McKnight UMC occupies a particular niche, churchwise—let’s lean into it! We’re a neighborhood church. So, what’s special about a neighborhood church? We are a community striving to be open AND still to be connected to each other. We know each other—you know the joys and struggles of each other’s lives over time, and that’s a rare gift in our disconnected world. We are intergenerational—another rare gift, as most of our society is age-segregated. What gifts can a community like that offer the larger community around it?

I invite you to rethink how we grow the church: I’ve heard interest in young families, and I like that a lot. You all have been very responsive to some of the changes we’ve introduced: we’ve added a few things to our facilities, like adding a changing table, and we’ve had community members step up to get Safe Sanctuary clearances to work with children, and we have some church school lessons already prepped and ready. All of that is great. But what about other people who need church? Singles need church, 50-somethings need church, 70-somethings need church. So let’s expand our vision, and consider inviting some people who are outside of the “young family” category. Church membership still grows mostly by invitation, pandemic or not, so be thinking of opportunities to include your friends in this particular community of the body of Christ.

I’ll see you on Sunday—

Becky

Prayer

Gracious God,

We spend so much time worrying.

Anxiety consumes us:

What’s next?

What will happen to our church?

How will I manage that next thing?

We know that you expect us to participate in your work,

and we want to be responsive.

Help us to be active, and faithful,

AND to trust you.

Help us to release some of that anxiety,

knowing that you are with us.

Help us to notice our blessings,

to hear you speaking to us

of your love and your care and your kindness.

Help us to trust that you are ever holding the world in your hands,

that its running doesn’t depend on our always being correct.

Thank you for your love,

which goes ever ahead of us,

preparing your way, and our way,

and the way of all of those we love.

Blessed are you, Lord of all creation. Amen.