Heather Connor

This time of year, gardens and farmers’ markets (and even our own fellowship hall) are often overflowing with tomatoes. Not just the neat, red, uniform kind lined up in grocery store bins, but heirloom tomatoes in all their wild unique beauty. Some are striped and spotted, others are lumpy and uneven. They come in every shade you can imagine, from deep purple to golden yellow. And there’s nothing quite like a tomato warmed and ripened by the sun, sliced open and sprinkled with a little salt. Or that perfect, simple southern classic, a tomato and mayo sandwich. The flavor is unlike anything that traveled milesRead More →

I don’t know about you, but it seems like every week (or day!) brings new reasons to feel unsettled. Whether it’s global conflicts, natural disasters, political drama, or the quieter struggles happening in our own homes and communities, we’re living in a season where certainty feels hard to come by. In times like these, it can be tempting to think faith requires us to have simple answers or steady confidence. But the Bible shows us something different: a long line of people who dared to wrestle with God, to ask hard questions, and to push back when things didn’t make sense. Jacob wrestled with GodRead More →

Finding Wonder and God’s Presence in Holy Darkness “The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness did not overtake it.” — John 1:5 NRSVUE On summer nights, one of my favorite things happens as dusk falls and the night sounds begin: the lightning bugs come out. No matter how many times I see them, their flickering light in the shadows still makes me pause and smile. I remember many summer evenings, laughing and running around, trying to catch one of these glowing wonders. Even now, whether I’m out walking or just taking out the trash, their tiny pulses of light spark something deep withinRead More →

There’s a special kind of sacredness in a beginning. Sure, beginning something new might make you anxious and uncertain but it also invites you to be curious, to wonder, and to hope.  That’s how this new season feels for me and for my family as we step into life with you all here at UMCG. We’ve already experienced such generous hospitality—through warm welcomes, friendly conversations, and the many thoughtful snacks and meals that remind us just how much a church can feel like home. Thank you for receiving us as a part of your UMCG family. As I begin serving as your Minister of FormationRead More →

School concerts, graduations, banquets, tournaments, exams, recitals, teacher gifts, and the countdown to summer…all packed into thirty-one busy dawn-to-dusk days. I don’t know about you but it’s no wonder some of us feel like May is the other December. It’s like the busy holiday season without the cozy, colorful lights. But here we are. We made it. We’ve survived the whirlwind of activities, and we can see June just around the corner. And whether you’ve limped toward the finish line, clutching your coffee in one hand and your calendar in the other or you thrived and kept the schedule like a boss, either way, we’veRead More →