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 Formation and Outreach, I want to share just a bit about what that means to me. I see this role rooted in two questions:
How do we grow in faith? How do we extend that faith beyond our walls?
And both are wrapped up well with the words Formation and Outreach.
Here’s how I like to think about Formation— as our lifelong, Spirit-led journey of becoming more like Jesus, not limited to a classroom or a curriculum. It’s always unfolding as we engage Scripture, ask honest questions, sing, pray, play, serve, and show up for one another. And it starts from our very first breath.
Infants, in their vulnerability, call forth care and nurture from others—just like Jesus.
Children embrace play as a holy way of being, learning, and loving freely—just like Jesus.
Adolescents wrestle with big questions—just like Jesus.
Adults reflect God’s purpose—just like Jesus.
And every age and stage can live and work for the sake of others—just like Jesus.
I believe Formation happens most powerfully as we all grow together, walking the road of sanctification, to daily live and love more like Jesus.
And that growth burst forth, overflowing beyond the walls of the church.
I like to think of Outreach as the way our formation can’t help but spill over to others—into neighborhoods, schools, parks, shelters, street corners, and all the overlooked nooks, crannies, and margins of our world. It’s how we live out what we believe: through acts of mercy, justice, hospitality, and presence.
Outreach is not just what we do—it’s part of who we are as God’s people. Just as infants invite others into their care and children model joy and openness, people of every age have something vital to offer the world.
Together, we discern where there is pain and possibility. Together, we serve. From gardens to prayer walks, from justice work to potlucks, from protests to playgrounds, we are co-creators of God’s kin(g)dom dream.
These two areas—formation and outreach—are deeply connected. One feeds the other. And when we nurture both, the church flourishes. So, to help us imagine what flourishing might look like in this new season, I’ll be preaching a three-week series called Flourish. Each week explores how God invites us to grow and be together. Here’s a glimpse at where we’re headed:
Week 1: Surprising Seeds
Every calling, every story, every season of growth begins with a seed. As we begin our ministry together, I’ll share a few glimpses of my own journey: from wonder with dandelions to glimpses of God’s kin(g)dom, wild and flourishing.
Week 2: Sacred Soil (Holy Compost)
Growth requires rich soil. This week, we’ll reflect on how God uses every part of each of our stories and every member of the community to nourish the kin(g)dom. We’ll celebrate the sacred connections between wisdom seekers and wisdom bearers, between memory and imagination, between what has been and what’s yet to be.
Week 3: Fruit for All
God’s kin(g)dom is abundant and inclusive. As we wrap up the series, we’ll reflect on what it means to be co-creators of God’s dream, extending radical hospitality to a world that longs to be fed, seen, and loved, leaning in and bearing fruit together through love and service.
It is my prayer that this series is an invitation— a chance for us to listen for God’s voice together and to trust the steady and holy work of shared beginnings. Whether you’ve been here for decades or just recently walked through the doors, like me, we’re each part of the flourishing that is unfolding. You belong here and I can’t wait to get to know you—your stories, your questions, your hopes for UMCG and for our shared future. If you’re passionate about children or youth, if you love asking questions about faith, if your heart beats for justice, or even if you’re not sure where you fit in yet: let’s talk. I’d love to hear what’s on your heart and what excites you.
Thank you again—for your warm welcome and for your openness to the Spirit’s leading in this new beginning. May God continue to surprise us, nourish us, and help us bear fruit that blesses the world.
Let’s flourish—together.
