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May 2023
We have 175 people signed up for our first Service Sunday. That’s fantastic news! We are addressing Priority No. 4 in our church’s stated priorities: “St. Mark’s United Methodist Church will become physically involved in mission and justice projects.” We will have St. Mark’s folks gardening, providing music at Mountain View, spending time in conversation with rehab residents, painting hopscotch at Nash Elementary, and preparing Manna Bags. Groups called Home Sweet Home Property Cleanup, Loads of Love Laundries, and Stay and Pray will do just what their titles say! Our youth make......
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‘All in,’ But Which Way?
At last Sunday’s Town Hall meeting about the potential merger with Sanctuary UMC, we were asked why a merger and why not just a shared ministry, a partnering, a cooperative model. This is an...
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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,...
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Denominational Update
What’s happening with the United Methodist Church? If you watch mainstream media, you might have seen articles about the church splintering or splitting. This isn’t entirely true, but it has some truth in its...
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We Need YOU!
Yes, you! As you read (or will read) in our newsletter, Covenant Council approved a relationship with Ministry Architects to do strategic planning and implementation with us for the next 19 months. The...
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The Importance of Mentors
Who made an impact in your life? When I was in middle school, I was chosen to have a senior citizen mentor. I don’t know why I was chosen – maybe because my grandparents...
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Serving God by Serving all People
As a sophomore in high school, my youth group went to Jacksonville for a weekend of service. This was the big city, a place with people facing homelessness and Habitat for Humanity and...
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A New Wilderness
I’ve heard many people talk about getting back to normal after this pandemic. I wonder if we are really looking for that or if we are just grasping at anything that will lessen the...
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Caring for All People
While I grew up in the United Methodist Church, I made the conscious decision as an adult to remain United Methodist. The denomination has its weaknesses for sure—the US church is mostly white, mostly...
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The Meaning of Power
“We lost power during that storm.” “Our internet doesn’t have enough power.” “That person is such a powerful speaker.” Think of all the ways we use the word “power.” That’s our word for this...
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