My name is Jeanne Flynn, and I have been a member of St. Mark’s since 1993. I am

married to Michael, and we have one daughter, Rebecca (Becca) who is 28. I am

currently teaching 8th grade confirmation and am involved with McCleery School, VBS,

bread baking, the Seeker’s women’s group and providing office coverage. Michael and I

also support many outreach programs and feel that this is one of the areas in which we

are called to serve.

As a tenured member of St. Mark’s and, with a social worker’s training and skill, I believe

I contribute to council through my gift of discernment and my ability to relationship

build. I am excited to see how and where St. Mark’s will continue to grow, and I want to

be part of this forward movement. As the probability of new staffing (Pastor & Deacon)

seem very close, this next Council term also brings with it the excitement of newness

and the challenge of adjusting to leadership change. I firmly believe that St. Mark’s can

do this, and I have the energy for this exhilarating work.

My family has been attending St. Mark’s since 2015 and we became members

in 2018. My wife, Alisa, and I have five kids, three of which are now confirmed

members, one is an active member of the youth group and one is active in the

confirmation process. This is my fourth full year on council and third full year as

Treasurer. You can usually find me and my family supporting Saturday night worship.

I’ve also been helping on the Stewardship committee, the property team, the

endowment committee and I am currently one of four individuals who puts the

building to sleep every night. What we love about St Mark’s more than anything is

the people and the sense of community.

Jon Miller is a 20-year resident of Aurora and a member of St. Mark’s since 2007. He

has served in various positions in higher education for 25 years and currently works

at Northern Illinois University assisting students as a First Year Academic Advisor. He

and his wife Pam have been married since 2001 and have three children, Ben (17),

Daniel (14) and Hannah (13), who are active in the Youth Group and Confirmation

programs and attend West Aurora schools. Jon has participated in music ministry as

a member of the Lion’s Voice Choir and the Glory Ringers participates in the liturgy

as a Worship Assistant and is part of the Banner Team. Jon was elected to Council

in 2022 and was asked to fill the role of Secretary later in that year. He has played

an active role on the Stewardship Committee and the fall Stewardship campaign. As

Council Secretary, Jon also authors the Council Happenings information after each

monthly Council meeting.

My wife and I grew up in South Dakota and after college lived in several places.

Our four children were born in Illinois but mainly grew up in Ohio. We moved back

to Illinois five and a half years ago to be near our granddaughter. We attended

Christmas Eve service at St. Mark’s in 2019 and officially joined a year and a half

later. I have been active leading the Outreach group and getting ESSE at St. Mark’s

established. I have served on Council for the last three years which has broadened

my appreciation for how much our members care about helping others and take

action to do so. St. Mark’s has weathered the challenges of the pandemic and

pastoral change with members supporting our staff, Council and each other in so

many ways. I know that we will continue to be there for each other and be a blessing

for our neighbors and community. Thank you for the opportunity to serve this great

congregation.

My name is Matt Greising. My family joined St. Mark’s in 2001. My wife, Faith, and

I have three daughters and four grandchildren. On Church Council I coordinate the

Property Team and provide support for our online presence. In addition to Council

responsibilities, I play with the Glory Ringers handbell choir because I enjoy making

music with an amazing team. I am also a member of the group that bakes the bread

we use for Communion because it is so gratifying to be able to literally feed my

church family.

St. Mark’s is blessed with members who are caring and committed to sharing Christ’s

love with each other and the community around us. I am blessed to be a member.

My name is Juliana (Julie) Joerger. I was raised Catholic but started attending the Lutheran

church when I was married. My husband Tom and I attended Our Saviors Lutheran

Church in Naperville with his family until we moved to the West side of Aurora and joined

St. Mark’s in 1992. We tried different churches in the area but felt right at home here

at St. Marks. St Mark’s allowed us to experience meaningful worship and it aligned with

our core beliefs of what it means to be a Christian. We felt that this was a good place to

attend with our children so they too could be taught these same beliefs. From bringing

them to church as infants for their 1st Sacrament to helping them prepare to receive

their 2nd Sacrament and finally reaffirming their faith thru Confirmation. During this time

Tom and I taught Sunday school at the grade school levels until the last of our children

completed their Confirmation. They are all grown now Julissa (34), Forrest (30) and

Keegan (27). Tom and I also ushered and were communion assistants.

