Lamentations 3:22–23 –“The steadfast love of the Lord never ceases, his mercies never come to an end; they are new every morning; great is your faithfulness.”
As we begin a new year together, your St. Mark’s Council is grateful for the momentum and energy we feel across our congregation.
- A growing (and talented!) choir and lots of new music selections
- Over two dozen kiddos sitting attentively for the children’s message in worship
- Food ministries expanding our holiday distributions and new food partners
- Growing relationships with interfaith partners in the community
January is often a season of fresh starts, and we see St. Mark’s enter the new year with energy, alignment, and faith for where God is leading us as a congregation. We appreciate your engagement and support of our congregational meeting – as well as the questions you’ve shared with Council members.
Our planning for staff transition for Christian Education is underway, and Carol Tevepaugh and John Peugeot are working diligently with Pastor and staff. We are following the process we outlined at the congregational meeting: discovery & discernment; listening; proactive planning around Christian education; and communication of our progress at each step. You will hear more detail in the coming weeks. It is better to have a thorough process to find the right person for our team than to rush, so we are prioritizing process and discernment, and not rushing to beat a deadline. To remove time constraints, we are already working ahead on summer plans with our Boards, staff, and volunteers. We will offer our Summer Day Camp again because we know it is an offering our congregation and community count on. Pastor, staff, and Council are committed to collaboration and an agile approach to 2026.
We enter the year embracing change. And, we trust that God is at work among us. I challenge you to find one new way to engage in our church life in the new year. The opportunities abound in worship, learning, service, and intergenerational culture. Looking for ideas? Let’s chat before or after worship – or you can contact me at any time.
Growing Together,
Leah Gradl
Council President
Last modified: December 28, 2025