Pastor’s Blog

Potential Merger Update
March 03, 2023

Potential Merger Update

Guest writer: Marsha Dean What does the future hold for St. Mark’s and Sanctuary UMCs? I wish I knew the answer. I have been serving on the Merger Task Force for a couple of months...


Welcome to Lent!
February 24, 2023

Welcome to Lent!

This is our first Sunday in Lent. Lent began with Ash Wednesday this week and continues until Easter Sunday. It’s 40 days, plus Sundays. This season, we invite you to read through the Gospel of...


Happy Anniversary!
February 17, 2023

Happy Anniversary!

What were you doing 20 years ago? 20 years ago, I was appointed to my second churches, a two-point charge just south of Marshall, Illinois. Ron and I had been married almost two years, and...


Welcome!
February 10, 2023

Welcome!

Several times over the last few weeks, I have been in discussions with people who ask about advertising and about reaching new people. Let me share with you some best practices and some reminders of...


Grace / Sacraments
February 03, 2023

Grace / Sacraments

On Sunday as we join around the communion table, the pastors will pray, “Make us one with Christ, one with each other, and one in ministry to all the world until Christ comes in final...


Town Hall Meeting
January 27, 2023

Town Hall Meeting

What is our mission field? In worship a few weeks ago, Kelly Deyoe invited us to consider witnessing about our faith to other people. This is an important habit and spiritual discipline for every Christian....


The Trinity
January 20, 2023

The Trinity

Thank you, church, for being the church. As Kelly Deyoe shared in worship last week, God calls ALL of us to be the hands and feet of Christ. We share with others about Jesus and...


Evangelism and St. Mark's
January 13, 2023

Evangelism and St. Mark’s

What has God called and equipped you to do? We often talk about calling when we talk about how pastors enter ministry, but our scriptures tell us that all are called and God equips all...


Happy New Year
January 06, 2023

Happy New Year

As we get started on the new year with our resolutions to change our eating habits and change how much we exercise and change what we spend our money on, I wanted to ground us...


Covenant Renewal Service
December 30, 2022

Covenant Renewal Service

“1785. Saturday, January 1. Whether this be the last or no, may it be the best year of my life! Sunday, 2. A larger number of people were present this evening at the renewal of...