday worship services for the foreseeable future.  The “foreseeable future,” however, is quite vague.  I had two conversations with Bishop Jeffrey Clements this week regarding the eventual return to regular worship for our synod congregations.  He said that he doesn’t anticipate that happening until mid-summer at the earliest.  Bishop Jeff noted that churches will need to follow state guidelines as we slowly introduce small group gatherings...eventually leading to medium and larger group gatherings.  This will take time, involving steps and phases to properly evaluate and implement our courses of action. 

Such waiting is hard for all of us.  Day by day, we grow wearier of this stay-at-home routine.  It is precisely in such situations that Scripture encourages us to turn to God for patience, strength, and hope.  The Psalms can be a true source of inspiration for us during these long days of waiting and longing for a return to normalcy.  Yet, we wonder what that new normal will be and how will we adapt to it?

As you know, my final Sunday is scheduled for May 31, Day of Pentecost.  I am deeply disappointed that my last month as your senior pastor precludes our worshiping together at St. Mark.  These remaining weeks will not include the joyful face-to-face encounters I had hoped to share with you.  Still, I trust that God will somehow provide what we need to acknowledge the significance and delight of our 15 years together as “pastor and people.”  I want you to know that I intend to be available for the first weekend we are allowed to worship together at the church, whatever that might look like.  I’m eager to have the chance to say “good-bye” to you in person.

In the meantime, we pray for God’s grace to sustain us.  I also want to thank you for your continual support of St. Mark through your financial gifts to our ministry.  During this difficult time, we have fallen behind in our offerings and need your assistance.  I would kindly ask that you revisit your pledge for this year and strive to fulfill your weekly giving.  While our ministry feels like it’s “on hold,” our financial commitments continue...and we need your help to stay current.  Again, I extend my appreciation for your faithfulness and support.

Together, we will get through this time more resilient and focused as a congregation.  I am grateful for your witness to the power of God’s Spirit to lead us!

Walking this journey of faith with you,

Pastor Mark

Bishop Jeffrey Clements - Sunday's Sermon

Dear St. Mark friends,

I wish you God’s blessings as we enter this Easter season with joy at the resurrection of our Lord Jesus!  As members of the Body of Christ, here and throughout the world, we share a common faith in Christ our Savior.  That common bond is experienced most closely at the congregation and synod levels, where we regularly support one another through prayer and shared ministries.

Last week, Bishop Jeffrey Clements wrote a moving letter to each of our synod’s congregations.  I have been touched by his personal encouragement to our synod’s pastors, as well as his steadfast reassurance to our many church members.  I am grateful for Bishop Jeff’s leadership and witness to God’s enduring presence in these difficult and confounding days.

I am delighted to announce that Bishop Jeff has prepared a special Sunday-after-Easter sermon to be shared this Sunday with all the congregations of the Northern Illinois Synod.  This timely sermon will be included in our weekly online worship service.  What a wonderful and unique opportunity this is to see and hear our Bishop as he shares in our collective worship services throughout the synod. 

As we continue to implement the stay-at-home restrictions put in place, we trust in the Lord of all creation to guide and sustain us.  I encourage you to stay in touch with one another, offering prayers on behalf of all who are deeply affected by the tragedies of the COVID-19 pandemic.  We are especially indebted to all those courageous souls who serve in roles of leadership, medical attention, and caregiving.  We are witnessing the astounding strength of character and conviction in those who sacrifice so much for the good of our country.

We look forward to the time when these necessary restrictions are eased and lifted, allowing us to resume weekly worship at St. Mark.  Like you, I miss seeing and greeting one another each week.  I long to be in your presence and to share in your joyous companionship again.  In the meantime, we wait, we pray, and we rejoice in the shared resurrection with Christ our Lord!

Walking this journey of faith with you,

Pastor Mark

A Word of Encouragement and Thanks from Pastor Mark

 Dear St. Mark friends,

I want to thank you for your prayers and support of one another as we continue to navigate the COVID-19 pandemic.  Every day becomes a challenge as we seek to observe the restrictions in place to stem the tide of further infections and deaths from this disease.  I encourage you to stay in touch with one another and to reach out to those in our congregation who would benefit from a conversation with you. 

I’m grateful that so many of you watched last Sunday’s abbreviated worship service on our church YouTube page.  As of today, 722 viewers have watched that service.  This week’s recording will not be in the church sanctuary, however.  Due to the state restrictions to avoid the workplace, we are recording services from the homes of each of the service leaders.  Pastor Chad will be editing and formatting the service from his home and then putting it up on YouTube Sunday morning at 8:00.  I encourage you to tune in again and join our St. Mark family in worshiping together from our homes.

