These Aren't Just Words

This past Sunday I shared something with you that I hope sticks. It grows out of the vision our team created for the future:

"To serve as a heartbeat in the community so all feel connected and worthy of love."

It also grows out of who the people of KUMC already are.

Because of that, I believe we have two hopes every Sunday for every person who walks through our doors:

That they find connection.

That they feel loved.

Those hopes may seem obvious—and honestly, that's a good thing. But they're worth saying out loud. We want first-time visitors, longtime members, and everyone in between to know that connection and love aren't special-event goals. They're our everyday hope.

And naming our hopes matter.

Proverbs 13:12 says, "Hope deferred makes the heart sick, but a desire fulfilled is a tree of life." If these hopes are important to us, then we should keep them in front of us. We should name them often, practice them intentionally, and look for the ways God is bringing them to life.

This past Sunday, I saw a glimpse of that.

We had visitors who found us online and decided to join us for worship. They filled out a welcome card, which meant we were able to do one of my new favorite things we do as a church.

For every first-time visitor who fills out a welcome card, we make a donation to a charity of their choice. It's a small way of saying that their presence already matters. Before they ever volunteer, join a group, or become members, they have already made an impact.

That's exactly what happened this week.

A new connection led to an act of love in our community.

Can you see it?

A visitor was welcomed. A need was supported. Love moved one step further into the world.

Moments like that remind me that God is at work among us.

Thanks be to God.

And as we move into another week, I hope you'll help us continue that work. Look for someone who may need connection. Look for someone who needs to know they are loved. You may be the very heartbeat God uses.

Will You Join Me In Prayer?

Loving God,

you created everything for connection and love.

It was designed that way from the very beginning and you work to make it still true today.

And yet, sometime we have to remind ourselves of that purpose, for ourselves and the rest of creation.

Forgive us for the ways we work towards disconnection and hate, even unintentional.

Help us to put these words on our hearts and minds and lips.

Help us to strive to work with you, not against you - against ourselves.

In the name of the triune God who embodies this.

Amen

“Listening is the first act of loving.”

Steph