 October has arrived, and all around us the signs of a changing season are beginning to appear. The days are growing shorter. The air is cooler. Leaves that were green only weeks ago are becoming brilliant shades of red, orange, and gold. Gardens are giving up the last of their produce, fields are being harvested, and creation itself seems to remind us that there is a season for planting, a season for growing, and a season for gathering what has been sown.
Maybe that makes October a particularly good time to think about prayer. Since I arrived at Christ First a little over a year ago, we have spent a lot of time talking about prayer. We have prayed together in worship. Some have gathered on Mondays to Cover the Community in prayer. We have prayed for our neighbores, our streets, our schools, our businesses, and the many people whose lives intersect with ours. And during our Prayer Walk, whether we walked, drove, or remained at the church, we intentionally brought our community before God. Seeds have been planted in prayer. We may never see what becomes of every one of them. We may never know how God uses a prayer quietly offered for a home we passed, a person whose name we don’t know, a family who is struggling, or a situation about which we know very little. But we trust the One to whom we have prayed. We know and trust that God is working somehow. And to that we say “Amen!” The word ‘amen” traditionally ends our prayers. We say it so naturally that it can almost sound like a period at the end of a sentence. Prayer finished. Amen. Now on to whatever comes next. But “Amen” doesn’t mead “the end.” It carries the sense of “truly,” “so be it,” or “may it be so.” When we say “Amen,” we are affirming what we have prayed and entrusting it to God. When we pray for God to bring hope to our community, or for healing in hurting lives and relationships, or for wholeness, peace, grace, reconciliation, provision, or comfort and say “Amen,” we are saying, “Yes Lord. May it be so. We trust You.” And then we watch. We listen. We pay attention. Because sometimes, after we say “Amen,” God invites us to become part of what we have just prayed for. Jesus often used the language of seeds, fields, growth, and harvest to describe the work of God’s Kingdom. In John 4:35 He told His disciples, “Look around you, and see how the fields are ripe for harvesting.” In Matthew 9”47-48. He told them, “The harvest is plentiful, but the laborers are few,” and then told them to pray for laborers for the harvest. Jesus began with prayer, but prayer wasn’t where His disciples’ participation ended. James writes, “Faith by itself , if it has no works, is dead.” (James 2:17). James isn’t suggesting that our works earn God’s love or grace. Rather, when our faith is alive, it bears fruit. What God is doing within us begins to make a difference through us. The same is true of prayer. When we pray, “God, bring hope,” we shouldn’t be surprised when God places someone before us who desperately needs encouragement. When we pray “God, bring healing,” God may open our eyes to wounds we had never noticed. When we pray, “God, bring wholeness,” God may show us someone who is lonely, grieving, struggling, frightened, hungry, over-whelmed, or simply longing to know that somebody cares. And sometimes, after we ask God to do something, we may hear God’s quiet invitation – “Will you let Me work through you?” That doesn’t necessarily mean doing something enormous. It might mean learning someone’s name. Making a phone call. Sitting with someone who is lonely. Listening without trying fix anything. Taking a meal to someone who is struggling. Welcoming someone who isn’t sure they belong. Forgiving. Encouraging. Giving generously. Stopping long enough to really see the person God has placed in front of us. These may seem like small things. But Jesus reminded us that God’s Kingdom has a way of beginning with very small things – even something as small as a seed. For some time now, we’ve been praying, “God, what new thing are You doing among us?” We’ve been trying to be watchful as we wait for what God is going to do, considering what God may be growing among us. Maybe we can’t see all of it yet, but Paul reminds us in I Corinthians 3:6, “I planted, Apollos watered, but God gave the growth.” That’s an important reminder for us. We don’t have to manufacture results. We don’t have to make something happen. Our calling is be faithful – to plant, to water, to pray, to love, to serve – and to trust God with the growth. Amen. May it be so. We trust You, God. So as the leaves change and the harvest comes in around us this October, let’s keep praying. Let’s keep planting seeds of hope. Let’s keep watering them with love. Let’s keep