I cannot predict when the stay-at-home restrictions will be lifted or when we will be able to resume worship at St. Mark.  For now, we can only wait and pray.  I agree with Bishop Jeff Clements that it is highly unlikely we will be back in church by Easter.  I will let you know what develops as we get closer to worshiping together again.  We will not be ordering Easter lilies this year, in case you were wondering.  We do plan to provide certain Holy Week observations online, so stay tuned for more details.

Please feel free to contact Pastor Chad and me with any pastoral concerns that arise.  We are here for you. 

May we find our strength and courage in God’s promises to sustain us and in the power of the Holy Spirit to give us peace.

Walking this journey of faith with you,

Pastor Mark

Update from Pastor Mark

Dear St. Mark friends,

Last week, we made the tough, but necessary decision to cancel all worship services and events in order to provide an additional level of protection against the rapid spread of the COVID-19 coronavirus disease.  On Monday, Bishop Jeffrey Clements urged all congregations in our synod to likewise cancel all worship services and events for the foreseeable future.  We’re urging everyone to adhere to the new guidelines and restrictions as they are communicated daily by community, state, and national leaders.  Please take these seriously and limit your contact with those outside your home. 

The church office will be sparsely staffed weekday mornings in order to limit contact with others during this critical time.  Next Tuesday’s staff and Council meetings will use Zoom, a remote conferencing service that allows members to participate in meetings off-site.  We encourage other groups to consider using this service to stay in touch and hold meetings.

This Sunday, we will begin weekly streaming of abbreviated, pre-recorded worship services on our St. Mark YouTube page, available for viewing throughout the day on Sundays, beginning at 8:00 A.M.  Pastor Chad’s sermon from last Sunday, March 15, is also now available on YouTube.  These short, weekly pre-recordings will include prelude music, the reading of our three scripture lessons, a full-length sermon, and the prayers of the church.  I estimate these will last approximately twenty-five minutes.  Look for a special email on Sunday morning providing a link to this service on YouTube.  We’re hopeful this will give our congregation a much-needed sense of community during these difficult times of separation.

Your weekly offerings to St. Mark are no less vital during this time.  Please make every effort to stay current with your weekly pledge by giving online, using our St. Mark App (Pushpay), or mailing in your weekly offering.  I thank you for your continued financial support!  Please visit our church Facebook page for regular updates and news.  Also, consider using our Instant Church Directory App to stay in contact with those members who would appreciate hearing from you during this lonely time of isolation.

I ask for your patience and prayers as we face this pandemic together.  While we can’t predict what’s immediately ahead of us, we can live our days with assurance and faith in the Lord of the Church to be with us.   As always, please feel free to contact Pastor Chad or me...we’re here to offer our support.

Walking this journey of faith with you,

Pastor Mark

Church website: www.stmarklc.com

Church phone: 815-398-3557

Immediate Cancellation of All St. Mark Worship, Activities, and Events due to Coronavirus COVID-19 Pandemic

Dear St. Mark friends,

The spread of the coronavirus COVID-19 is of grave concern to all of us. We are witnessing its swift movement globally, nationally, and locally. Organizations and leaders in our community are implementing extreme measures to contain this disease through the suspension or cancellation of numerous gatherings and events.

In the last two days, I have received numerous email notifications from various ELCA Bishops and Pastors around the country announcing the temporary cancellations of all worship, activities, and events in their respective congregations. I believe their actions rightly convey the urgency needed in responding to this alarming pandemic.

In order to be proactive in protecting our St. Mark members and many guests, I am announcing the immediate cancellation of all Sunday worship services and Sunday School classes, Wednesday morning Bible studies and evening Lenten worship, confirmation classes, music rehearsals, and all other weekday and evening activities and events at least through the end of March. All cancellations are effective as of today. We will proceed on a week-by-week basis after that, giving you regular updates on when we plan to resume our regular worship schedule and activities.

The church office will remain open during this time, but we ask that you come to the office only if necessary, to reduce your risk. Please feel free to contact me or office manager Jill Davenport with any concerns or questions that arise.

While the reality of this dire situation is still sinking in for us, I ask for your steady prayers and support as we take the necessary steps together to confront this unprecedented pandemic in the most responsible and effective way for the good of all.

