Sticky
By:
On:
In: Pastor's Blog

If you’re a Taylor Swift fan, you know her career is filled with distinct eras—each one a reflection of her growth, creativity, and impact on the world. This year at UMCG we’re diving into the greatest “era” of all time: Jesus’ life. Each sermon series in 2025 serves as a new chapter, a unique era in Jesus’ journey, inviting us to see how His life and teachings continue to inspire and transform. Our year with Jesus began in December with our Advent series, where we stepped into Jesus’ story with “The Light of Hope, Peace, Love, and Joy: Preparing Our Hearts for Jesus.” Think ofRead More →

Sticky
By:
On:
In: Pastor's Blog

Each year, on December 28 (tomorrow), the Christian calendar observes the Feast of the Holy Innocents, commemorating the tragic events following Christ’s birth. The Gospel of Matthew recounts how King Herod, in a desperate attempt to eliminate the newborn “King of the Jews,” ordered the massacre of all male children in Bethlehem under the age of two (Matthew 2:16). This brutal act led to unimaginable grief among Jewish families and forced Mary, Joseph, and the infant Jesus to flee to Egypt, becoming refugees. The story of the Holy Innocents is hauntingly relevant today as we confront the ongoing slaughter of innocents through violence, war, andRead More →

Sticky
By:
On:
In: Pastor's Blog

Earlier this month, our family received a lovely box of Christmas cookies, each one a tiny masterpiece of sugar and frosting. Among them was a sugar cookie shaped like the contiguous 48 states, its blue, red, and white frosting swirled to resemble the American flag. Star-shaped sprinkles completed the patriotic design. It was a magnificent cookie, a work of culinary art, and my daughter Lily can attest that it was lemony and delicious. As a centerpiece for a Fourth of July celebration, this cookie would have been perfect. But nestled among Christmas trees, snowflakes, and gingerbread men, its presence felt a little out of place.Read More →

Sticky
By:
On:
In: Pastor's Blog

As we journey through this season of hope, it is a privilege to reflect on the many ways our congregation embodies God’s grace. One such expression of our faith in action is the Pastors’ Discretionary Fund, a ministry of care and compassion quietly making a difference in countless lives. This fund exists to meet material and financial needs within our community, offering a hand up in times of unexpected hardship. Guided by our church’s mission and policies, the fund’s resources are carefully stewarded to ensure the greatest impact. Donations come from individual gifts and contributions from our Men’s Club and Women’s Ministry. These acts ofRead More →

Sticky
By:
On:
In: Pastor's Blog

Advent is a season of anticipation—a time to prepare our hearts for the coming of Christ. It’s a time of hope, peace, joy, and love, yet these can feel elusive in a world that often feels like it’s been turned upside down. Enter Bizarro Superman, a character from the comic book universe who embodies inversion. Everything Superman stands for—truth, justice, and the protection of humanity—Bizarro twists into its opposite. He creates chaos where there should be order, confusion where there should be clarity. In the Bizarro world, love doesn’t conquer fear; fear conquers love. It’s a distortion of the powerful promise in 1 John 4:18:Read More →