By Pastor Mark TooneSenior Pastor In some ways, it seems like yesterday. In some ways, it seems like a world away. I preached my first sermon at Chapel Hill as your new Senior Pastor on September 13, 1987. But I preached my FIRST, first sermon in January of that year as a candidate. It was […]
Thanks for the Memories
I’ve been reflecting upon my 37 years here and some of the high points that stand out for me. I thought I’d share a few of those in a mini “trip down memory lane.” I wonder if YOUR favorites are in this list? I’d love to hear from you if I missed one. Here they […]
Nurturing the Next Generation of Leaders
I realize I just preached a sermon on the danger of pride! And yet, I’ve been reflecting upon those things God has done in and through us these last 37 years that make me most proud. I’m in a quandary! But at the risk of falling prey to the very offense I described last Sunday […]
Save the Dates!
Well friends, it’s one month and counting. My office is pretty much cleared out. I’ve taken home all the books Cyndi is allowing me to take home! (By the way, if you are interested in any of my remaining library they are free for the asking. Call the front desk and they can schedule a […]
Retirement!
When I announced to the Session last October that I would be retiring within a year, I planned on staying through the entire summer to allow for a smooth transition. Of course, I hoped and prayed that Pastor Ellis would be selected as your new Senior Pastor. But on the chance that someone else was […]
What a Blast We Had at VBS!
Vacation Bible School (VBS) has been an important part of Chapel Hill for years. It is part of our DNA to mobilize the next generation to be on mission for Christ. Each year, our Summer Blast VBS really helps the next generation understand what it means to follow Jesus and realize his mission for our […]
Reflections of a Camp Counselor
This Sunday I helped 15 middle school girls and two adult leaders get checked in to summer camp at Black Lake Bible Camp in Olympia. It got me thinking about my first experience as a camp counselor. I graduated high school in 2008. That summer I worked at a Christian summer camp as a middle […]
I Declared My Independence
On March 14 of this year, I declared my independence from the United Kingdom. Well… sort of. I took the Oath of Allegiance of the United States of America and became a U.S. citizen. It included the following words: “I hereby declare, on oath, that I absolutely and entirely renounce and abjure all allegiance and […]
It All Matters!
Do you ever feel discouraged even though you know what you do is important? Your heart is grateful to God and generous toward others, but you doubt it matters or is worth the effort? This week brought such a sweet, surprising reminder that the Spirit is working through us when we all can use encouragement. […]
We Found a Home!
Thirteen years ago almost exactly, Pastor Jeremy Vaccaro and I walked into Hope Church in Memphis, Tennessee to attend the General Assembly of a denomination not our own. We were in the process of leading Chapel Hill out of the PC(USA) because we were concerned about the direction it was moving theologically and socially. But […]