Rev. Beverly Piro
These are the three fundamental tenets of my faith:
- 1. God is love.
- 2. God expects nothing from us. God expects everything from us.
- 3. Numbers one and two above are beyond our understanding but not beyond our knowing.
Faith is a journey, not a destination. We don’t “arrive” in faith on a particular day and time. We walk a journey throughout our lives in which we encounter the living Christ in our day to day living. It is in our experiences of traversing the dying and rising events of life that we come to know the fullness of God through the death and resurrection of Jesus.
A congregation is not a place of sure and certain answers to the big questions of faith and life. Rather it is a collection of people who wrestle with doubts and are unafraid to ask the hard questions. As a pastor, my job is to help people challenge the certitudes of faith that is proclaimed on television and on the radio and find for themselves the loving, redeeming, graceful word of God. Following Jesus does mean we have to check our brains at the door, but to find God in all the big and small places of our lives.
Interim Ministry
Pastor Bev Piro joined St. Mark’s as Interim Pastor in November 2018. In addition to fulfilling the duties of Word and Sacrament ministry, an Interim Pastor guides a congregation through a period of self-reflection and discernment about the future. The Interim period is not to be taken lightly or ignored or dismissed as a time when nothing important will happen. To the contrary. The Interim is a time of great importance when old divisions can be healed, when new visions or ministries may emerge and new directions for ministry discerned.
Question: How long with the Interim take?
Answer: As long as necessary to do the work that needs to be done. Patience is as important as a willingness to give thanks for the past and imagine a future.
Q: Is the ministry of the congregation “on hold” during an Interim? Is anything happening?
A: Ministry is definitely NOT “on hold” during an Interim. In fact, many new things will happen as we learn and experience new and different ways of being church.
Q: Doesn’t “the Synod” pick a new pastor for us?
A: NO! “The Synod*” has no power or authority to choose your next pastor. When the time of transition work is complete, a Call Committee will be formed and the work of finding the next pastor will begin. All of this takes place during the Interim period.
*NOTE: The Synod is actually comprised of all the congregations in the Rocky Mountain Synod. The Office of the Bishop employs staff who facilitate the Interim and Call Process which reside fully in the congregation.
Do you have other questions about the Interim or about the St. Mark’s Community? See the Contact Us page to get in touch.
Pastor's E-mail: pastor@stmarksaurora.org
Kinna Nordstrom, Director of Youth & Family Ministries
Kinna began with us at St. Mark's in July of 2014, as a part of a partnership with our neighbors at St. Stephen's Episcopal Church. She is now three-quarters time at St. Mark's and one-quarter time with other+wise, a new non-profit focused on bringing youth from around the country to our neighborhood to have cross-cultural experiences based in relationship and learning.
Kinna works with youth and families on faith formation - inside the home and out. Kinna completed her Master's Degree in Youth & Family Ministry at Luther Seminary in May of 2014. Before that, she called Arizona home for most of her life. We are very fortunate to have her and her gifts in our community of faith!
Kinna's E-mail: misskinna.cyf@gmail.com
Betty Falk, Choir Director
Betty has been a part of St. Mark's most of her life, and for the last several years she has served as the Director of our Chancel Choir. Music is her passion, and that comes through in the music ministry she leads at St. Mark's. Beyond choir direction, Betty coordinates all our special music for those times of the year when the choir is not singing for worship. She encourages all members of our faith community to share their musical gifts however they can.
Rose Kvern, Organist & Music Minister
Rose has served St. Mark's as organist for many years, and her tremendous gifts enhance and support our worship every week. She also accompanies the St. Mark's Chancel Choir and plays for our weddings, funerals, and other occasional services. Her extensive knowledge of organ and hymnody is truly a gift to our community.
Mary Katherine C. Smith, Office Manager
Mary Katherine is a Colorado native and has been a member of St. Mark's since she was baptized as an adult in September 1997. With a Bachelor of Arts in Graphic Design and multiple years experience in project management and administrative assistant positions, Mary Katherine is grateful for the opportunity to apply her computer and administrative skills in the office of her home church since starting in this position in August 2018.
E-mail Mary Katherine at admin@stmarksaurora.org
E-mail Mary Katherine at admin@stmarksaurora.org
St. Mark's Lutheran Church & Preschool ~ 111 Del Mar Circle, Aurora, CO 80011 ~ 303.366.9702 ~ 303.366.5089