Walking this journey of faith with you,

Pastor Mark

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

Looking Back

Dear St. Mark friends,

2019 is a year I will never forget.  On January 13 of last year, my second granddaughter, Madlyn Olivia Hagen, was born to David and Maureen Hagen.  It is a great privilege to visit them often, since they literally live just across the street from me.  I also embarked on a twelve-week sabbatical, including July retreat time at Holden Village in the Cascade Mountains of Washington state, where I began the writing of my forthcoming book, Tears & Triumph: A Journey Toward Resurrection. 

That sabbatical time was cut short in early September when I received news in Colorado of Naomi’s sudden downturn.  I rushed home the next day and spent three days at her bedside, along with my two sons, until she passed away in the early morning hours of Sunday, September 8.  Her September 20^th memorial service at St. Mark was overwhelming...such outpouring of love and support to my family and me! 

My October 6 sermon was the most difficult, yet passionate, sermon I have ever preached.  Fresh from the events of the past several weeks, I struggled with my emotions that Sunday to describe my fractured sabbatical journey and the painful lessons of losing a spouse to the horrors of Alzheimer’s Disease.  Returning to work in late September proved to be cathartic, allowing me to gracefully re-emerge into the life of the congregation and its mission.

I was pleased to participate with the Council and Pastor Chad in making plans for the renovation of our main kitchen and the updating of our sanctuary video projector and video camera that records our weekly Sunday sermons for availability on our church web page.  Both of these large projects were begun in early January of 2020.  In addition, 2019 included the implementation of our new Instant Church Directory phone app, as well as our new St. Mark phone app, sponsored by Pushpay.  My special thanks to Pastor Chad McKenna and Jill Davenport for their major roles of implementing these two key technologies for our church.

We welcomed four new staff members in 2019: Julie Eshleman, Karen Osolin, Wendy Iversen, Chris Semmelroth, as well as Anya Hanson in the nursery on Sunday mornings.  I am grateful to all of our excellent staff members for their incredible service to St. Mark.  I am also indebted to our Congregation Council and to our many fine committees for the exemplary work they do on behalf of the church.  Finally, I thank each of our members for their prayerful support of St. Mark’s mission.  Together, we truly delight in “Growing in Faith...Sharing God’s Grace!”

Walking this journey of faith with you,

Pastor Mark Hagen

Only Now . . .

Dear friends,

Almost every day, someone asks me, “How are you doing?”  It’s a simple enough question, yet a simple answer seems to elude me.  How am I doing...really?  Most days, I answer, “I’m doing well, thank you.”  It’s a sincere answer, but an incomplete answer.  I’m doing well, but there’s the constant awareness that life is quite different now...that my former responsibilities and commitments as a husband have ended.  Thus, there is a certain weight of finality to which I’m still adjusting. 

This time of personal transition includes my return to the ebb and flow of pastoral ministry, the continuation of my book-writing, “Tears & Triumph: A Journey Toward Resurrection,” my involvement in the November 3 worship at Bethlehem Lutheran Church in Cedar Falls, Iowa, in celebration of their 40^th anniversary, and the counting of Naomi among the recently-departed Saints for whom candles were lit on All Saints Sunday.

This coming Thanksgiving marks the two-year anniversary of Naomi’s moving out of our house and becoming a full-time resident at Anam Glen in Rockford.  This was the most devastating transition of my life, learning to accept the unwelcome solitude of an empty house.  But I survived the crushing loneliness that followed...and I grew in my trust of Jesus to walk beside me during those excruciating months of transition. 

Only now, in retrospect, am I able to comprehend the broad landscape of my caregiving role the past ten years.  Only now, am I beginning to embrace the promised peace of God that passes all understanding.  Only now, am I gradually becoming aware of the new beginnings God provides as I trust in the Holy Spirit to strengthen and guide me.

How am I doing?  Thanks to God’s love in Jesus and to God’s love through you, I’m doing very well...really!

Walking this journey of faith with you,

Pastor Mark

Pastor Mark's Upcoming Sabbatical

Dear St. Mark friends,

Beginning July 1, I will embark on a much-anticipated sabbatical.  While I provided the following information to you last February, and I want to include it here again for your convenience.  I am deeply grateful for this purposeful time to step back from the daily demands of ministry in order to reflect and write on God’s sustaining grace.

2019 Sabbatical Plan

Theme:  The theme of this sabbatical is one of spiritual discernment: both vocational and personal.  I intend for this sabbatical to allow me to further discern God’s leading and direction in my calling as senior pastor and in my calling as a supportive spouse to Naomi.  A major activity will include the writing of a personal reflection on loving and serving Naomi on her prolonged journey of Alzheimer’s Disease, while at the same time loving and serving the St. Mark community on our exciting journey of renewal and growth.  Specifically, I will reflect on the unique roles that our Christian faith and eschatology play in shaping our personal and communal hopes and expectations.

