October 2021 Vineyard

The
Vineyard Press
ST. MARK’S LUTHERAN CHURCH
Sharing Christ’s Abundant Love
“I am the vine, you are the branches. “ (John 15:5)
OCTOBER 2021, VOL 21, ISSUE 7
Fall Stewardship
Campaign
“We Are an Offering” is our theme for this year’s
Stewardship Campaign. How well we care for and use
everything that God has first given to us—not just
possessions and wealth, but relationships, creativity,
special talents, intelligence, time, vocation . . . everything
—these were the first gifts, the best gifts, given to us
at our baptism. These gifts are intended to be used
for the good of the whole community.
“We lift our voices, we lift our hands,
we lift our lives up to you, we are an offering.”
We are called to be caretakers, stewards of all that
God has created. Using all our gifts wisely and for
godly purposes is what being a steward is all about.
And it’s the key to being a disciple. Everything we
have, everything we are—we are an offering.
We are all an offering! As we launch our
Stewardship Campaign the weekend of
October 2/3, we come together to be an
offering for the community of St. Mark’s
and the community we serve beyond our
doors. Each week, we’ll be singing a verse
from a new hymn, “We Are an Offering”
and showing short videos of members
sharing how they see themselves and
their families as an offering and how, in
turn, St. Mark’s is an offering to them and
to the community.
“Lord, use our voices, Lord, use our hands,
Lord, use our lives, they are yours, we are an offering.”
God has blessed us in many ways over the past 18
months of the pandemic. Your financial contributions
have allowed St. Mark’s to transform lives and enrich
our community. We have seen hope, and we have
been an offering in so many ways:
• Weekly livestream, in person, outdoor, and
recorded worship with Holy Communion
• Sunday School, Confirmation, Adult Bible Study,
Adult Fellowship, circles, quilters, and more
• Incredible music in worship each Sunday
• Justice events, such as the Aurora Pride Drive and
the Juneteenth commemoration
• Financial support for all our St. Mark’s ministries
How do you want to be an
offering? You’ll be receiving a letter
and commitment card in the mail,
and we urge you to prayerfully
consider how you want to be an
offering of God’s extravagant
love in the coming year. Our
campaign will culminate on the
weekend of October 23/24 with a
celebration of the offerings we have
received, along with a welcoming
of new members to the St. Mark’s
community.
“All that we have, all that we are,
all that we hope to be,
we give to you, we give to you.”
—Pastor Charisse & the Stewardship Committee:
Kalynn Carlson, Carol Reiseck, Jerry Shields, and Randy Steinheimer

Fall schedule
Reformation Sunday is October 31st
In October, together with other Protestant
denominations, we pause on Reformation Sunday
to celebrate the tradition that grounds our faith.
This year, we mark the occasion on October 31st,
the same date in 1517 when Martin Luther posted
his statement of faith, known as the 95 Theses, on
the church door in Wittenberg,
Germany.
If you grew up in a Lutheran
tradition, you probably know the
whole story. But it might be helpful
to take a quick birds’ eye view of
what took place in the 16th century.
The Roman Catholic Church was
asking people to make a financial
gift, as a sign of repentance for
their sins, to help build Saint Peter’s
Basilica in Rome. In exchange for
these gifts, the church gave people
certificates (called “Indulgences”)
and promised that they or their loved ones would be
freed from a portion of the misery expected in the
afterlife.
Basically, it amounted to people paying to be forgiven.
November 1st was an important day for buying and
selling indulgences, and in the year 1517, on the day
before this would take place, Martin Luther posted
his list of 95 Theses: 95 reasons that he objected to
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this practice. Luther insisted that we are not forgiven
because of anything we do—including the buying of
Indulgences or doing enough good work. Instead, he
emphasized that we are forgiven because of who God
is. We are loved and forgiven because God is full of
grace and mercy.
Martin Luther was declared a heretic
and an outlaw, and was kicked out of
the church. The “Edict of Worms,” signed
by the Holy Roman Emperor, went so
far as to ban the reading or possession
of Luther’s writings and called for his
capture.
But attempts to carry out the Edict were
largely unsuccessful, and those 95 Theses
went “viral,” so to speak, thanks to the
new technology of the printing press. The
movement for Reform swept across much
of Northern Europe, forever changing
the face of Christianity. After Luther’s
death, those who agreed with him became known as
Lutherans and also as Protestants. Every Protestant
church traces their roots back to this moment in
history!
