I have struggled with what to say in this first newsletter article. How can I share the many thoughts on my mind in a short article? What matters most after being here for a month?

It has been a busy first month as your pastor. It has been great to get to know so many of you during fellowship hour, at small groups, and meet & greets. I love hearing your stories and seeing your faces light up as you recall special moments from your lives. You all have a strong foundation of leaning on one another and sharing the joys and challenges of daily life.

In this first month together, we have had 6 meetings, 5 meet & greets, 3 small groups, 4 Sunday worship services, and 2 funeral services. I have also had various coffees, community events, and casual conversations to help me get acquainted.

Some of you have expressed concern over the difficulty of having multiple funerals. While I appreciate the concern for my weekly rhythm and my own grief, funerals are a privilege.

When I meet with a family, I am able to see the light of Christ in the life of their family member. I listen to the stories of joy, milestones, overcoming, and everyday habits. God is at work in this holy reflection. Some of these conversations are slow and emotional, others share laughter with tears. Yet, the power of Christ is palpable in this process.

The worship service is designed to help us remember the foundation of faith that we stand on. We remind ourselves of God’s promises - we are beloved children who will be with God in eternity. There is nothing that can separate us from the love of God and God is close to the brokenhearted. These services explicitly point to Christ in the middle of our hurting.

When was the last time you reminded yourself of the promises of God? When was the last time you showed up for someone to be close to the brokenhearted?

If we are the church that hosts funerals for the community, may it be because we love to offer Christ to families in their moment of loss. May we see Jesus at the center of ALL our gatherings. Amen