Rationale:  I have given this sabbatical much thought and prayer.  As a pastor and a husband, I strive to find and maintain a healthy balance of these two enormous responsibilities.  This time away from the rigors of daily pastoral ministry will provide the space and time to engage the Spirit in further discernment of our past, present, and future together.  I also plan to read a limited number of books, but to do so with a light hand so as not to overshadow the other goals of my sabbatical, which include time away from the perpetual demands of ministry for the sake of renewal. 

Plan:  Spiritual discernment will be the underlying activity that provides the crucial rhythm of balance in my work and my rest, my thoughts and my prayers, my time alone and my time with others.  I will provide for this discernment process by setting aside twelve weeks from my pastoral duties.  I will begin by traveling west to Holden Village, a renowned Christian retreat center in the Cascade Mountains of Washington state.  I will also stop in Seattle to visit our oldest son, Brett, as well as numerous pastoral colleagues and friends in the Puget Sound area.  The weeks following that will be spent in the Midwest, taking advantage of the many locations geared toward beauty and inspiration.  The final portion of my sabbatical will be spent in southwest Colorado...not on my motorcycle, but in my Mazda MX-5 Miata.  Throughout this time, I look forward to exploring new opportunities for worship, prayer, and faith conversations.  Each of these endeavors will provide a distinctive setting to read, write my reflections, and to engage in the discernment process with trusted family, friends, and colleagues.  

Benefit:  I pray that the writing of my personal and theological reflections would provide confidence and hope to others in some vital way, especially to those who share in the difficult journey of caring for a loved one with Alzheimer’s Disease.  This sabbatical will provide an extended opportunity to discern afresh God’s grace-filled presence and leading in the personal and vocational dimensions of my life…providing renewal for the significant work of our shared ministry ahead.  I also look forward to exploring new opportunities for worship and prayer, conversation, recreation and travel...as well as coveted time among dear family and friends.

Timeline:  St. Mark provides twelve weeks for pastoral sabbaticals.  My sabbatical begins on July 1, and I plan to be back in the church office on September 25.  Since I will be unavailable during this time, please contact Pastor Chad and the church office for any pastoral needs.

Grateful for your sustaining love & support,

Pastor Mark

Welcome, Wendy Iversen and Karen Osolin, as New Office Staff!

Dear friends,

As you know, we are blessed with a multitude of talented church staff members.  In the past year, we have seen the departure of three of these staff members: Karen Kammer, Dave Blunt and Marsha Scott.  Julie Eshleman began her work as Director of Christian Education on January 2 and is off to a fantastic start.  Karen Osolin has worked alongside Dave Blunt many months now as the search continued for a replacement of the Finance Manager.  They’ve done a marvelous job of keeping the finance responsibilities running smoothly.

Wendy Iversen

Today, I am excited to announce the hiring of Wendy Iversen as our new Finance Manager.  Wendy is a member of the Rockford community and is actively involved in her own church.  She comes with a Bachelor of Science in Accountancy from NIU and has passed the Certified Public Accountant Exam.  Wendy will be in the office Monday through Thursday mornings.  Dave Blunt will provide orientation to Wendy as she begins her work with us.  This transition means Dave Blunt will soon be fully retired!  I encourage you to greet Wendy when you stop by the office.

Karen Osolin

Meanwhile, Karen Osolin has graciously agreed to accept the position of Office Receptionist, previously served by Marsha Scott.  Karen is perfectly suited to this position, and we are delighted to see Karen shift office spaces as she continues to eagerly serve St. Mark.

As you can imagine, these have not been easy positions to fill.  They require highly qualified individuals, eager to serve the church and to be committed to our greater mission.  God has been incredibly faithful to us in providing a continuity of dedicated, hard-working staff members!

Walking this journey of faith with you,

Pastor Mark

Will You Walk With Me?

Dear friends,

As you receive this edition of our Memos, Easter is a little over a week away.  What might we do with these days leading up to the Resurrection of our Lord?  How can we prepare our hearts and minds to engage in the dramatic narrative that takes us through Holy Week? 

In his book, Leap Over a Wall, Eugene Peterson provides some food for thought:

Jesus knew he was dying long before he actually died.  He deliberately set out for Jerusalem, knowing that death by crucifixion was being prepared for him…a slow death, full of pain.  All the while he was doing that he exhibited in word and presence a wonderful vitality, beauty, and faith. 

