Hola Kelsey Family,

This week I traveled to San Antonio for our annual Clergy Convocation. That's a gathering of pastors from across our conference. It’s always a meaningful time of worship, prayer, learning, and listening as we hear from our bishop about the direction of our conference and the denomination. On a personal level, it’s a gift to reconnect with colleagues and friends in ministry. I always leave encouraged. God is at work, and I can tell you God's church is in good hands.

This Sunday, we continue our Lenten series, Hope in the Ashes. Last week, I shared that we’re focusing on hope in the ashes, not just hope from the ashes. Hope from the ashes reminds us that God can rebuild, restore, and redeem after the fire. That’s true and important. But hope in the ashes? That’s the kind of hope that emerges in the trial and says, “God is here,” even before anything changes. This week’s message is titled, “God, Are You Even Listening?” If you’ve ever prayed that prayer, you’re not alone. I hope you’ll join us.

I'll be leading the men's Bible study this weekend. Plus, on Monday night, the men are hosting our first Table and Fire (Also known as Steak Night). I won't be able to attend this one because of a prior commitment, but I'm looking forward to hearing how it went. By the way, they need a head count of who is attending Steak Night. 

When pastors get together, they always ask each other how things are going at the church. So, I get a chance to brag on God about the wonderful congregation I serve. Thanks for making Kelsey a loving place to be. 

Stay blessed...john

P.S. This weekend's Communion Offering is for the Pastor's Discretionary Fund, used to help when members have a need.

Kate Bowler's TED Talk shares her own story of being diagnosed with stage IV cancer at age 35 and how that crisis reshaped her beliefs about pain and purpose. Instead of offering easy answers or plastering over loss with clichés, she challenges the idea that “everything happens for a reason” and invites us into a deeper, more honest way of facing life’s hardest moments.

This message aligns beautifully with last week's message, reminding us that grief and honest questions are not signs of doubt, but of a real, living faith. You can also read her book "Everything Happens for a Reason: And Others Lied I've Loved." 

What do you do when something you thought was solid suddenly collapses? In this message, we look at the opening of Lamentations and the biblical practice of lament. When life falls apart (your health, relationships, dreams, or certainty) God invites you not to pretend, but to be honest. This is a message about faith in crisis, grief without shame, and the kind of hope that doesn’t rush through pain. If you’ve ever asked, “How can this be?” this message is for you.