Message From the Pastor - Ordinary Time: Co-Creating with the Spirit
“Ordinary Time challenges us to live our faith in the long stretches of the mundane,
to find God in the daily, the overlooked, the slowly transforming.”
—Debie Thomas, Journey with Jesus
Ordinary Time is anything but ordinary. It stretches across two long seasons in the church year—the first beginning after Epiphany Day and ending the day before Ash Wednesday, and the second starting after Pentecost and continuing until the start of Advent. Marked by the color green—the color of growth, renewal, and unfolding life—Ordinary Time invites us to tend to our faith, deepen our spiritual roots, and discover the sacred in the rhythms of daily living.
This summer, our sanctuary reflects that invitation through new pulpit and altar paraments that stir the imagination and awaken the spirit. With shapes that evoke leaves twisting and reaching like prayer, and wind and waves that echo time and movement, these banners remind us that the Spirit still stirs—shaping us, molding us, and inviting us to co-create with the Divine.
We each carry gifts—charisms—that are uniquely ours to offer. Whether through art, service, leadership, compassion, advocacy, or curiosity, the Spirit equips us all to participate in God’s renewing work. Our worship space itself is a testimony to that truth, made more beautiful through the creative gifts of fabric artist Judi Severson and the ongoing imagination of our faithful visuals team.
And the Spirit’s movement isn’t limited to the sanctuary. This season, we celebrate the many ways our church is alive with faith and joy:
August 3–8: Our youth will travel to Kansas to serve, grow, and experience God’s presence in new ways. Please keep them in your prayers as they embody Christ’s love through hands-on mission and ministry.
August 10, 5–7:30 p.m.: Families are invited to a Movie Night featuring How to Train Your Dragon—a story of courage, friendship, and discovery. We'll share pizza, popcorn, an ice-breaker game, and a special welcome for rising 6th graders as they meet our Youth Director, Kristen Twitchell.
August 23, 1–4 p.m.: Celebrate summer’s end at Summer Splash! There’ll be a slip-n-slide, water balloons, bounce house, and cold treats for all ages—an intergenerational afternoon of fun, fellowship, and joy. Invite your neighbors and neighborhood children!
Together, may we continue to grow—rooted in grace, filled with wonder, and open to the Spirit’s creative leading. In the green and growing days of Ordinary Time, may we see that God is still speaking, still calling, and still co-creating life and love through us all.
Blessings,
Donna