From the Pastor: St. Mark announces final services
It is with great sadness, and after much prayer and discernment, that the St. Mark Church Council has begun the process toward closure.
The following letter was posted to the Floyd Lutherans Facebook page on Thursday, Jan. 15.
Dear Beloved Community of St. Mark and Zion,
Grace and peace to you in this difficult and tender moment in the life of our shared parish.
I am writing to you with a heavy heart, and with deep respect for the faithfulness, history, and love that have shaped both St. Mark and Zion over many generations. Over the past several years — especially since the COVID pandemic — both congregations have experienced significant losses in membership, increasing financial strain, and the exhaustion that comes with trying to sustain ministry amid ongoing uncertainty.
For St. Mark in particular, these challenges have become increasingly difficult to overcome. In recent months, we have learned that Willis United Methodist Church, the congregation located behind St. Mark, will be closing and selling both their church building and parsonage. This development has raised serious concerns for St. Mark, as the church currently receives its water from Willis United Methodist through an informal arrangement that is not in writing.
As we have explored possible alternatives, questions have arisen about access to water going forward. There are limited options on St. Mark’s property, and any solution would likely involve additional legal, logistical, and financial considerations, including the possibility of negotiating an easement. These uncertainties add to the broader challenges the congregation is already facing.
Alongside these issues, there are simply not enough remaining members at St. Mark to safely and sustainably carry out the work required to operate the church. None of this diminishes the extraordinary legacy of St. Mark. For 145 years, this congregation has been a place of worship, service, baptism, funerals, weddings, fellowship, and faithful witness in the community. The ministry that has flowed from St. Mark has mattered deeply — and continues to matter.
It is with great sadness, and after much prayer and discernment, that the St. Mark Church Council has begun the process toward closure. This decision has not been made lightly. It is born out of love for the church and a desire to act responsibly, faithfully, and with integrity toward the people who have given so much of themselves to this place.
As part of this next chapter, St. Mark and Zion will begin worshiping together at 10 a.m. on Sunday, Jan. 25. This shared worship will be a time to gather as one parish, to grieve what is ending, and to support one another as we move forward together.
A St. Mark Congregational Meeting will be held on Sunday, Feb. 22, immediately following worship at Zion. At this meeting, there will be a vote on the specific details of the closure process. Pastor John Wertz, Assistant to the Bishop, will be present to offer guidance and to answer questions.
In addition, a final worship service at St. Mark is being planned for May or June. This service will be a time to celebrate and give thanks for the long and faithful ministry of St. Mark. We hope to invite past members, former pastors, and others whose lives have been shaped by this congregation to join us in honoring what has been and commending it to God with gratitude.
Please know that your questions, your grief, your memories, and your hopes are welcome. This is holy ground we are walking on together. There is no rush to pretend this is easy, and no expectation that this loss will be quickly resolved. We trust that God remains present—even here—and that the faith planted over generations continues to bear fruit in ways we may not yet see.
Thank you for your faithfulness, your courage, and your care for one another. You remain held in prayer as we take these next steps together.
With deep respect and compassion,
In Christ
Pastor Wanda Childs