Jumbled Thoughts — Week of September 6

The gospel reminds us that beneath all the labels we place on one another, we are deeply alike: created in God’s image, broken by sin, sustained by grace, and invited into Christ’s family. Romans calls us to “owe no one anything, except to love,” while Matthew 18 reminds us that even correction should seek restoration, reconciliation, and healing. Whether we feel like the few, the sinner, or the poor, we all need Jesus. God does extraordinary things through small and faithful communities. He offers transforming grace to imperfect people and calls us to notice and serve those who are often overlooked. The church is not a museum of perfect people; it is a place where wounded people are being healed. Because Christ has shown us mercy, we are called to show mercy, forgive, welcome, serve, and refuse to write anyone off. At the foot of the cross, the ground is level. We stand together, redeemed by the same Savior and called to love one another. May we remember that, in God’s eyes, each of us is equally loved, equally in need of grace, and equally welcomed at the table. 

This week, we began our new youth endeavor, and it was amazing! We shared a great taco bar dinner, followed by Bible Jeopardy and a game of bingo that helped us learn a little more about one another. We then played a lively game of Never Have I Ever. We had five youth and nine helpers, which made the games—and the evening—even more fun. I am so thankful to everyone who is willing to volunteer, invest in our young people, and help build them up as they learn what it means to love like Jesus. Speaking of loving like Jesus, our pantry served almost 550 families this month. That number is a little lower than last month, but we are still ahead of last year’s numbers overall. Thank you to everyone who supports our feeding ministries through your prayers, presence, and giving. Without your faithfulness and generosity, these ministries would not be where they are today.

Next week, we welcome our preschoolers back! I am thankful for this ministry and for all those who support and lead it. It will be wonderful to see and hear the children back in our building again. The last time I checked, we still had a spot or two available in our four-year-old class. So, if you know a child or parent who is looking for a place where their child can be loved, cared for, and taught for a few hours each day, please tell them about our preschool. We would love to welcome them! One final update: the kitchen painting is supposed to be completed by the end of the week, and we plan to move most of our kitchen items into their final homes soon.

I hope you all have a wonderful holiday weekend. Please know that you are all in my prayers.

Ryan