This year after a ten-year hiatus I decided to return to a teaching role in the Faith and

Daily Life program. Guiding and teaching these young soon to be adults on how to apply

their Christian beliefs into their daily lives in hopes that they can be the best they can

be is what I would like to achieve. That what we have taught them can make their world

a better place. Instill in them that the decisions they make are based on the principles

they have learned at St. Mark’s or home and know that their actions have an impact on

others. When it was announced that St. Marks was in search of council members and

with thoughtful consideration, I decided to see where I could be of help to continue the

Ministry at St. Mark’s and grow and help others grow in the church.

My name is Gregg Kobliska. I have been a member at St. Mark’s since 2007. I live

in Sugar Grove with my wife Lorrie. We have 5 children and 9 grandchildren, most

of whom live out of state. When we first joined St. Mark’s, Lorrie got involved with

teaching FDL and I became involved with the Property Team. After I retired, I worked at

St. Mark’s as the Facility Manager until Lorrie retired in 2014. After that I filled in during

the summers for a number of years as needed. Working in this capacity was a great way

to get to know our facility, as well as many of the parishioners at St. Mark’s. I still am

active on the Property Team and in 2024 I became a Lay Deacon at St. Mark’s. I am very

aware of the need to serve our homebound and sick parishioners which is especially

true with our aging congregation. Trying to help serve the needs of the church and our

congregation continues to be very personally fulfilling. I look forward to continuing to

serve and contribute in whatever way I am called to.

My name is Mary Mandel, and I became a member of St. Mark’s in 2009 when I was

pregnant with my oldest son. I am married to Craig, and we have three boys, Aidan

(14), Ethan (12) and Ryan (9). The areas that I am most passionate about at St. Mark’s

are the RIC Team where we have made significant strides over the past several years

in becoming a much more outwardly welcoming congregation, and Youth and Family

Ministry. I am currently teaching confirmation but have taught Sunday School for

many years and help with VBS in the summer. I also occasionally play violin in

worship, alone and with my family.

I believe that my gifts to council are my ability to listen to many sides and help

mediate to a resolution (as a teacher that is a necessary skill to have). I am a positive

person, and I am also very driven as well. I am used to working with many different

people and am confident that our council is moving in a solid direction to a common

goal. St. Mark’s is in a good place right now and is healing, and I am proud to be a

part of that process as a part of church council.

My name is Mark Mueller. I have been a member of St. Mark’s since 1997. I live in

Oswego with my wife, Mindy, and our children Lukas (14) and Evelyn (11). Prior

to serving on council, my involvement with St. Mark’s included such committees/

activities as the pastoral call committee, synod assembly, The Neighbor Project,

and Feed My Starving Children. Since starting on the Council, I have also joined the

church property team committee as well as become more involved with assisting

during our church services. We at St. Mark’s have undergone, and survived, a lot of

change over the past few years and more changes are promised ahead of us. It has

been an honor to represent our church in this capacity these past three years and I

look forward to continuing this journey and helping in whatever small part I can to

move our wonderful church and congregation forward!

Hello, my name is Melvin Smith. I have been a member of St. Marks for approximately

twenty-one or twenty-two years. My daughter Tatyanna was attending St. Marks

preschool at the time and she told me that the Pastor from the church would come

over with his guitar and sing with children. That is when I started attending St. Marks.

I have previously served two terms on council several years ago. I was mostly

involved with the hospitality teams for about ten years. I also taught confirmation

classes as well.

I am currently a member of the Glory Ringers and a member of the AV team.

I look forward to giving my best effort and contributing all I can to the congregation

of St. Marks.

I am a cradle Lutheran. After completing Luther Seminary in St Paul, MN with an

additional year to complete a certification in Youth and Family Ministry, I was

ordained to Word and Sacrament ministry. While at seminary, I met and married

my now ex-wife (and still close friend), Nancy. We have three adult children: Tristan,

Andy, and Liam. I served Faith Lutheran Church in Brookfield, IL for 11 years. In

2017, I earned a Master’s in Pastoral Counseling from Loyola University of Chicago.

I also enjoy being active in community theatre, spending time with friends, playing

board games, and being with my miniature dachshund, Hendricks.