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Dear Saint Mark Family,
Over the past three Sundays we have had two congregational listening sessions. These sessions are being held, so the Church Council - your lay leaders - and I can listen to your questions and concerns, and address them as we are best able. We seek to be transparent in what we do, and to communicate with you what is happening in the life of your church.
We know we were not able to answer all your questions during those sessions. For those who attended these first two sessions, we asked you to write down your questions that time did not permit us to answer and submit them. We have collected those questions, and have compiled them and shared them with the Church Council. Please know we are currently working on those questions, and will do our best to provide you the answers in a timely manner.
We will provide the answers through multiple communication platforms. One of the ways is by creating a link on our church’s website titled “Listening Sessions,” and posting the answers there. Another is in the weekly Remarks, which is published and sent to your email every Wednesday. - As a side note, if you have not signed up for the Remarks, please do so as soon as you are able. It is one of the primary ways we share what is happening in the life of our church. To sign up, please email Robert Gilleo rjgilleo@stmarkumc.org.
We will also share information in the Sunday bulletin, and in my senior pastor note that goes out each Friday. Please be on the lookout in the coming week and following, for our responses that will be shared.
We will continue having these sessions in the weeks to come, so once the dates are posted please sign up for the date that works best for you.
Now, let me begin by answering one of the questions that was submitted about how are we caring for members who are sick, or in the hospital, or homebound.
When I am made aware that a member is sick or is in the hospital, I personally call or visit the member. I have visited members who were in the hospital, and have called those who were sick. I have visited members who were surprised that I showed up at their bedside in the hospital. I have had members tell me I didn’t have to visit because they know I am busy and have so many other things to do, to which I tell them that visiting them is one of the things I must do.
There are multiple times I have visited or called members who want to keep their hospitalization or illness confidential, and I have honored their wishes. There are times I have called members who I have been told are sick and left voicemails. Some times I get a return call thanking me for reaching out, and some times no response.
There are times when it is after an illness or a surgery that I find out a member was sick. A recent case was when a member shared with me that he had been hospitalized twice, but honestly didn’t think of telling the church. And that has happened often.
Some of you might remember that when I came last year, I asked who are the members you have not seen for a while, or who have not returned since the pandemic. For every name I received, I personally wrote a letter, or email to that person. A few persons responded, most did not. That was one of the ways I wanted to connect with members who would love to be in worship, but for whatever reason cannot make it. I want to care for them pastorally even if they could not physically be with us.
I take the responsibility to care for the sick and homebound seriously, and make every effort to fulfill this responsibility, and will continue to do so.
Thank you to all who attended and participated in those sessions. I pray we will see these as opportunities grow in grace and love,
God’s peace,
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