Sources: “Of Heretics and Outlaws,” https://phs-app-media.
s3.amazonaws.com/s3fs-public/RefSunday_full_2021.pdf
“Reformation Sunday - What It Is and Why Does It Matter?”
https://sojoy.org/reformation/

confirmation
Confirmation Sunday 2021
On Reformation Sunday, October 31, ten St. Mark’s
students will affirm their baptismal promises. These
students have been in our Confirmation program
for three years, studying the Bible, Luther’s “Small
Catechism,” and the life and writings of Martin
Luther. They have served our church by acolyting,
volunteering at VBS, packing meals at Feed My
Starving Children, and so much more.
Their final project for Confirmation was to make a
“Faith Reflection Project” in which they answered
several questions about their faith in the medium
best suited to them (written, digital, fine arts, etc.)
Two samples are included here, and all the final
projects will be on display on Reformation Sunday.
“Faith Reflection Project” — Painting by Keagan Reiseck
Faith plays a part in my community and around the world by showing
me that acts of kindness go a long way to help other people and the
church shows me how I can continue to help other people. People who
have faith want to serve other people because they want to put their
faith into action. St. Mark’s serves our community by conducting food
drives, making quilts, supporting Hesed House, working with McCleery
Elementary and other community projects. St. Mark’s offers a lot of
choices for people to put their faith into action through these ministries.
I hope to be able to do most of the service projects in the Youth Group
and to be kind and help others when they need it. I look forward to
being able to go on the mission trips in the summer with the Youth
Group and to continue to help with Vacation Bible School. As I get
older I want to continue help my community in any way I can.
“Faith Reflection Project” — PowerPoint presentation by Ben Miller
Please join us in congratulating
these students in the 2021 class:
2020 Confirmation class
Gianna Cellini
Clodagh Creaney
Logan Drafall
Gabe Gonzales
Makayla Kolowski
Ben Miller
Ben Nowak
Josie Reiseck
Keagan Reiseck
Annelise Veeder
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Child Development Center
Concluding
26 Years
of Ministry
St. Mark’s Child Development
Center has been sold!
The doors of St. Mark’s Child Development Center
opened over 26 years ago. During that time, more
than 2,000 children were cared for as if they were
family, introduced to prayer, rejoiced with lively
music, learned their prekindergarten basics, and were
loved by the teachers, staff, and the people of St.
Mark’s Church.
On August 23, 2021, St Mark’s Lutheran Church
officially signed the papers to sell the Child
Development Center building to an Investor Group.
The good news is that they have, in turn, leased the
building to The Learning Care Group. The Group
will be making some updates to the center and will
reopen as a childcare center in late 2021 or 2022.
The Finance Team has been meeting to identify how
the proceeds from the sale should be used, and they
recommend the following distribution:
• Pay back outstanding debt. The proceeds will
pay back expenses the church paid on the CDC’s
behalf between March 2020 and August 2021.
• Set aside money to service the mortgage. The
church has one mortgage loan that includes both
the CDC loan and the church building loan. We
cannot prepay this loan without a significant
prepayment penalty, so we will need to service
the CDC portion for the next 6 ½ years. Money has
been put aside in interest-bearing accounts for
this purpose.
• Fund St. Mark’s building repairs. A significant
amount will be allocated to the Property Team
to cover some of the essential repairs and
maintenance needed for the church building.
• Support existing and new church programs.
Some of the proceeds will be distributed to the
church each year to support outreach programs,
under the direction of Council.
• Secure our financial future. The remaining
money will be placed in secure accounts to
be used to pay off a substantial portion of the
church’s mortgage balance at the end of the loan
term.
The successful sale of the CDC building was due to the
hard work, dedication, and attention to detail of many
people. We owe a special thanks to Beth Benson, Vicki
and Al Lettow, Reese Wagner, Roger Shields, John
Themanson, Deb Arcilla, Jeff Ulrich, Gregg Kobliska,
Emma Albers, Don Friend, and Becky Mueller.
