July 21, 2023
Holding Space for Conflicting Emotions
My daughter turns 14 this week. She’s my youngest, the one who thinks and acts a lot like her father but who looks so much like me. We have photos of each of us at...
July 14, 2023
Our Pastors and Their Roles
At Annual Conference this year, I took photos with several former Associate Pastors from here at St. Mark’s. You’ll see in the photo above Jonathan Arnpriester (1992-1996), Jennifer Hageman (2006-2011), Tom Jelinek (2005-2006) and DeeDee...
July 07, 2023
Audacity
Audacious! So many of you mentioned my shoes on Sunday. Mine are in the photo above, the pair on the bottom left. They are high, impractical, a little too big (the danger of online shopping!),...
June 30, 2023
Skipping the Messiness and Giving the Highlights
On May 30, my Covid test came back positive. We had flown the day before from Paris to Manchester, preparing for the Wesley Tour portion of our trip. With a positive test in hand, I...
June 23, 2023
On Inclusivity and Becoming One Church
Our family just returned from an epic three-week trip to Paris and England. One of the things we noticed was how inclusive everyone was. It wasn’t some political statement; it just was. Vegetarian? Got you...
June 16, 2023
Remembering Our Methodist Heritage
Did you miss me?!? The Bartlow family has returned from our three-week epic vacation and Continuing Education opportunity in Europe. We spent a week walking around Paris, joined the Wesley Heritage Tour for an introduction...
June 09, 2023
Pastor Stuart’s Last Sunday With Us
Greetings Friends, Have you ever had so many wonderful choices that you had trouble making a decision? This is the situation I have been in for the last several months. I knew this upcoming Sunday...
June 02, 2023
Liminal Space
Greetings Church Family, This is Pastor Stuart writing to you, from the “liminal space” Pastor Lynn spoke about several weeks ago in her sermon. In case you missed this message, liminal space is that which...
May 26, 2023
This is Pentecost
Guest Writer: Rev. Dr. Evy McDonald This Sunday is Pentecost and it is a time of revival and celebration. It is the day we, as Christians, mark the fulfillment of a promise Jesus gave to...
May 19, 2023
Ascension Sunday | Graduation Sunday
My kid got into the car yesterday, practically dancing. “My finals are over today!” Earlier, a few extra minutes were spent in bed, marveling, “In just a few hours I’ll be done with this school...