our eyes open for the God Moments that follow. And when God Gives us an opportunity to offer kindness, generosity, hospitality, compassion, encouragement, or grace, let’s have the courage to respond. We are a faith family – a church who continually covers our community in prayer and is continually looking for opportunities to embody the hope, healing, and wholeness of Jesus Christ. We are walking together in the Spirit, aware of God’s presence, with our hearts ready as we ask, “God, show me where You are at work today. Open my eyes to the people around me, and show me how I can join You.” And when we say “Amen,” let’s remember –it doesn’t mean “the end.” It may just be the beginning! As we watch for God, trust God, and continue to pray, “God, break through and open doors to new hopes and possibilities for our church and in our own lives - and we will surrender, and faithfully follow Christ into the new and unknown future. May Your will be done. AMEN.” “May it be so, we trust You, God.” And often, the “amen” becomes the beginning, as God invites us to become part of the answer to the prayers we have prayed. Grace and peace, Pastor Sherry
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 When I was a kid, I remember that Labor Day weekend marked the start of something new. A new school year, new teachers, possibly new subjects, hopefully some new friends while also holding on to the old ones. In preparation, there was school shopping for supplies like pencils, paper, and folders, but also for new clothes. The first day of school every year was filled with excitement, a little fear, and a lot of hope. It was going to be new. Of course, much of it wasn’t really new. I was going back to the same school, with many of the same classmates, following the same routine I had followed the year before. But September still felt like a fresh start.
As an adult going to church I experienced the same thing. We used to call it “Rally Day,” as the Sunday after Labor Day would be a fresh start to a new season. Ministries that took a summer hiatus began again and in theory, it prompted the rallying of people who had been away during the summer months to come back and reengage. Here, at Christ First, September is our new start. We will rally together as our fall rhythm begins again, with worship in the main sanctuary beginning on September 13th, complete with the Chancel Choir who begins rehearsals on the 3rd in preparation. Bible Study will begin again on Thursday, September 10th at 10:15 am and it will be followed by the Prayer Team at 11:30. In many ways, September still brings that sense of beginning, a time of rallying. But as I’ve been thinking about the old phrase, “Rally Day, “ it makes me wonder if rallying isn’t just a call to come back, but also God rallying us to go out. For so long, the new season of church has been focused on bringing people back into the building: come back to worship, come back to ministries and missions — and I certainly hope we do! Gathering together is very important. We need one another. We need to worship together, study together, pray together, laugh together, serve together, and grow together. But Jesus called us to more than gather, he called us to go — to be witnesses, make disciples, reveal grace, and share God’s love. The mission statement of the United Methodist Church is to “make disciples of Jesus Christ for the transformation of the world.” We gather, grow, and go. So, as a church we are going, as part of the fresh start God is giving us this September. Over the summer, we began Covering the Community, opening our chapel on Monday mornings for anyone who wants a quiet place to pray or someone to pray with them. Now, as we enter fall, we are going to begin carrying that prayer beyond the walls of our church. On September 20th, after worship and a potluck meal together, we will head out into our neighborhood for a Prayer Walk. We aren’t going out to knock on doors or try to convince anyone of anything. We’re simply going to walk through the community God has placed around us — with open eyes, open hearts, and a willingness to pray. We will pass by homes without knowing the stories of the people inside. Someone may be grieving, or lonely, or facing a health concern, or wondering how the bills will be paid. There may be families in conflict, people carrying unspoken burdens, and some may just need to know there is hope. We may never know their needs. But God does. And we believe that prayer matters. We believe God moves through circumstances, through people, and within us. We know that God is good and powerful, full of love and grace. We will go, trusting that God is already at work. When we pray for our neighbors, we begin to see