First, thank you. Thank you to everyone who prayed for our family and wished us well while we were away. We had a wonderful time exploring the Big Island, Maui, and Oʻahu. We experienced breathtaking landscapes, learned about the islands’ rich histories, and encountered people whose generosity and hospitality left a lasting impression on us. I’ll have more to share in the weeks ahead, but one lesson has stayed with me.
Wherever we went, people spoke naturally and joyfully about what it means to be Hawaiian. Their identity wasn’t something they held tightly for themselves. They shared it freely—with stories, language, food, customs, music, and hospitality. Through the spirit of aloha, they welcomed others into a way of seeing the world, trusting that relationships formed through shared identity could become a blessing for everyone. That made me wonder: How often do we think about our own identity in the same way?
Pastor Heather and I have been sensing for some time that one of the greatest gifts we can offer our community is not simply being a church that happens to be in Geneva. Our calling is deeper than geography. We are part of a worldwide movement of Christians shaped by God’s grace and formed by the Wesleyan tradition. We belong to a global connection that spans cultures, languages, and nations, united by one mission: to make disciples of Jesus Christ for the transformation of the world.
That identity matters.
It shapes how we worship. It shapes how we read Scripture. It shapes how we care for our neighbors, seek justice, practice generosity, and extend grace. Our identity forms our community, and our community, in turn, blesses the communities in which we live.
That’s why this coming program year, from September through May, we’ll be exploring the United Methodist Social Principles together. These are not church laws or political platforms. They are our denomination’s theological reflections on what it means to live faithfully as followers of Jesus in today’s world. They invite us to consider how grace shapes every part of life and how our faith calls us to love God and neighbor in practical ways. This won’t simply be a sermon series. It will be a churchwide journey of preaching, teaching, conversation, and action for every generation.
Before we begin, though, we need your help.
At the end of August, Pastor Heather and I will spend time together in prayer and planning for the coming year. Beginning August 13, we’ll also begin reviewing the responses to our annual planning survey. The survey is a bit longer than in previous years because we’re asking deeper questions about who we are, what God may be calling us toward, and where you hope to grow in faith. Your responses are anonymous, but they will directly shape how we preach, teach, and lead throughout the coming year. We’ll spend about a month praying over those responses before launching this new emphasis on September 13.
I hope you’ll take the time to participate. I think you’ll find the questions thought-provoking, and your reflections will become part of our shared discernment.
I look forward to sharing more stories from Hawaiʻi in the weeks ahead. But even more, I look forward to discovering together what it means to deepen our identity as United Methodists, strengthen our community, and continue illuminating our community with God’s grace.
Aloha,
