Pastor’s Corner 2/1/2026
Dear Church Friends,
This Sunday’s readings from Matthew 5:1–12 and 1 Corinthians 1:18–13 describe a community that might not look powerful by the world’s standards, yet is deeply blessed and deeply used by God. As we prepare for our Annual Meeting, I see those same marks among us.
We are doing many things incredibly well. You and this place have a reputation for deep spirituality and authenticity. You live what we as a community preach with a high level of integrity. That integrity enables powerful acts of ministry and service. Jesus says, “Blessed are the merciful” (Matt. 5:7) and “Blessed are the peacemakers” (Matt. 5:9). I see those blessings embodied here, not as ideals, but as daily practices in how you care, serve, and show up for one another and for our neighbors.
At the same time, we face a clear truth. We must grow and find economic sustainability. We must grow because we are making the world a better place in Christ’s name. We must find sustainability because God has called us to this work and calls us to carry it forward. From the outside, this may look like small efforts and limited resources. But Paul reminds us, “God’s foolishness is wiser than human wisdom, and God’s weakness is stronger than human strength” (1 Cor. 1:25). Our hope has never rested in size or status, but in God’s faithfulness.
This call and challenge place us in the long story of God’s people. You are here because God has called you here. God would not call us without also giving us what we need. Like those Jesus names blessed, we may not always seem impressive, but we are already part of God’s reign at work in the world. Our Annual Meeting is one of the ways we listen together for how God is leading us next.
I am deeply grateful for you, the laypeople of this church. I admire your faith. I hear your life stories and watch you address real problems with wisdom and compassion. In you, I see living proof that God is real and active. Your resources, time, skills, and heart are part of how God’s work happens here.
We all know our world is hurting. The news and our own lives tell us that anxiety, oppression, addiction, ecological crisis, and economic strain are taking a toll. Many of us know people who are suffering, and many of us suffer ourselves. Jesus says, “Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted” (Matt. 5:4). Those words feel very close to home. Yet here, many have also found healing, meaning, and purpose through spirituality, community, and serving others. God has called us together to share what we have, materially and spiritually, as we invite others into this community of hope.
Please plan to attend our Annual Meeting. This is not just business. It is a spiritual practice of discernment, stewardship, and shared responsibility. Together, we will reflect on where we have been, where we are now, and where God is calling us to go next.
Joshua Kingsley (he/el), www.joshuadavidkingsley.net