differently, as strangers become neighbors. The community around our church becomes more than just the place where our church is located — it becomes people whom God loves and has called us to love. Our Prayer Walk is the first step in this fresh, new season. Covering the Community will continue to grow as we invite people to adopt streets and commit to praying regularly for the people who live there. As we rally together and then rally to go out, may God move through us so that Christ First becomes a source of hope, healing, and wholeness in our community. A fresh, new season is beginning, I hope you’ll be a part of it. Peace, Pastor Sherry  “For this reason, since the day we heard about you, we have not stopped praying for you. We continually ask God to fill you with the knowledge of his will through all the wisdom and understanding that the Spirit gives, so that you may live a life worthy of the Lord and please him in every way: bearing fruit in every good work, growing in the knowledge of God, being strengthened with all power according to his glorious might so that you may have great endurance and patience, and giving joyful thanks to the Father, who has qualified you to share in the inheritance of his holy people in the kingdom of light.” Colossians 1:9-12
Over the past several months, those of us who have been participating with the Vision Team have been actively praying, "God, what do You long to do in and through our church?" The answer that keeps returning is surprisingly simple. It begins with prayer. Not because prayer is another committee or another program, but because prayer is how we learn to listen for God's voice, align ourselves with God's heart, and become the people God is calling us to be. As I have gotten to know Christ First United Methodist Church, I have become increasingly convinced that God has wonderful things in store for us- not because of our own strength, but because God is faithful. Before we decide what we should do, we first need to become a people who seek what God desires. That is the heart behind a new initiative we are launching called Covering the Community in Prayer. Imagine a church where every street in our community is being prayed over by someone who loves Jesus. Imagine people quietly praying for their neighbors, schools, businesses, first responders, farmers, teachers, children, and those who are hurting. Imagine opening our chapel each week so that anyone can come and simply sit in God's presence. Imagine prayer walks through our neighborhoods, special services centered on healing, opportunities to learn how to pray with confidence, and countless unseen acts of faithful prayer that only God knows about. Prayer changes us. Prayer changes relationships. Prayer changes churches. Prayer changes communities. And in the process there is blessing, there is fruit. Throughout the coming year, you will hear more about opportunities to become part of this movement- from committing to praying for a street or neighborhood, to participating in a prayer walk, gathering in the chapel on Mondays at 11am to pray for what’s on our hearts, for our church, and for our community, and participating in a prayer service. I also encourage us all to begin praying more intentionally each day. No one is expected to do everything. But everyone can do something. Our hope is that prayer will become more than something we do. Our prayer is that it becomes part of who we are. Imagine if our reputation in the community was that we are people who love boldly, who pray for one another, are furtively praying for our community, and are willing and wanting to pray for me. They genuinely care, and are living the uncommon life of Christ followers who not only talk the talk, but walk the walk! All of this because through prayer we are abiding in Christ, becoming more like Christ, and in the compassion of Christ are Covering our Community with Prayer. And as we do, we trust that God will bring hope where there is discouragement, healing where there is brokenness, and wholeness where lives have become fragmented. Please pray for this new initiative. Ask God where God might be inviting you to participate. Together, let us become a church known- not simply for what happens inside our building- but for faithfully lifting our entire community before God, for being people God works through to bring hope, healing, and wholeness to others. Grace and peace, Pastor Sherry  As we reflect on the remarkable story of our nation’s beginnings, we remember that America’s Founding Fathers were more than statesmen, scholars, and patriots—they were individuals wrestling with profound questions of justice, human dignity, freedom, and the responsibilities of self-government.