In addition, we thank the members of the CDC Board
who faithfully served on behalf of the children: Pat
Jones, Pat Hesteken, Greg Reiseck, Kate Fish, Carol
Fick, Teresa Thompson, Katie DeSotell, Beth Benson,
and Linda Pfeiffer.
We celebrate the 26 years of ministry that the CDC
provided to the Aurora community. In that time,
St. Mark’s provided a safe and welcoming space for
children to learn. In that time, we saw infants grow up
and graduate to kindergarten, thanks to supportive
staff and loving teachers. We can be proud that we
have offered care for little ones in our community for
over two decades. And we rejoice that we are able to
use the CDC building proceeds to start new programs,
become more financially secure, and continue to help
those who are in need in our community.
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opportunities for kids & families
Sunday
mornings
Wednesday
evenings
NURSERY: age 0 to 3, 9 a.m. & 10 a.m.
Staffed by a nurse and a kindergarten teacher.
Includes story, interactive activity, singing, snack, and
enjoy a craft. October theme: Creation.
SUNDAY SCHOOL: age 3 through grade 5, 9 a.m.
Small-group format where kids learn about Jesus’
work and God’s good word. Click here to register.
Guests are always welcome!
PRAYGROUND: during 10 a.m. worship
most appropriate for ages 1 to 6
Dedicated space where children can quietly play
or read during the service. We ask parents to sit in
nearby pews to keep an eye on them. Check the card
in the pew racks for more information.
KID KITS: during 10 a.m. worship
two kits available: for ages 3-6 and ages 6-10
These kits include a Bible-based activity book, a
story book or devotional, crayons/pencils, and pipe
cleaners. There’s also a basket of children’s bulletins
available. Ushers will help you find what you need.
FDL: grades 1 to 5, 6 p.m.
Students gather for a large-group opening, 45
minutes of class time with Bible story and activities,
and 45 minutes of music time, learning notes,
instruments, and singing.
CONFIRMATION CLASS: grades 6 to 8, 6:30 p.m.
Students meet in grade-level classes to learn about
faith, Lutheran traditions, and how to apply this to
their daily lives as junior high students.
YOUTH GROUP: grades 9 to 12, 6 p.m.
Each week, HS students meet in the Luther Room
to play games, engage in relationship building, and
discuss relevant topics related to their faith.
ROAR & ROAR TEEN
grades 3 to 5, 5:30 p.m.
grades 6 to 8, 7:30 p.m. (NEW TIME)
Especially for kids interested in music. Explores ways
to praise God through music using chimes, bells, Orff
instruments, drums, ukes, and voices.
3rd Saturday
of the month
PT2
Saturday Oct 16
The PT2 group (Play Time & Parent Time) welcomes all
parents of infants to elementary-age children. To kick
off the year, parents and kids will be heading over to
Keller’s Farmstand in Oswego on Saturday October
16, from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. It will be a great day to
enjoy corn maze, play area, and petting zoo. NOTE:
You’ll need to register ahead of time on the Keller
Farmstand website. Bring your little ones and join the
fun! For more information, contact Amy Runge.
3rd Sunday
of the month
Baptisms
As Christians, we believe that our faith journey
begins with baptism and that it is a sacrament of the
whole community of faith. At St. Mark’s, baptisms are
offered on the third Sunday of each month, at the 10
a.m. worship service.
The first step in planning a baptism is to contact the
church office at 630-897-6891 to arrange a time to
meet with a pastor.
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opportunities for adult
in the Community Room or via Zoom
BIBLE STUDY
Tuesdays at 10 a.m.
& Sundays at 9 a.m.
The 6-week study of David deSilva’s book Hebrews:
Grace and Gratitude continues through the month
of October. You can join the study on Tuesdays inperson
in the Community Room or via Zoom: https://
us02web.zoom.us/j/82475228901. Here’s the Tuesday
schedule:
• Tues Oct 5: chp 4, “A Full, Sufficient, Perfect
Sacrifice
• Tues Oct 12: chp 5, “Faithful Response in Action”
• Tues Oct 19: chp 6, “A Summons to Persevere in
Gratitude”
If you’d like to participate in the study on Sunday
mornings during the education hour at 9 a.m., the
class meets in Sanctuary Hall. Here’s the Sunday
schedule:
• Sun Oct 3: chp 3, “Responding Gracefully to
Grace”
• Sun Oct 10: chp 4, “A Full, Sufficient, Perfect
Sacrifice
• Sun Oct 17: chp 5, “Faithful Response in Action”
• Sun Oct 24: chp 6, “A Summons to Persevere in
Gratitude”
in Sanctuary Hall & the narthex
FAITH FORMATION
Sundays at 9 a.m.
