Faith @ First - June 26, 2026
This week I had the privilege of convening a group of members for our Worship Leader Training, and I left the evening with a deep sense of gratitude. As I looked around the room, I saw people of different ages, different backgrounds, different life experiences, and different places on their faith journey. Some have been leading in different ways for years. Others are stepping into this kind of ministry for the very first time. Yet every one of them shared something in common: they had said "yes" to use the gifts God has placed within them.
What a beautiful picture of the Church.
Scripture reminds us that we are one body with many parts, each uniquely gifted for God's purposes. The beauty of the Church has never been found in our sameness but in our shared mission. When people with different stories come together around Jesus, God's kingdom becomes visible.
That vision will be at the heart of our worship this Sunday. We'll reflect on Jesus' ministry and how He continually drew in people who had been labeled, limited or pushed to the margins. The Church was never meant to be a gathering place for people who all look alike, think alike, or have life all figured out. It is a place where every person can encounter the transforming love of Christ.
So, this week, I'd like to offer you both an invitation and a challenge. Think of someone who may not feel seen by the Church. Someone who believes there isn't a place for them. Someone carrying doubts, hurts, questions, or simply wondering if they belong.
Invite them to worship with you this Sunday.
My hope is not that they come once and immediately become part of our church family. My hope is that they leave with absolute certainty: this is a church—and we are a people—that love people with NO exceptions.
I pray you share that hope and will pray with me:
Gracious God, thank You for creating each of us with unique gifts and calling us together as one body in Christ. Give us eyes to see those who feel unseen, hearts that welcome without hesitation, and courage to extend Your invitation to everyone we meet. May our church reflect the wide embrace of Your love so that all who enter our doors experience the hope, grace, and belonging found in Jesus. Amen.
Keep the Faith @ First,
Pastor Nicole