Their vision was not perfect, nor was it fully realized in their own time. Yet they set forth an enduring aspiration: that people should have the opportunity to live with fairness, pursue liberty, worship according to conscience, and seek justice under laws designed to protect the rights of all. For many of the founders, faith and spiritual conviction were not separate from public life but part of the moral foundation that shaped their understanding of human worth and accountability. While they represented different religious traditions and personal beliefs, many expressed the conviction that rights ultimately came not from governments, but from a Creator, and that those entrusted with leadership carried a sacred responsibility to serve others with wisdom and integrity. Prayer was woven into many moments of the nation’s founding. During times of uncertainty, division, and sacrifice, leaders and alike sought guidance beyond themselves. They understood that building a new nation required courage—but also humility. Hope for the future was strengthened by faith that God’s providence could guide a people striving toward a more just and peaceful society. The founding generation envisioned a nation where religious freedom would flourish—not the freedom to believe only one way, but the freedom of conscience itself. This commitment opened the door for people of many backgrounds to seek God according to their convictions while living together as neighbors and citizens. Their work launched a continuing journey—one generation after another seeking to more fully embody the ideals of equality, justice, and opportunity. The promise of America has always depended not only on laws and institutions, but on the character, compassion, and faith of its people. Today, as we face our own challenges and opportunities, we are reminded that hope still grows where faith is nurtured, where prayer invites wisdom, and where communities commit themselves to fairness, mercy, and service. May we continue to seek a future marked by justice, strengthened by freedom, and guided by the enduring belief that together we can build a better tomorrow for all. "Blessed is the nation whose God is the Lord…" — Psalm 33:12  Becoming a People of Hope, Healing, and WholenessAs summer begins, I want to share both a personal note and an exciting invitation for our church family and community.
First, I will be away on vacation during the month of June and will return on July 5th. I am deeply grateful to Pastor Sue for graciously providing pastoral coverage while I’m away. Thank you as well to all of you who continue to faithfully serve, pray, encourage, and care for one another. Even while I’m away, ministry continues- and in many ways, something beautiful is beginning to grow among us. Over the past months, our Prayer Team has been prayerfully discerning how God may be calling us to more intentionally pray for our church, our neighbors, and our community. Out of that discernment has come a new initiative called “Covering the Community.” This is more than a program. It is a commitment to become people who actively carry the love, presence, compassion, and hope of Christ into the places where people are hurting, struggling, lonely, discouraged, or searching for hope. Beginning Monday, July 6, and continuing every Monday afterward, our chapel will be open from 11:00 a.m. to noon for quiet prayer. Prayer guides will be available for anyone who would like help focusing their prayers. Members of the Prayer Team will also be present for anyone who would like personal prayer. We will also be extending this invitation beyond our church walls- welcoming members of the community, including groups such as AA, the Dwyer Program, and others who may simply need a quiet and peaceful place to pray or be prayed for. Even if only one person comes on a given Monday, we believe something powerful happens when God’s people faithfully pray. Every week, someone will be intentionally covering our community in prayer. Then, on September 20, we will gather after worship for a shared meal before heading out into the community for a Prayer Walk. Those who are able will walk through neighborhoods praying for homes, families, businesses, schools, and the people we encounter along the way. If someone is open to it, we may even have the privilege of praying with them personally or receiving a prayer request from them. (Rain date: September 27.) On September 27, another part of “Covering the Community” will begin as individuals commit to regularly praying for specific streets and areas throughout the city. Prayer guides will provide information about community needs, concerns, and suggested ways to pray intentionally and compassionately for those who live there. We are stepping into all of this with expectancy. We believe God is already at work. We believe prayer changes things — including us. And we are looking forward to seeing many more “God Moments” as we pay attention to how God moves in our church, our city, and our own lives. As part of this initiative, we will also be creating “Covering the Community” t-shirts featuring our church name. We hope these shirts will serve not only during prayer events, but also in everyday life- a visible reminder that we are followers of Jesus seeking to love our neighbors, pray for our community, and let people know they are not alone. All of this is part of a larger vision: becoming a place of Hope, Healing, and Wholeness through Jesus Christ. This summer, our sermon series will help prepare us for that calling. Together we will explore what it means to become people who reflect God’s light and love into the world around us. The series will begin with “Living on the Vine” and continue through themes such as Unmasked, Unshaken, Untangled, Unstuck, Unending, Undoing, Unrestricted, and Uncommon. My prayer is that God will continue transforming us- shaping us into a people deeply rooted in Christ, filled with the Holy Spirit, and ready to welcome others with grace, authenticity, compassion, and hope. Church family, I truly believe God is doing something among us. Let us continue praying. Let us continue listening. Let us continue following where God leads. And may we become a people who help cover this community in prayer, love, and the presence of Christ. In Christ’s Service, Pastor Sherry  There are so many signs of Spring—robins returning, trees beginning to bloom, grass that is turning greener, bulbs that have blossomed, occasional warm breezes, and beautiful, long awaited sunshine (YAY!!)