“Table Talk” or
Hebrews study
Maybe you’ve heard about the new offering at
St. Mark’s on Sunday mornings: Adult Faith Formation.
But what is Adult Faith Formation? And what might it
look like at St. Mark’s?
Faith Formation is a life-long process of exploring,
experiencing, and learning. We’ve started our Faith
Formation program with a Bible study, but what’s
next? That’s where you come in! There are many
possibilities for our time together on Sunday mornings:
guest speakers, book studies, spiritual practices,
workshops, films, and more.
Do you have some ideas? You can help shape this
program. We’re looking for innovative suggestions
that will help us strengthen our faith and our
relationships with each other.
Or maybe you would enjoy facilitating or teaching?
You could teach a short course, facilitate with guest
speakers, facilitate a workshop.
Please contact Pr. Charisse or Lynnette Brent. They’d
love to hear your ideas and are looking forward to
building a strong Adult Faith Formation program
together!
What can you offer?
Join the Care Team?
Help with Saturday night worship?
Did you know that our Care
Team provides treat bags/
baskets for shut-ins during the
year, especially on holidays?
They also send cards to shut-ins twice a month and
provide recognition for Pastor Appreciation Month in
October. The team would love to add more people to
this very worthwhile ministry. Contact Pat Jones.
Now that Saturday night
worship is back, we are actively
seeking volunteers to help make
this 5 p.m. service happen. Our
Hospitality/Worship Team is looking for ushers and
greeters, and our AV Team needs people to help out
at the sound desk. If you are interested, we would be
happy to train you. Contact Rob Creaney.
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opportunities for adults
21&OVER
Saturday Oct 9, 4 to 6 p.m.
This group is open to singles,
couples, parents with children,
young adults, and adults. 21&Over
meets each month at different people’s homes, with
the purpose of building relationship and fostering
fellowship. The October gathering is at the home of
Kate and Patrick Fish. If you are interested in these
gatherings, contact Pr. Patrick or Emma Albers.
GRACEROAD
Sunday Oct 24, 6:30 p.m.
If you have students in junior
high or high school, you’re
invited to the monthly gathering of GraceRoad. This
group meets monthly to discuss topics of shared
interest and to offer mutual support. The October
meeting will be at the Reiseck’s home and will be
discussing the topic of anxiety. All parents of tweens
and teens are welcome. Contact Kari Reiseck for more
information.
ADULT FELLOWSHIP
Thursday Oct 28, 10 a.m.
Come to Sanctuary Hall on
Thursday October 28 for a good
old-fashioned game day! Card games, board games,
bag games! Lunch will follow at East China Inn in
North Aurora (915 Oak Street) at 12 noon. Email Clare
Toynton or call her at 630-896-1369 to let her know
you’re coming:
ANTI-RACISM BOOK CLUB
Tues Oct 12, 6 p.m. (chps 7,8)
Tues Oct 25, 6 p.m. (chps 9.10)
The Anti-Racism Book Club
meets bi-weekly and is currently reading Rachel
Ricketts’ Do Better: Spiritual Activism for Fighting and
Healing from White Supremacy. It’s a great guide on
how to engage in heart-centered and mindfulnessbased
practices that will help fight white supremacy
from the inside out. You can participate in person or
via Zoom. Contact Lynnette Brent.
SEEKERS CIRCLE
Monday Oct 18, 5:30 p.m.
If you are interested in being
part of a group of women who
are seeking to explore their faith, take better care
of themselves, and connect with other women, the
Seekers Circle is open to all women, at any time
Contact Marcia Broucek for more information.
LYDIA’S PIECEMAKERS
Mondays Oct 4, 18, and 25
The quilters are as active as
ever! This dedicated group of
women gather in the church each month, and they
welcome your participation. Email Virginia Biltgen (or
phone 815-970-4396) for more information.
What do you need?
A ride to church?
A meal delivered?
