Use Your Voice

What does it take to speak up? Very few of us talk simply for the sake of filling the silence. When I lead a Bible study or other group discussion, I have noticed that when a person decides to say something, there is typically an emotion behind it. Excitement, nervousness, fear, and even anger can be an undercurrent behind a person’s words. We speak because we want to be heard by others and make connections with one another. That sort of desire always comes with a bit of vulnerability, and hope that our words stir up a similar emotion in others.

But what stops us from speaking? So many of us were trained from an early age that we need to raise our hands and wait our turn in order to speak, a method that has probably always seen mixed results of success. Many children are taught to not interrupt, which is healthy advice. When grownups get together, some kids are taught to not speak at all, which is perhaps less healthy. Social pressures can keep your voice locked away. You may feel that your opinion has little value or that it isn’t your place to speak up. You may feel that you need to wait your turn, and then you wait so long that time runs out.

 The first time my oldest daughter stood up for herself was on our way out of the grocery store. Her vocabulary was barely in the double digits, but when I pulled her out of the toddler seat of our shopping cart, she mustered all her willpower to add a new word to her list. With calm indignation she said, “Shoe.” She repeated her one-word plea a few times with increased intensity until I looked at her feet and realized her shoe had fallen off when I took her out of the cart. She used her voice and received justice, however small.

 A recent study of 2,000 Norwegian adults found that among climate activists, anger is the strongest predictor of self-reported activism and policy support.  It was strongest in women and younger people, two groups who have been traditionally kept out of the conversation. Sometimes, it takes a strong emotion to break the dam of silence.

Silence is wonderful for contemplation, especially in worship, but there is one portion of our worship that does not need to remain so quiet anymore. At St. Mark, we pastors lead the prayers of the people, which includes naming everyone on the prayer list. For years, we have concluded that list with something along the lines of “…and all those we name within the silence of our hearts.” You may have noticed a slight shift in that invitation this summer: “…And all those we name out loud or in the silence of our hearts.”

Those additional two words, “out loud” are a small encouragement for you to speak up; however, to my knowledge no one has taken us up on it. Who in your life needs prayer? Say their names. Who is sick or hurting and in need of God’s grace? Use your voice. Talk to God. You may even receive support from those around you, or remind them of dear members in our community who need their prayers. Speak those names with hope, nervousness, and even anger. Speak up and seek justice from our God of mercy.

Peace,

Pastor Chad McKenna

Being in Community

Over the past few weeks, I have thought a lot about community.  I have thought about communities from my past that even though I am no long actively participating in them, they helped to make me who I am today.  I have thought about my current communities and how they impact my life. Healthy communities know how to balance loving and supporting each other and holding each other accountable. 

Communities from my past helped me to become the pastor I am today.  They guided me on my faith journey and empowered me to take that first step in starting seminary.  Even the unhealthy aspects of community have helped form me.  I have learned to name things that are unhealthy and I have learned how to set boundaries. 

My current communities continue to help me grow and learn.  As an extrovert, I love being around people and hearing their stories.  This is one of my favorite parts of being in community.  Another aspect of community that I greatly value is the support of a community.  I have witnessed this support many times.  The community of St. Mark doesn’t hesitate to support me when I needed it.  Whether it was the death of my father-in-law back in January or recently when I broke my toes.  The care and concern for me was palpable.  I am so grateful for the St. Mark community. 

Each member of a community has value, from the newborn baby to the oldest member.  Our roles in community change over time, and I find that beautiful.  We cannot be actively involved when we are young children and we may not be able to be active when we are older, but that doesn’t mean we are less valuable.  Our value in community doesn’t change with our role.      

I invite you to reflect on community and how different communities impact your life.  What do you find valuable?  When you gather within community, what role do you feel you have?  What have you learned from being in community?  If you are comfortable sharing, I’d love to hear your answers.    

I give God thanks for the community of St. Mark.  I thank God for each one of you who are a valued member of this community of faith.  I look forward to another year of learning and growing in faith with you all. 