As I was looking out of my window recently, enjoying the sunshine that I’ve missed for months, I noticed something else about Spring that sprang up within me...a desire to do some spring cleaning! Because filtering the sunshine were little fingerprints—and even nose prints—from my grandchildren who had just visited...as well as a layer of grime on the outside after the winter months of keeping the windows shut tight against the cold. The sunshine didn’t just make me smile or bring warmth to my home—it revealed some cleaning that needed to be done. God’s light works in much the same way. God’s love makes us smile. God’s care warms us. And God’s presence gently reveals areas within us that need attention—perhaps with a deep “spring cleaning”. Not in a condemning way, but in a way that draws attention and even inspires within us a desire for God to spruce up the home of our lives. God’s light shines into the house of our soul, and sometimes what it reveals is a little uncomfortable. We may have smudges on the windows of our perspective that are preventing us from seeing clearly. We may have some sin, like dirty baseboards that need to be wiped down, but we haven’t done it because we keep telling ourselves that no one will notice. We may be holding onto baggage from the past, like a stuffed closet loaded with items we haven't worn in years, leaving no room for what God would want to do now. Or we may have collected a pile of excuses for why we can’t change, like that one drawer that seems to gather everything and never gets cleaned out—the “junk drawer” (and we all have one). But spring cleaning isn’t just about seeing what’s dirty, messy, broken or needing to be changed. It’s about making space for something fresh. We open everything up to let the fresh air move through, and we begin to freshen up and renew our spaces. In the life of faith, we aren’t left alone with a lengthy “to-do list.” Right now, we are in a season of Eastertide—a time when we remember that God not only reveals what needs to change, but also brings new life. Through the power of the resurrection, God is actively renewing us, shaping us, and creating space within us for grace, peace, and purpose. God inspires, equips, and empowers us to journey into the fresh, new life God wants for us. In the days after Jesus’ resurrection, people encountered him and found that everything was being made new. In the Gospel of John, Mary Magdalene stood outside the tomb, overwhelmed with grief—until Jesus called her by name, and she was suddenly able to see clearly. In the Gospel of Luke, two disciples walked along the road, carrying confusion and disappointment—until their eyes were opened and their hearts burned with new understanding. Resurrection didn’t just change what they believed—it changed how they saw, what they carried, and how they lived, as God created new life within them. And the same is true for us. Spring cleaning in our lives isn’t about scrubbing harder or trying to make ourselves perfect. It’s about allowing God to gently clear what no longer belongs, so that something new can take its place. It’s about releasing what we’ve been holding onto, healing what’s been hidden away, and opening up space for grace, peace, and purpose. Because resurrection power through Jesus Christ isn’t just about an empty tomb. It’s about our lives being made new—again and again. And thankfully, God’s renewal is much more thorough and far more loving than anything we would try to do on our own. God is with us in the process—in the noticing, in the letting go, and in creating something new within us. And God also designed for believers to experience that renewal together in community as we gather, reflect, pray, encourage one another, and share God Moments along the way into the new life God is creating among us. So, as we move through this Easter season together, consider: · Where is God gently shining light into your life? · What is God inviting you to release? · What new thing might God be making space for within you, and among our church family? May we be a people who not only welcome the light, but trust what God is doing in it. I’m looking forward with gratitude and anticipation to the fresh new work God is doing among us. Peace and Grace, Pastor Sherry  As we continue through Lent—a season of prayer, reflection, and repentance—we begin to turn our hearts toward Holy Week. All of Lent leads us to this sacred time, when we walk step-by-step with Jesus through the final days of his earthly ministry.