Our new Meal Train ministry
will provide and deliver homecooked
meals for anyone in
need. If you could use this
help, or know of someone who does, please call the
church office (630-897-6891) or email Miriam Wade-
Hicks.
Our new Transportation
Team ministry is providing
transportation to and from
worship services. If you would
like to schedule a ride, please call the church
office, 630-897-6891, by the Wednesday prior to
the weekend you need transportation.
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Reconciling in Christ
National Coming Out Day
is Monday Oct 11th
St. Mark’s RIC Team invites you to mark October 11th on your calendar.
We encourage you and your family to think of ways to honor those
courageous enough to come out. To honor those who stand as allies.
Some loved ones in our families may come out.
Others may still be hiding in fear of rejection. This day
reminds us all of the importance of why we became
an RIC-designated congregation. It reminds us that
there is still work to be done. That our work didn’t
end when the congregation voted overwhelmingly to
became a Reconciling in Christ church.
This month, the RIC Team wants to remind the
congregation about the importance of intentionality.
It’s one thing to say, “All are welcome.” It’s another to
live it. Show it.
As Jesus said, “We will be known by our love.”
We want St. Mark’s to be known in our community
as a place of love. A church that will always be a safe,
welcoming and affirming place for all God’s children
to enter, worship, and serve.
In honor of National Coming Out Day, here are a few
questions to consider:
• How are you welcoming God’s people in your own
life?
• What do you see as the difference between
tolerating others and accepting others?
• When have you felt silenced and discredited? Who
provided hope and helped you through those
experiences?
Want to talk?
If you would like to talk to a safe
person, feel free to contact anyone
on our RIC Team. They are allies.
They are open to conversation.
• Susan Manning
• Pam Miller
• Mary Mandel
• Melissa Nowak
• Martha Egeland
• Sheryl Campen
Want more information?
National Coming Out Day is an internationally observed day
celebrating individuals who publicly identify as bisexual, gay,
lesbian, transgender. If you’d like to learn more, check out these
resources:
• qspirit - spiritual resources to honor Coming Out Day
• ELM (Extraordinary Lutheran Ministries) - blogs on National
Coming Out Day
• RIC (Reconciling in Christ) - news, information, and resources
for churches welcoming LGBTQIA+ people and families
• St. Mark’s RIC page - our welcome and official RIC statement
8

Narrative Lectionary
What is the
Narrative Lectionary?
On Rally Day (September 12), we began our second year of using the
“Narrative Lectionary.” It’s helpful to step back for a minute to review
why we moved to this approach.
A few years ago, the ELCA conducted research of
congregations across the country. The biggest
takeaways from this “Book of Faith Initiative” were
that adults struggled with understanding Scripture
and that children didn’t know the basic Bible stories.
Obviously, this was a cause of concern! What rose out
of that was the Narrative Lectionary.
The purpose of the Narrative Lectionary is to
trace God’s activity from Creation through the
early Christian Church. From September through
May each year, congregations are invited into the
breadth, richness, and variety of stories within
Scripture. We hear about characters like Abraham
and Sarah, Solomon, Esther, Moses, Ruth, Paul,
Lydia and Jesus. The stories tell of human hope and
disappointment, suffering and redemption, and how
God responds to the complexities of human life.
One unique aspect of the Narrative Lectionary
is that stories from the Gospels differ each
year, highlighting what is distinctive about each
Gospel’s telling of the story of Jesus. This year we’ll
be focusing on the Gospel of John
Listening to the diverse stories and characters
in the Old and New Testament extends our
understanding of God and informs our life of faith.
Narrative Lectionary
topics for October
Oct 2/3: God’s Name Is Revealed
Oct 9/10: God Provides Manna
Oct 16/17: God Calls Samuel
Oct 23/24: God Calls David
Oct 30/31: Solomon’s Temple
Narrative Lectionary resources
Want more information about the Narrative Lectionary?
• Check out Luther Seminary’s FAQ on the 4-year cycle.
• Visit narrativelectionary.org for text commentaries on the
coming week’s texts. Bookmark it.
• Listen to Narrative Lectionary podcasts,
• Connect with the Narrative Lectionary group on
Facebook.(Click on “Join the group” to gain access.)
• Get prayers and music suggestions for each week of the
Narrative Lectionary.
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community opportunities
“Trunk or Treat” to benefit Aurora Food Pantry
Friday Oct 22, 4 to 6 p.m.
