Pilgrimage 2025

There was energetic christian music, awesome/inspiring speakers, games that brought people together, and even a rain storm inside the conference center last weekend for Pilgrimage 2025! It was a joy to join the youth for one of their nights of worship and to see our own Maddie performing an amazing dance of her own choreography (we’ll get a copy of the dance to share with you)! I’m looking forward to tomorrow, November 16, where a couple of the youth will get to share their experience with you. Come and support them!

And I loved the theme of this years Pilgrimage: Here I am God. What’s Next?” During the weekend the persistent question was, “for wherever you are in your faith journey right now, are you ready to take your next step?” It’s a great question for youth… and honestly it’s a great question for every Christian. When was the last time you took a step forward in your faith journey? It could be diving deeper into scripture with a small group (talk to Terri), or volunteering for Sunday service (talk to Susan), or signing up for the next mission team (talk to me). Our entire faith life is a journey full of movement - sometimes forward and sometimes backwards, but always movement. What I am praying for in you, and practicing myself, is that we decide to actively participate in our own journey with Christ. It starts but showing up and being present to where you currently are.

I celebrate where we currently are at KUMC. Just this past week we gathered together in the Higgins’ house to discuss what’s next for our whole church journey. I’ll share more Sunday morning with you, but I want to tell you this: The atmosphere in that room was filled to the brim with hope, joy, excitement, anticipation, curiosity, ideas, and so so much more! There is a growing excitement about what we are doing together with God, and I want nothing more than for you to be part of it. Both personally and communally.

So will you ask the question of your faith journey, “What’s next?” and be ready to walk into what God is answering for you?

Will you pray with me?

This prayer may be important to come back to time and again in our journey. Would you consider saving somehow? Write it on a post-it, take a screen shot, send it to your friend and say, “hey can you text this to me once a month?” Find a way to put this practice of asking God, “what’s next?” into your regular rhythm of life:

God above and Christ with me,

thank you for bringing me to this place in my walk with you.

Where I am is good.

And today I want to take the next step.

Guide me to greater love, stronger hope, and deeper peace in you.

Take me closer to where you’re leading me, because I want to grow as a disciple for you.

Here I am God. What’s next?

In the power of the Holy Spirit.

Amen.

“Listening is the first act of loving.”

Steph