A word from Senior Pastor, Jane L. Leechford

…most of the brothers and sisters, having been made confident in the Lord by my imprisonment, dare to speak the word with greater boldness and without fear."
Philippians 1:14

From the beginning of the Christian community's early formation, the call of Jesus to his followers has been "to be my witnesses." What does this mean for us today, especially in this time of division and hate?  At Pentecost, the promise of Christ's enduring presence is fulfilled in the outpouring of the Holy Spirit upon all flesh, thereby equipping the church to be more than just another special interest group of like-minded individuals - and to do more than it could ever do on its own. The Apostle Paul also calls the church to action "with greater boldness and without fear."

This prophetic call still echoes across the church. However, in a world that toils with hurtful rhetoric, the news of redemption through death and resurrection may seem for some, unusual. As people called by God who, in the beginning said, "Let there be light," we know there must be a plan for our present darkness because even in moments of pain and uncertainty, when the people of God are feeling torn in every direction, there are moments of subtle glory. Amidst the heartache, there are glimpses of the revelation of God in fresh and new ways. Perhaps this takes place through the revelation of the people who continue to proclaim the good news despite the chaos in our communities, nation, and world.

Brené Brown, in her book, Daring Greatly, shares a famous quote by Theodore Roosevelt that I think describes what the response of the church might be in this time: "It is not the critic who counts; not the man who points out how the strong man stumbles, or where the doer of deeds could have done them better. The credit belongs to the man who is actually in the arena, whose face is marred by dust and sweat and blood; who strives valiantly; who errs, who comes short again and again, because there is no effort without error and shortcoming; but who does actually strive to do the deeds; who knows great enthusiasms, the great devotions; who spends himself in a worthy cause; who at the best knows in the end the triumph of high achievement, and who at the worst, if he fails, at least fails while daring greatly."

I sense these words speaking to the church and to all those who continue to stand strong in their faith - people on the frontlines – healthcare workers, teachers, moms and dads, grandparents, leaders in government, those who feed the hungry, provide for the homeless and the alien, those who serve people of all nations, races, and tribes – all those whose presence makes a difference in the lives of others. What gives us the courage to risk, to be vulnerable, to stand amid the uncertainty of this time is the deep trust in a God who walks with us, cares for us, loves us, and wants us to grow. This is the God who stands in the arena with us – the God of grace, goodness, surprises, delight – the God who delights in bringing joy out of mourning and who delights in new life, the God who authors songs of hope, audacious visions, essential questions, prophetic boldness, and the strength to love.

Our response to this amazing God will make a world of difference for our church and the people we
serve. The church must continue to dare greatly as she has over the centuries. In doing so, I pray that we find our voice amidst the clamor of the world and offer the hope of God to all people.

Moving forward in hope,
Pastor Jane