Parents and grandparents, if you are looking for a safe way to have your beloved young saints
trick or treat, consider the Aurora Interfaith Trunk or Treat event happening on Friday, October
22. The event will be held in the parking lot of the AU softball and football field (corner of
Edgelawn and Jericho), from 4 to 6 p.m. Wear a costume, bring a basket, and receive candy from
members in our community in a safe way.
If you are interested in decorating a car and hosting one of the trunks for that event,
contact Pr. Patrick and he can send you all the information to register your vehicle.
Dinner at PADS
1-on-1 mentoring at McCleery
Our community partner, McCleery Elementary School,
is opening their building back up to volunteers! That’s
great news for us and for the kids. During COVID, the
students’ social and emotional health has suffered,
and the teachers are telling us that many students
would benefit from 1-on-1 mentoring and people
reading to them.
We’ll be starting our volunteer program back up
on Tuesday October 12th. If this is something that
interests you, contact Pr. Patrick. You don’t have to
have a teaching background to participate; many
students benefit from being read to and from the
extra attention.
If you’ve volunteered before, you won’t need to get
a background check. If you’re a new volunteer, we’ll
help you get a background check. ALL volunteers will
need proof of vaccination or weekly COVID testing.
We’re excited to be able to see these students again
and participate in their learning process!
10
Thank you to all our
volunteers who provided
the PADS meal last month.
Starting in September,
volunteers were allowed to
serve the meal to the men,
women and children staying
at Hesed House.
Our next PADS meal is on Saturday, November 13. We
will be making a familiar and favorite of the Hesed House
people: cranberry chicken.
If you are interested in helping buy ingredients for the
dinner or are interested in signing up to serve the meal in
November, contact Janet Guinanne.
Harvest Day
Saturday Oct 16
10 a.m. to 2 p.m.
Sandwich Fairgrounds
Growing Hope Worldwide
is holding its annual
“Harvest Day” celebration at the Sandwich Fairgrounds
on Saturday October 16. The day starts with worship,
followed by lunch, a pie auction, combine rides, displays and
demonstrations. The funds raised help people in developing
countries become self-sufficient in growing their own food.
Click for more info.

community opportunities
Two great community organizations.
Two great fundraiser events.
Two important St. Mark’s mission partners.
The Neighbor Project
“The Bridge Bash 21”
The Neighbor Project is hosting “The Bridge
Bash 21” on Friday October 8, from 6:30
to 10 p.m. It will be an evening filled with
inspiration, auctions, raffles, food, beverages
and live music: R & B “Soul Keeper” Gerald
McClendon.
You can shop prizes from your smart device
at home and/or join in person at The Venue
(21 S Broadway, Aurora).
For information on how to participate
and donate, visit: https://one.bidpal.net/
bridgebash/welcome.
This is a great opportunity to help build
bridges to financial security and home
ownership for our neighbors!
Aurora Interfaith Food Pantry
“40th Birthday Bash”
To celebrate it’s 40th birthday, the Aurora Interfaith
Food Pantry is hosting a “40th Birthday Bash” online.
The benefit will be held Thursday October 7 and
Friday October 8. There are three options to support
our local food pantry:
1. Become a sponsor
2. Buy raffle tickets
3. Bid on online auction items
Stay tuned and watch for future communications
about the silent auction items and when the bidding
opens.
Join the fight against hunger. Every $100 raised at
this event will provide $800 of food to families in our
community.
“For you have been a stronghold to the poor,
a stronghold to the needy in [their] distress,
a shelter from the storm and a shade from the heat.”
—Isaiah 25:4
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Did you know that a portion of St. Mark’s budget each
year is designated for ELCA “Mission Support” (which
many of us know by the name “benevolence”)? In fact,
almost 95% of ELCA’s entire Mission Support work is
supported by congregations.
What is Mission Support?
As an ELCA congregation, we
pledge to send a portion of
our offerings to fund ELCA
ministries in their synods and
beyond. These funds are called
Mission Support.
Mission Support enables
the ELCA’s more than 8,900
congregations and 65 synods
to pool resources to love
and serve our neighbors
in ways that no individual
or congregation could do
alone. Mission Support is one
way we are church together
— it’s essential to who we
are as the ELCA. Through
Mission Support, we expand
our participation in God’s
life-changing work in our
communities and around the
world.
faith in action
Stories of Faith in Action
How is Mission Support used?
