A MESSAGE FROM REV. KAREN KINNEY: BUILT BY SAINTS
Grace and peace to you,
This Sunday, we hope you will come celebrate with us as we dedicate our 2026 pledges and commemorate our 150th anniversary. Our theme for these past weeks has been “Faithful Past, Hopeful Future: Built by Saints, Called to Serve.”
What stories of our faithful past do you have? 
What makes you hopeful for our future? How have you seen saints, including yourself, building our mission and ministry? Where do you feel called to serve?
We’ve also talked about the characteristics of Saints, and remember we define Saints as any follower of Jesus, which really makes us all Saints. As you think about how Saints can express gratitude through suffering, persevere with vulnerability, be courageous in the risks we take, and Being generous in loving our neighbor, where do you see yourself?
We are pleased to welcome Rev. Sue Pizor Yoder with us this Sunday as our guest preacher. Sue has a long history with us and is one of the Saints who has helped build who we are today. She will be preaching from Matthew 16:24-26 with her sermon, “Letting Go and Holding On.” As we think about our past and our future, what do we need to let go of and what do we need to hold on to? And how do we see that God, Jesus, and the Holy Spirit are the ones guiding us as we reflect on these questions?
I know you have heard me, and you have heard Pastor Lindsey say that ‘God is not done with us yet.’ God has moved us through 150 years so why would we think that our 151st year won’t also be guided by God?
You have seen throughout this season the impact we have had through our special Wednesday stewardship emails. Those impacts have been made possible – and will continue to be made possible -by the Saints of this church.
This includes the Saints of the past, the Saints of the present, and the Saints of the future, so long as we continue to discern God’s desires for us and our community, faithfully following Jesus, and being guided by the Holy Spirit.
Come and worship with us at our one Combined service at 11:15 a.m. where we will dedicate our pledges for 2026, that will help us continue to make the impact we have had. Then join us after for a celebratory lunch, with fellowship and a short program in Fellowship Hall!
Blessings,
Pastor Karen