There were celebrations with hosannas, conversations full of hope and promise, painful confrontations, tender acts of sacrificial love.  The imminence of death didn’t cancel out the revelation of God in Jesus, but rather gave it added poignancy and power.  And resurrection confirmed it.

The recurring challenge for each of us this time of year is one of perspective. 

• How deep am I willing to go to immerse myself in this tragic, yet glorious story of death and resurrection? 

• Will I be a casual observer like so many in our culture?

• Or, will I elect to be an active participant in the events of Holy Week and Easter? 

• To put it even more directly, will I let Jesus touch my heart once again?

Whatever mode of engagement you choose, I urge you to be intentional in your spiritual reflections these days leading up to Easter.   Join us in worship, join us in prayer, and join us in the celebration of our risen Lord!

Walking this journey of faith with you,

Pastor Mark Hagen

Pastor Mark's Sabbatical

Dear friends,

In less than four months, I will embark on a much-anticipated sabbatical.  While I provided the following information in our recent Annual Report, I want to include it here so that everyone has an opportunity to be informed.  I would be delighted to discuss this sabbatical plan in further detail, should you wish to know more.  I am deeply grateful for this purposeful time to step back from the daily demands of ministry in order to reflect and write.

2019 Sabbatical Plan

Theme:  The theme of this sabbatical is one of spiritual discernment: both vocational and personal.  I intend for this sabbatical to allow me to further discern God’s leading and direction in my calling as senior pastor and in my calling as a supportive spouse to Naomi.  A major activity will include the writing of a personal reflection on loving and serving Naomi on her prolonged journey of Alzheimer’s Disease, while at the same time loving and serving the St. Mark community on our exciting journey of renewal and growth.  Specifically, I will reflect on the unique roles that our Christian faith and eschatology play in shaping our personal and communal hopes/expectations.

Rationale:  I have given this sabbatical much thought and prayer.  As a pastor and a husband, I strive to find and maintain a healthy balance of these two enormous responsibilities.  This time away from the rigors of daily pastoral ministry will provide the space and time to engage the Spirit in further discernment of our past, present, and future together.  I also plan to read a limited number of books, but to do so with a light hand so as not to overshadow the other goals of my sabbatical, which include time away from the perpetual demands of ministry for the sake of renewal. 

Plan:  Spiritual discernment will be the underlying activity that provides the crucial rhythm of balance in my work and my rest, my thoughts and my prayers, my time alone and my time with others.  I will provide for this discernment process by setting aside twelve weeks from my pastoral duties.  I will begin by traveling west to Holden Village, a renowned Christian retreat center in the Cascade Mountains of Washington state.  I will also stop in Seattle to visit our oldest son, Brett, as well as numerous pastoral colleagues and friends in the Puget Sound area.   I also plan to set aside time for motorcycling and camping to refresh my inner child.  The final portion of my sabbatical will be spent in southwest Colorado.  Throughout this time, I look forward to exploring new opportunities for worship, prayer, and faith conversations.  Each of these endeavors will provide a distinctive setting to read, write my reflections, and to engage in the discernment process with trusted family, friends, and colleagues.  

Benefit:  I pray that the writing of my personal and theological reflections would provide confidence and hope to others in some vital way, especially to those who share in the difficult journey of caring for a loved one with Alzheimer’s Disease.  This sabbatical will provide an extended opportunity to discern afresh God’s grace-filled presence and leading in the personal and vocational dimensions of my life…providing renewal for the significant work of our shared ministry ahead.  I also look forward to exploring new opportunities for worship and prayer, conversation, recreation and travel...as well as coveted time among dear family and friends.

Timeline:  St. Mark provides twelve weeks for pastoral sabbaticals.  The schedule for my sabbatical is July through September, 2019.

Walking this journey of faith with you,

Pastor Mark

Five Gifts of Discipleship

Dear St. Mark friends,

Winter isn’t the only season of length this time of year.  For the past seven weeks, we’ve immersed ourselves in the full season of Epiphany.  Naturally, this leads to a later date for Easter, as well.  But now, we move into the season of Lent, beginning with Ash Wednesday on March 6, with two services at noon and at 6:45 P.M.