On Sunday. March 29th, we celebrate Palm Sunday. Jesus entered Jerusalem to crowds shouting, “Hosanna!” - which means “Save us!” They waved palm branches, welcoming him as a king and celebrating what they believed would be a victory. Yet Jesus entered knowing the danger ahead. Because of his great love, he chose to enter anyway. On Thursday, April 2nd, we observe Maundy Thursday. Jesus gathered with his disciples in the Upper Room to share the Passover meal. He knew the cross was before him. He knew he would be betrayed, denied, and abandoned. And still—he loved. He knelt down and washed his disciples’ feet, taking the posture of a servant. He washed the feet of Judas , who would betray him. He washed the feet of Peter, who would deny him. He washed the feet of those who would scatter and leave him alone. We may not think of ourselves in those terms, but truly, we have all had moments where we’ve fallen short—times we’ve turned away, stayed silent, or chosen our own way instead of God’s. And still...Jesus loved anyway. And that same love is offered to us—no matter who we are or what we have done. On Friday, April 3rd, we remember Good Friday, when Jesus gave his life on the cross. It is a solemn day, reminding us that Jesus knows us fully—our fears, our doubts, our regrets, the things we carry quietly—and chose to give himself for us anyway. His love held nothing back. And then comes Easter Sunday, April 5th—the celebration of resurrection and new life. Jesus rose again, defeating sin and death, restoring what was broken, and making a way for us to be in relationship with God once again. Through Jesus, there is victory—over sin, over death, over every broken place in our lives. All because Jesus loved anyway. If you are still exploring what that love means, I invite you to take a step closer this season. It truly is life-changing. And if you already know this love—rejoice! And live it out. Love others as Christ has loved us. Where might God be inviting you to love anyway? “For God so loved the world…” (John 3:16) May you experience God’s deep and abundant love this season. Grace and Peace, Pastor Sherry  There’s an old saying about the month of March, “In like a lion, out like a lamb.” I remember my children in preschool focusing on this with arts and crafts, and they would make puppet faces for both a lion and a lamb that they played with. When this phrase is used, it is typically referring to March beginning with weather that comes in as a strong and powerful Winter but then transitions to a mild and gentle Spring. “In like a lion and out like a lamb” can also describe Jesus’ experience during Holy Week, and some believe the origins of this phrase actually came from that Biblical understanding.
We are now in the season of Lent, and are doing a sermon series that is exploring Holy Week. It began with Jesus coming into Jerusalem like a lion, a king, with his triumphal entry. (Don’t worry, we will still wave palms and shout “Hosanna!” on Palm Sunday!) Throughout Holy Week, the last week of Jesus’ life, many events took place until Jesus experienced his arrest and trials. Jesus chose to become the “sacrificial lamb,” on our behalf, being crucified for the atonement of the sins of the world. Yet in the Biblical story, and in our lives, it doesn’t end in death, but in life! Jesus rose again, triumphant as king! (Hallelujah, Amen!) New life in Christ and eternal life are available to everyone through Jesus Christ! Jesus is both the “Lamb of God” who takes away the sins of the world and the “Lion of Judah”! (see Rev. 5:5-10) During Lent, we focus on our need for new life within, our continual sanctification, and eternal life through Jesus. The beginning of Lent began on Ash Wednesday, with a prayer vigil. There was the imposition of ashes that reflects humility, repentance, and even our own mortality, as a reminder that we need a Savior! Lent is a time determined by the Church for reflection, preparation, and participation. Throughout Lent, we focus on growing in our faith and devotion while also determining to repent. We participate in practices over 40 days, such as fasting, prayer, increased reading of Scripture, and increased giving (sometimes referred to as almsgiving). During the prayer vigil, people prayed about how God would have them respond—either by giving up something or taking up something (or both) - listed in the other article about the prayer vigil. When we participate in Lent with a seeking and repentant heart, we draw near to our Lamb of God, Jesus Christ. Throughout the 40 days of Lent, as we continue to reflect, repent, commit, and grow, we look forward to the experience of our Lion of Judah who triumphed over the grave on Easter. Please prayerfully consider participating in Lenten practices this year- it’s not too late to start. All are also encouraged to attend Holy Week services. Take the time, and experience the new life that Christ offers. I invite you to journal about your experiences through Lent and consider sharing your reflections and experiences, your God Moments, with your faith family. March is ushering in Lent, “In like a Lion, and out like a Lamb,” and we remember that Jesus continues to be for us the Lion and the Lamb! Praise be to God! Shalom, Pastor Sherry  There are moments in life when we find ourselves standing at a threshold. A doorway between what has been and what is coming next. A pause before we step forward. A moment where we sense that something new is beginning- but we’re not quite sure how to enter it.