Yours in Christ, 

Pastor Katrina Steingraeber   

A Bittersweet Farewell

It is never easy to say goodbye. After four years of dedicated work, Wendy Iverson has stepped down as our Finance Manager. She is at a point in her career where she needs a full-time position, and so with sadness and encouragement, we wish her well as she moves on to a different organization later this month.

Many of you got to know Wendy during her four years here. St. Mark is not her home congregation, and yet she deeply cares for our community and our ministries. She worked closely with volunteers, assisted folks who would call with questions about how to manage online giving, and formed friendships. Her presence here has been a testament to our ability to be the Body of Christ beyond congregational affiliations. We can be committed to our own communities of faith and also support the work of congregations, even outside our own denomination!

Wendy has helped us through some trying years. When the pandemic hit during a major pastoral transition, she helped us maintain a balanced budget. She took initiative to apply for the Employee Protection loan and the Employee Retention credit, both difficult tasks that have allowed us to continue our various ministries with financial confidence. This was on top of the usual work that goes into a job that demands so much precision and record-keeping. In addition to all this, she has been a tremendous member of our staff, contributing to the joyfully positive atmosphere in our office.

I speak for the council and staff by saying that we are immensely grateful for all Wendy has done for St. Mark, and we send her off with God’s blessing.

We are actively searching for a new, part-time finance manager. If you know of anyone who could be a potential candidate, please send them my way! In the meantime, Karen Osolin will be assisting with necessary tasks, and Wendy herself will come in on occasional weekends to ensure we are keeping up with all our obligations. 

Peace,

Pastor Chad McKenna

Simple Reminders of God's Love

I don’t know how you all feel, but summer feels like it is going by super-fast.  Beside summer going by quickly, it has felt different than I expected.  For me, this summer has been full of a wide range of emotions that I was not expecting.  I experienced unexpected trauma and grief.  I have experienced joy, excitement, and gratefulness.  I did not expect to have such a vast range of emotions.  Perhaps some of you have experienced the same?  

As I reflect on my emotions and the cause of each emotion, I find my heart feels heavy.  My heart breaks for folks who have lost loved ones
who were far too young to die.  Grief is interesting because it does not just go away after a few days, weeks, or years.  Grief changes over time, but will remind us that it is still there, often when we don’t expect it.  My heart rejoices with folks who are free to live their fullest life and be who God has called them to be.  It is so exciting to see the excitement of folks who are overjoyed with their future.  The excitement of graduation and heading off to college or the excitement of a job that is most enjoyable and loved deeply.    

When you come into my office, you will see a variety of trinkets on my desk.  Some trinkets are there just for fun, some are stress squishes to squeeze when needed, some are reminders of God’s love, and other things are there for me to give to folks in need of a kind word or positive message.  I have a bowl with three hearts and two marbles, the hearts say Strength, Blessed, and Grace and they are made of soap stone. The bowl with the hearts and the marbles reminds me that God loves me and God has Blessed me and God has endless Grace.  When I don’t feel like I have the strength I need, God will help me find the strength needed.  The two marbles were given to me after Pastor Joan’s funeral.  She would often jokingly say, “If you find a marble on the floor please pick it up it’s probably mine because I may have lost a few of my marbles.”  The two marbles remind me to laugh and enjoy those silly and simple moments of life.  And when people need a kind word or a reminder that they are loved you can find a bowl of positive statement trinkets on my desk.

No matter what we go through in life, God has and will continue to love us unconditionally.  And when we need it there are simple reminders that God loves us, even if it is just a small colorful clothespin or a bowl with hearts and marbles. 

Peace, 

Pastor Katrina Steingraeber     

Hope in the Dirt

A few months ago, our local airport bulldozed a section of ancient prairie on their property in order to build an access road. Illinois was home to 20 million acres of prairie for thousands of years, but since this Prairie State was founded in 1818 that number has been reduced to less than 2,300. It’s no wonder, then, that there was a drawn-out legal battle to save a small patch of ground from being paved over.

Bell Bowl Prairie overflows with history. Environmental scientists believe this gravel prairie has existed for over 8,000 years. It was host to many gatherings for the Army when the area was known as Camp Grant. As a Category I Natural Areas Inventory site, it is the home to endangered plant species, as well as the federally endangered Rusty Patched Bumble Bee. Even the soil itself is full of history. In April, conservation advocates began to sift through 20 dump trucks worth of sod removed during construction of the airport road. Their hope is to discover roots, seeds, and fungi which can be given a second life at Cedar Cliff, a newer forest preserve in Winnebago County. 