This year, our Wednesday evening Lenten services will center on, “Five Gifts of Discipleship.”  Our scripture readings will come from Paul’s letter to the Philippians.  I encourage you to read Philippians in advance as you prepare to join us for Wednesday evening worship this Lenten season.  Here is our mid-week schedule:

March 13         Live among God’s faithful people

                        Philippians 1:3-11

                        Pastor Mark

March 20         Hear the word of God and share in the Lord’s supper

                        Philippians 3:7-11

                        Pastor Chad

March 27         Proclaim the good news of God in Christ through word and deed

                        Philippians 1:12-20

                        Pastor Chad

April 3              Serve all people, following the example of Jesus    

                        Philippians 2:5-11

                        Pastor Mark

April 10            Strive for justice and peace in all the earth

                        Philippians 4:8-9

                        Pastor Mark

Please join us this Lenten season as we reflect upon these valuable gifts of discipleship.

Walking this journey of faith with you,

Pastor Mark

What St. Mark Means to Me . . .

As part of our October 7, 14, and 21 worship experiences, three members provided inspirational temple talks.  Each of them has agreed to share their reflections in this Pastors’ blog so that our entire St. Mark family might benefit from their hopeful perspectives.  While this might seem like a lot to read all at once, just take your time...and enjoy!

My name is Christy Malenchik.  In about six months, I will be celebrating a milestone birthday.  You know, one of those birthdays that gets all the dramatic attention. I think a natural reaction to the buildup to this event is to take a long look at your life: Where have I been? What have I accomplished? Am I happy? And of course, what do I want to accomplish in the next so many years? What are my goals and ambitions?

For the last 17 or so years, a lot of what has made me, me, is this building, you guys, and the grace of God, which has made it all possible.  Mark and I have raised our girls at St. Mark from Baptism to Confirmation, from Sunday School to Summer Intern.  Along the way, I have been involved in several ministries that have helped to shape my faith and everything I do.  When I look back I would say, yep, I like where I have been and what I have been a part of.  Yes, I have made a difference.

Right now (as an empty nester), I enjoy being part of the Altar Guild, youth ministries, and church council.  Being on Council is something different for me.  We have great leadership discussions and it’s helping to make decisions that affect the whole congregation.  I’m getting to work with members that I didn’t know before, and that’s always fun.  If asked if I’m happy in the moment, I would definitely have to say that I am!

Probably the most important part of the reflective questions you ask yourself when you are contemplating your life is the future.  You can’t change the past or dwell on what you could or would have done differently.  Life is so busy in the present that sometimes you don’t have much time to really evaluate; but where you want to go and what you want to accomplish moving forward...well, quite frankly, the sky’s the limit!  

I’m excited about the future of St Mark. I teach Sunday School and am a Confirmation Guide. I am perpetually amazed at the children and youth of our church. They are engaged and ask tough questions. The programming we have for our young people is keeping them curious about their faith and how they use it in their own lives. The leadership of St. Mark is working so hard to constantly build up the ministries of our congregation.  This helps to make a positive impact on us and in our community.

We are building a safer church, a more welcoming church. Our Ministry Fair held a few weeks ago really showed the involvement of our members and is a gauge of the health of our congregation.  We will always have work to do, and I’m thrilled to be a part of continuing to make St. Mark a place that people call home.  So, this birthday that is on its way. I think I will choose to look at it as the best is yet to come! It’s going to be awesome, right?!  Thank you!

***

My name is Kraig Reichwald.  I have been a member here for about 10 years.  A few weeks ago, Pastor Mark called me and asked if I would consider serving as a member of the Executive Committee on Council.  Thoughts started rushing through my head; I am a husband, father, and businessman.  I am a busy guy!

I grew up on a dairy farm north of Green Bay.  My parents were hard working people who were committed to the dairy farm routine, but on Sundays we were in church.  When I grew older, I didn’t go to church very often, and I struggled to find my way.  I wasn’t happy and I struggled to make any good decisions.  I moved off the farm and decided to move south.  I ended up finding some work in Rockford.  It was a nice change from the town I grew up in, as far as the amount of things going on.  I met my wife and we married in 2006.  Life was going great.

One year during Christmas, my dad asked if I had a New Year’s resolution.  He challenged me to find a church.  I accepted his challenge...much like what our pastors have been talking about over the past few Sundays.  I started looking for a church.  I wanted to be part of a church that was busy.  I wanted to see a full parking lot!  I didn’t want to be in a church that was so big that I became lost in the crowd.  I did visit a few churches, but it didn’t take long for me to find St. Mark.  I didn’t look any further.  I feel the warmth of the congregation every Sunday we come.  I find the pastors to have good rapport, and they even fought with light sabers one Christmas Eve!  My family enjoys the many things going on here...the music, the decorations during the Christmas and Easter holiday, and Rally Sunday, just to name a few.  Sometimes, when I am praying, I feel like I am sitting next to mom and dad in the church I grew up in.  I am a Lutheran, and that is something I didn’t want to change.