Lent is one of those moments. Before we rush toward Easter’s celebration, Lent invites us to stop, to breathe, to take an honest look at our lives and our relationship with God. It is not a season meant to weigh us down, but to help us make room- room for grace, truth, and transformation. Ash Wednesday stands right at the threshold. It reminds us of our humanity as we hear the words, “Remember that you are dust, and to dust you shall return.” But it also invites us into grace through repentance as we hear the words, “Repent, and believe the gospel.” To repent, to turn around, is to reorient our lives toward God again. Not in shame, but in hope. Not in fear, but in trust. For many of us, the hardest part of faith is not believing- it’s slowing down enough to listen. Life moves quickly. Our days are full. Our minds are busy. And even our prayers can begin to feel rushed or routine. That is why this year, we are offering something a little different as we begin Lent. On Wednesday, February 18th, from 4-6:30pm, our Prayer Team has created an Ash Wednesday Prayer Vigil in Darrah Hall. Rather than a single, scheduled service, the space will be arranged with eight prayer stations, each designed to offer an opportunity to pause, reflect, and pray. A place to breathe, encounter and connect with God, and experience the threshold into Lent. We anticipate and open ourselves to how God will move in our lives throughout the 40 days of Lent and beyond. You are welcome to come at any point during those two and a half hours. You may stay briefly, or linger. Among the stations will be an opportunity for the imposition of ashes, reminding us of our shared humanity, and to receive Holy Communion, reminding us that grace always meets us at the threshold. If your life feels full… or noisy… or heavy… If you’re not sure what direction God is calling you… If you desire a deeper experience of Lent… If you simply need a quiet moment to catch your breath… Come, and prayerfully participate on Ash Wednesday. Lent doesn’t ask us to have everything figured out, but invites us to pause long enough to breathe deeply, trust that God will meet us there, and to step forward into wherever and however God is leading. My hope is that this prayer vigil will be for all of us a sacred threshold where we can breathe, pray, and move forward on a transformative journey together. Grace and peace, Pastor Sherry  Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come: the old has gone, the new is here! - II Corinthians 5:17
We often consider January 1st as a time of new beginnings. A new year, a fresh start, with resolutions to live a different life, a better life. But January 1st is just a date on the Gregorian calendar, an invented time measurement. Nothing really changes on January 1st (except trying to remember new numbers when writing the year), and some of us even make resolutions that begin on January 2nd- wanting one more day of our old life. Typically, resolutions have been found to not be lasting. Every once in a while, it will stick, but not usually. That doesn’t mean that we shouldn’t look forward to and strive for positive change, but it does mean that we should instead examine it from the perspective of our faith. Lasting change, real transformation, is available to us every day through Christ. If we were to call it a resolution, it would be to resolve to live into the promise God has given us. The Christian life is a world of new beginnings, fresh starts. God wants us to live a life filled with the fruit of God’s Spirit- love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self control. God wants all of us to live by the Spirit and experience God’s abundant blessings in every area of our life. Typical New Year’s Resolutions are usually decided by us, propelled forward only by our own will and stamina, and then we wonder why a resolution did not result in lasting change. As people of faith, we need to invite God into our decisions, into every area of our life. We ask God about what God would want us to change, submit to God’s will, and then rely on the Holy Spirit to empower us to live into God’s new and fresh start. Transformation, sanctification—the “new” is here and available to all of us at all times through Jesus Christ, our Lord. May you have a blessed New Year! Peace, Pastor Sherry |
AuthorRev. Susan Hadley Archives
October 2026
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