Every year ELCA publishes a collection of beautiful
vignettes titled “Stories in Faith in Action” that
highlight some of these gifts in action around the
world. In the 2021-22 issue, you will:
“STORIES OF FAITH IN ACTION” CONTENT
• Meet Lutherans in
Arizona (page 8), Malawi
(page 22) and Alaska (page
16) who adapted worship
and outreach in response to
COVID-19 restrictions.
• Learn how young
adults found community
amid isolating circumstances
thanks to Abide, virtual small
groups led by ELCA Young
Adult Ministry (page 12).
• Hear about Lutheran
leaders in Minneapolis who
served their community and
spoke out for racial justice
after George Floyd’s death
(page 14).
• See the difference a
shower makes (page 7).
CHRISTIAN COMMUNITY
Where all may dwell
“New ways to be faithful”
Bolstered by relationships
LEADERSHIP
Space to abide
Living our theology, demanding justice
“Many ways to be connected”
SERVICE AND JUSTICE
“A life of accompaniment”
Equal in God’s kingdom
Evangelism is alive in Malawi
“Looking at the stories that came out of
2020, I see evidence of God’s miracles. You’ll
see too when you flip through the pages of this
year’s “Stories of Faith in Action.”—Bishop Elizabeth Eaton
Click here to get your free copy.
12

Rally Day wrap up
Rally Day Sunday 2021
13

council concerns
Council summary
August 2021 meeting
Council met for its regular monthly meeting on August
10th. Don Friend presented a strong financial report,
indicating that we are continuing to keep expenses on
track with income. Your generosity continues to be a
blessing as we move forward with the mission and ministry
of St. Mark’s.
We discussed the Fall schedule, which will include a 5
p.m. Saturday service, a 9 a.m. Adult Faith Formation and
Sunday School, and a 10 a.m. service on Sunday mornings.
We are excited about the new addition of education and
fellowship opportunities for adults on Sunday mornings.
Council also received an update on the sale of the CDC
(at that point, the sale had not yet closed ... spoiler alert
– it’s been sold!). Additionally, we continue to meet with
representatives from ESSE Adult Day Services to evaluate if
St. Mark’s can serve as a site for them in the near future.
Marcia Broucek, Beth Benson, and Pr. Patrick gave a
presentation on a new church management system:
Shelby CMS. Shelby CMS would allow us to bring all of our
member systems and data into one centralized portal,
including our online giving platform. As we continue to
move into a digital future, it will be essential for St. Mark’s
to provide our members with an accessible communication
platform. The Council voted to request the Endowment
Committee to approve the spending of $1,500 from
memorials unspecified and $1,500 from Endowment Fund
interest income for the purchase of the Shelby CMS. We
are looking forward to providing this new platform to the
congregation sometime in 2022.
Carol Reiseck gave a report on the Stewardship Team’s
plan for the Fall. The theme will be “We are an offering,”
with a kickoff on the weeked of October 2/3 and pledge
weekends on October 9/10 and 16/17. Council members
were asked to prayfully consider their pledges and be
prepared to return their pledge cards at the September
Council meeting.
Council member
nominations
We are grateful that our Council serves
our congregation so faithfully! Each
member can serve for a two-year
term but not more than three terms
consecutively. This is intentional so that
we don’t burn people out and that we
also incorporate diverse voices.
In September, the St. Mark’s Nominating
Committee met to review our Council
members’ terms and to nominate
members for upcoming vacancies. This
coming year, we will have five positions
available, some of which are executive
positions.
We ask you to pray and discern for
yourself about this opportunity to serve.
If you decide that your gifts of service
might be to serve on Council, please
contact Michelle Leedham at 630-518-
5405.
The deadline for nominations is
December 1st. Nominations will be
published in the January Vineyard and
then voted on at our regular annual
meeting on January 30, 2022.
Respectfully,
Michelle Leedham
Nominating Committee
“Now we have received
not the spirit of the world,
but the Spirit that is from God,
in that we may understand the gifts
bestowed on us by God.”