I attended the new member’s class and became a member of the congregation.  I attend the 9:30 service, so you may see me ushering sometimes. And when my daughters were born, I brought them to church as babies.  They are now in Sunday School.  Emma is 7 and Nancy is 4.  It is one of my goals to bring my daughters to Sunday School to get attendance awards for every year.  About four years ago, we bought a house in Roscoe.   I considered for a short time changing our church.  We didn’t know anyone in the area, and I thought that might help me find some people in my community.  I only talked about it; I couldn’t leave the warmth of this church.

My wife has worked for Janet Waddles/ Rosecrance since getting her degree from the University of Michigan and returning to Rockford (17 years).   I work for her family’s manufacturing business.  I started in the shop, then joined a sales team for a new product line they were starting.  I worked in that area for about 6 years and went into plant management.  About a year and a half ago, we purchased Custom Metal Products, and I manage that.  I have many challenges, but love taking all my life experience and applying it on a daily basis.

All that rushed through my head the night Pastor Mark called me.  I couldn’t refuse.  After talking it over with my wife, I accepted.  I look forward to joining the Council.  I am excited to see how I can help this church grow, and how we can continue to make the church a place people want to be.  Thank you for your time, and I look forward to serving you.  Please pull me aside if you ever need to talk.  I might be a shy public speaker, but I am never too busy for a conversation.  In leaving, I would like to say:  I can’t brag about my love for God, because I fail him daily; but I can brag about Gods love for me, because it never fails.

***

I’m Maureen Hargrove and I currently serve as Secretary of the Congregation Council. I have been a member of St. Mark for 24 years. In that time, I have served 8 years on Council as secretary, vice president, and president.  I mention that only because I want you to know that for many stewardship drives, I was sitting in the sanctuary like you are this morning.  And for many other stewardship drives, I’ve been more involved in the actual development of the budget being presented. I have never felt more positive and confident about the position we find ourselves in this year.  There are 3 things that provide me this optimistic feeling.

First, I’m encouraged because you all knew this was pledge Sunday and you showed up anyway.

Second, the budget that we are presenting this year is one of the most responsible we’ve ever been able to present. This year, thanks to a lot of hours invested by our (former) finance manager, Dave Blunt, we were able to re-finance our mortgage at a low interest rate, while still being able to continue with the building improvements that we feel position us for the future. The upgraded security system will be in place soon; steps have been taken to begin work on the portico; and the mandatory and costly parking lot maintenance will be completed in the spring.

We were also able to switch insurance carriers which will save us $9000 this year. Thanks to Brian Venstrom, our property manager, many routine building repairs have been done by him, saving us thousands in outside costs. This year, the Council has done extensive research on job descriptions and pay scales throughout the ELCA to make certain our payroll and staffing reflects current trends. And I know every ministry, employee, and volunteer, has taken a lot of time to carefully evaluate their budget requests for 2019. They are all very conscientious stewards of your money.

The third area that brings me optimism, and perhaps the most exciting, is the people power that I’ve witnessed this past year. You’ve heard the saying that 10% of the people do 90% of the work. Well, St. Mark has proven that statement wrong, over and over. I find the involvement of so many members in so many areas truly inspiring.

Yes, we have a talented and dedicated staff. They do their jobs well and keep things going smoothly throughout the year. However, they will be the first to tell you that they could not achieve that success without the support of many volunteers. Consider the participation in our amazing choir, the Bells choir and the Praise Band. Consider the Altar Guild, who readies the sanctuary and prepares for every Sunday service. Consider the Worship and Music people who do seasonal decorations, special events, and the Concert Series. Consider the people who put together and conduct the New Member Classes.

Consider the many Sunday School teachers who work with our children in a program that has grown greatly in attendance this year. I assure you, Sunday School numbers are not growing in many Christian churches. Consider the Confirmation Program, Middle School and High school youth programs that have reached out to include other churches in our area. Consider the Barnabas Ministry reaching out with care and support to our members in need. Consider all of our members who gather for Bible Studies and Circles.  And I’m sure you are thinking of other groups right now that I have failed to mention.