Folks who hoped to save the prairie once imagined this effort as a worst-case scenario. Digging through the dirt on a salvage mission is a whole lot different than maintaining an abundance of life. We do our best to avoid tragedies, but when they happen there’s no turning back. There is this moment when our hope shifts from perseverance into desperation. You might feel that shift when the doctor who has done everything she can mentions the word, hospice. You can feel any time you read an obituary. Here’s the thing, though: No matter what side of the threshold you are on, hope always remains. The outcome we hope for may change, and all other options may be out of reach, but like conservationists sifting through the dirt, hope is always within reach. 

As Christians, we put our ultimate, most desperate hope in resurrection. Because of Jesus, we are given new life, and even death cannot have the final say. We are in the business of new life. We remember we are dust, but we also listen to the story of Adam and remember how God brings dirt to life.  We can live, then, as advocates of life and second chances for all of creation. And, we can be confident that even when life doesn’t go where we had hoped, that desperate hope we have in Christ Jesus will always remain.

 Read more about the sod rescue operation at this link.

Peace,

Pastor Chad McKenna

How Words Affect Us!

At the Epiphany Worship Service on January 4^th, 2023 you received a Star Word.  After receiving the Star Word, we prayed for those words and, in that prayer, we heard, “Step by step, you have claimed us, loved us, and fed us. Today we have drawn star words. For some, these words are full of meaning, challenge, and invitation already.  For others, these words are a blank canvas—inviting you into our lives.  So as a new year dawns, we pray that just as you have spoken to the generations before us, you would speak to us again. Allow us to use these star words as a tool that might help us hear you more clearly.” 

I invite you to think about how the star word has affected you and how you have responded.  My star word is Discovery.  As I reflect on this word, I see the value in discovering new things and being curious.  I find value in the discovery of self and what that means.  I love to learn new things and experience new adventures.  I love meeting new people and learning their stories and histories. 

If you were unable to attend the Epiphany worship service and did not receive a star word or you don’t have your word anymore, you may use a word from the picture below or stop by my office and pick up a star word.

I invite you to look at your star word and reflect on it.  Ask yourself if the word has been meaningful to you over the last several weeks.  I invite you to think about how the word may guide you as you go through the summer.  Will your star word be a helpful tool moving forward?  Or will it be challenging?  I pray for each of you as you reflect on the Epiphany star word you received.  I pray that these words will inspire and challenge you.  I pray that when we gather to worship at Epiphany (in January 2024), we find ourselves with mouths full of praise for the ways in which God has been present for us throughout the year.

Yours in Christ,

Pastor Katrina Steingraeber 

Welcome Elyse Yocum: St. Mark Summer Intern

Elyse will join the St. Mark staff on May 30, 2023 as the summer intern.  A few of her responsibilities this summer will be helping prepare for and lead part of Vacation Bible School, working with the youth, and learning the overall day to day workings of a church.  Elyse will have the opportunity to use her creativity to plan events for the youth and others.  She will work with the Sunday school age children during VBS and experience their energy and pure joy.  She will be able to build relationships with the youth and others in the church.  I am hopeful that Elyse will grow in many ways this summer.

We as St. Mark staff and members will have the opportunity to learn from her and witness her passion and creativity come to life.  We as a staff will get to know Elyse and grow alongside her.  Elyse and I have already talked about some fun outings for the youth group.  We have discussed possible outreach and service opportunities for the summer.  I am confident there will be more exciting things to come. 

Elyse will introduce herself as the summer intern on June 4^th at both worship services.  If you don’t already know Elyse, please introduce yourself to her.  I am excited for this summer! 

Peace, 

Pastor Katrina Steingraeber 

Hello, my name is Elyse Yocum, and I am excited to be this year's summer intern!  I love the outdoors and being active.  I hope to help grow the youth's faith in God, as well as mine.  My future plans are to get a job in the medical field this fall.