—I Corinthians 2:12
—Emma Albers, Council Secretary
14

money matters
Monthly Information
St. Mark’s monthly financial recap
for August 2021
Monthly Budget Goal $ 71,337.00
Monthly Offering information
Envelopes – General Fund $ 69,360.60
CDC Rent/Administration $ —
Miscellaneous $ (550.00)
Other $ 1.05
Total General Fund Income $ 68,811.65
Monthly Surplus (Shortfall) $ (2,525.35)
Summary General Fund Information as of 08/31/2021
Annual Budget $ 856,044.00
Percent of Year Completed 67%
Offerings/Commitments/Other Income $ 563,947.67
received year to date
Actual Expenses year to date $ 607,665.24
Actual Expense Surplus (Shortfall) year to date $ (43,717.57)
Budget Surplus (Shortfall) year to date $ (6,748.33)
Debt Balances as of 08/31/2021
Principal Remaining on Church Building $1,226,245.48
Principal Remaining on CDC $ 437,136.88
General Fund owes Special Fund $ 43,110.80
I would like to thank Roger Shields for filling in this
summer as our Facility Manager. Vicki and I were
able to take some needed vacation time. St. Mark’s
is so fortunate to have someone as skilled and
knowledgeable as Roger when we need help.
Thanks again!
—Al Lettow, Facility Manager
Dear St. Mark’s Staff & Friends,
Thank you to our St. Mark’s family
for your many kindnesses during
our son’s recent passing.
—Nancy & Bob Mulford
15

“getting to know you”
Matt and Faith Greising
I am Matt Greising. My wife, Faith, and I have been
members at St. Marks since 2003, and I now serve on
Church Council. From my very first visit to this day, I
have always been grateful to the people I have met
here.
I was born and raised in Chicago. Faith and I have
been married for 39 years. We moved from Chicago to
Aurora in 1988 and raised three daughters. Adrianna
lives in Madison, Wisconsin, with her husband, James,
and their children, Carl and Ada. Marika lives in Oak
Park with her husband,
Whitney, and their son, Axel.
Our youngest, Selena, lives in
Tokyo and works a few jobs,
including teaching English in
a two-year college, singing
songs to children, and leading
guided bike tours of Tokyo
(well, not since COVID).
My formative years were
spent in the far Northwest
corner of Chicago. Much
of my time during the high
school years was spent sailing
Lake Michigan with my Sea Scout unit, Privateer. We
were fortunate to have a 40-foot ketch rig that had
been donated to scouting. A typical weekend was
spent sailing across Lake Michigan to Benton Harbor
or Michigan City. On a clear night, the sky over Lake
Michigan is amazing. There are stars all the way down
to the horizon. Of course, on a stormy night you
shivered through your midnight to four a.m. watch,
wrapped in soggy foul-weather gear and trying to hold
a steady course in five-foot seas.
I graduated from Lane Tech and, after a less than stellar
year in college, entered an apprenticeship program
and became a machinist. I have worked in a variety of
industrial settings, including steel mills, fastener plants,
electronics assembly and plastic molding.
Faith and I met in my parents’ basement on
Thanksgiving. Fact: I rearranged the name cards at
the Thanksgiving cinner table so Faith and I would sit
together. I returned to school for a degree in electrical
engineering. While at school, I ran a video-editing suite
and did tech support for professors in the College
of Education. The experience I gained working in the
College of Education led to a job in a large accounting
firm, where I developed
computer-based training for
the company. During my 20+
year career there, I moved
through many different jobs.
Faith was teaching when I met
her and, when our oldest was
born, stepped away from the
classroom to stay home and
be mom. When our youngest
began school, Faith went
back to school with her… as
a teacher. Though Faith has
now retired as a fifth-grade
teacher, she goes back once in a while to substitute and
still loves working with kids.
I manage to keep busy with a variety of interests. You’ll
see me around church in the handbell choir or at the
sound desk. I have been house captain for Rebuilding
Together Aurora. I volunteer as a set builder for the Fox
Valley Park District. I have been an avid cyclist for many
years and still enjoy getting out on the road or on the
single track. Faith and I have a tandem and frequently
hit the trails. We recently acquired a small camper and
have really enjoyed exploring the surrounding area. We
take our tandem camping with us when we know there
are interesting trail systems nearby.
St. Mark’s
Lutheran Church
Aurora, Illinois
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