Equally as inspirational to me are all the people who participate in programs outside our walls to share God’s love with our community. Coming from St. Mark, we make monthly meals for over 125 children at Rock House Kids. We serve lunches at Carpenters Place. We provide 120 sack lunches for Habitat for Humanity and have crews of people helping with the new builds and at the Restore. We started a uniform co-op that provides affordable uniforms to the families of students at Ellis and Lewis Lemon Elementary School in inner city Rockford.

We have volunteers participating in the IREAD Program sponsored by the Literacy Council and the United Way. In fact, we have more volunteers in the IREAD Program than any other church in the area. We support RALM with volunteers at Becca’s Closet and by working with Laundry Love. Our quilters share their talents with Habitat families, the residents of Rockford Rescue Mission as well as provided beautiful quilts for fundraisers. And again, I know I have not mentioned everyone’s efforts. I have never been prouder to be a member of St. Mark. In a busy, fast paced world with many pulls on your time and your money, I know you, too, make your church and your faith a priority. I know that because you are here today!

So, ask yourself: What does St. Mark mean to you? What do you mean to each other in the church? What do we mean to the community? Annual Stewardship drives are necessary. For 2019, our budget goal is $825,800. That’s an increase of only $661 from last year. The campaign will remain open until this goal is met, and we will update you every week as the pledges come in. Today, it’s about prayerfully and realistically offering the best you possibly can.

No, 10% of the people can’t do 90% of the contributing to be successful in this campaign. But you have long proved you’re better than that. If 100% of us just did what we could, our budget will be met, and, even better, we will continue to be that welcoming and dynamic church for ourselves, for each other, and for our community. 

Priorities of Blessings

Dear St. Mark friends,

A man had recently purchased new blinds for the windows of his house, only to discover shortly after the installation that a few of the blinds were defective.  Unbeknownst to his wife, he made arrangements for someone to come out to their house and replace them.

The next morning, while he and his family were at the kitchen table eating breakfast, the doorbell rang.  Unaware of the appointment, the man’s wife went to answer the door.  She was greeted by a friendly young man who said, “I’m here for the Venetian blind.”  The woman paused for a few seconds, then asked the man to stay there while she excused herself.

She went to the closet for her purse, dug around until she found some loose cash, then returned to the doorway and pressed the money into the repairman’s hand saying, “God bless you,” as she slowly closed the door.  Upon her return to the kitchen and the family’s inquiry as to who was at the door, the woman answered, “Oh, just somebody collecting donations.”

*****

As we prepare to receive pledges this Sunday in response to Becoming a Welcoming Church, I pray that we will not share in such confusion.  The best way to avoid this is to recall the numerous church mailings and temple talks from recent weeks outlining the specific goals, purposes, and projected outcomes of our stewardship campaign.  I encourage you to consider the multiple ways this ministry impacts our community, including your family and friends. 

Above all, take time to pray for God’s direction in helping you discern what you can do to participate.  Thank you for your generous and continued support of St. Mark’s ministry.  You are making a difference!

Walking this journey of faith with you, 

Pastor Mark

Time for Change

With the beginning of the fall season comes news on several fronts at St. Mark.  First, I’m pleased to report that our new Per Mar security system will be installed in early October.  Construction of the new canopy at the south entrance of the church building will begin by the end of this month, giving us much-needed shelter and visibility as our primary entrance.  Due to the timing of this construction project, the sealing and striping of the parking lot will wait until spring.  We are grateful for the funding of these three projects through our new loan from the ELCA Mission Investment Fund. 

Second, I want to provide an update on Naomi’s current condition. She has been receiving outstanding care at Anam Glen in Rockford since December of last year.  I can’t say enough good things about the excellent, compassionate care she receives from them.  Naomi is now receiving electro convulsive therapy treatments on a weekly basis, which help keep her calm and less restless.  Yet, she continues to decline due to the progressive nature of Alzheimer’s disease.

In light of her diminishing health, the determination has been made to place her under the additional care of Northern Illinois Hospice, who will provide a supplementary level of care to Naomi as she remains at Anam Glen.  This decision was reached in consultation with the staff at Anam Glen and with the three local hospice providers we consulted in the process of selecting a hospice provider to assist Naomi in the coming months.  As you may know, candidates are eligible to receive hospice care once they are assessed to have six months or less to live. While I have no clear sense of how long Naomi has left to live, I believe the rate of her decline merits this welcome assistance.  I will provide you with more updates on Naomi as her condition changes.  We continue to cherish your prayerful support.

As we move into the season of autumn, I am grateful for the comprehensive ministry of St. Mark and for our vital mission to faithfully serve this community and beyond.

Walking this journey of faith with you,

Pastor Mark Hagen