Adopted into One Family

Dear Church Family,

One of the gifts and challenges of life is learning what it means to belong to a family. We are shaped by our biological families, sustained by the families we choose, nurtured by our church family, and above all claimed by God’s family.

In his letter to the church in Ephesus, the Apostle Paul makes a remarkable claim: that long before any of them were born, they were destined for adoption in Christ. Not as an afterthought or a compromise, but as beloved children, chosen and claimed by their Creator from the very beginning.

That was no small thing for the church in Ephesus to hear. This was a deeply diverse community made up of Jewish followers of Jesus and people from across the Greco-Roman world. There were men and women, citizens and enslaved people, rich and poor, shaped by different traditions, cultures, and convictions. It is not hard to imagine disagreements, long meetings, and hard conversations about who they were called to be and how they were called to live.

Into that complexity, Paul speaks a word that is both comforting and challenging. Despite all their differences, they are family. Each one adopted as a beloved child of God. Being family does not mean there will never be conflict or disagreement, but it does mean that even when things are contentious, we remain connected to one another and to our Creator in Christ.
I confess that it has been painful to return home and witness how deep the divisions in our country and communities have become. I was shocked by the death of Renee Good, the daughter of a Presbyterian pastor here in Kansas, and troubled by the increasing confrontations and violence across our nation.

Last Sunday, as we remembered our baptism, we reaffirmed our commitment to renounce evil and turn away from the power of sin. As siblings in Christ, we are called to protect and care for the least and the last. We are also called to remember that every person is beloved by God. God grieves when we forget that truth.

I continue to pray for the families of those whose lives have been taken by violence, for those who live in fear of being separated from their families, and for the safety of those on all sides of conflict. I also pray for our community of faith, that we might live into the truth Paul proclaimed long ago, that we are siblings in Christ, adopted into one family, and held in a love that will not let us go.

See you in church.

With peace, love, and grace,

Pastor Kevin

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The Joy of Traveling

One of the gifts of traveling is how it widens our perspective. Traveling with family this week, we had the chance to visit churches that range from medieval stone sanctuaries to modern, light-filled spaces. Despite their differences, there is one feature they all share: the baptismal font. Sometimes it stands at the entrance, sometimes near the chancel—but it is always there.

People from around the world (believers and nonbelievers alike) walk through these churches, drawn by beauty, history, or curiosity. And across traditions and centuries, baptism remains a shared sign. While understandings may vary, what unites these traditions is the conviction that in baptism we are welcomed into the family of Christ—claimed as beloved children of God and called to live as siblings with one another.

I believe that this truth reaches even further. Regardless of our faith tradition—or even our faith itself—we are bound together, because Christ is at work gathering all things together in the fullness of time. (Ephesians 1:10)

This Sunday, as we remember the baptism of Jesus, we will also remember our own. That remembering matters—especially when we disagree, when divisions feel sharp, or when fear tempts us to draw lines. Remember your baptism. Remember that you are beloved by God—and so is everyone else, no matter who they are, where they’ve been, their nationality, or their politics.

May we remember that we are siblings in Christ, and that we are all beloved by our Creator.

See you in church.

Peace, Grace, and Love,

Kevin

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Ah-ha Moments of Grace

Dear friends,

Christmas is not a single day on the calendar but a season that unfolds, and this Sunday we arrive at one of its great turning points: Epiphany.

The word Epiphany means “appearance” or “manifestation.” Around the world, Christians celebrate it on January 6, twelve days after Christmas Day. In many countries it is known as Three Kings Day, recalling the visit of the Magi to the child Jesus. In the Western Christian tradition, Epiphany marks the moment when Christ is revealed not only to those closest to home, but to the wider world. From East and West alike, the story proclaims that God’s good news is not limited by geography, culture, or background. This gift is for everyone.

Epiphany celebrates a God who chooses to be known—who steps into the world and makes divine presence visible, sometimes in surprising ways. The Magi arrive guided by a star, bringing gifts and curiosity, responding to a holy invitation they barely understand. In their journey, we see a reminder that God is always drawing people toward light, toward love, toward life.
I’ve always thought of Epiphany as an “ah-ha” moment—those flashes of recognition when we suddenly realize that God is in our midst. If I’m honest, though, those moments are often easier to name in hindsight. Looking back, we can see how God was present all along, even when we didn’t recognize it in the moment.

So my Epiphany challenge for you this year is one I am taking up myself: to be on the lookout for those “God moments” as they are happening. Watch for them in worship. Notice them in the life and ministry of this congregation. Pay attention to them in your family life, your friendships, and even in your work. These moments may not arrive with a star blazing across the sky, but they often show up quietly—in acts of kindness, words of grace, moments of courage, or unexpected joy.

This Epiphany, may we practice noticing. May we celebrate those “ah-ha” moments when we realize that God is already at work among us. And may our eyes, like those of the Magi, be opened to the light that continues to guide us on the way.

See you next week in church.

Grace and peace,
Kevin

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Christ is born! Let us glorify him!

This ancient Christian greeting echoes across centuries, reminding us that Christmas is not a moment to rush past, but a mystery to dwell within.

As early as 567 A.D., the church formally set aside the twelve days between Christmas and Epiphany as a sacred and festive season. Advent was understood as a time of fasting and preparation, so that Christmas itself could be received not as a single day, but as a full season of joy, celebration, and wonder.

That extended celebration continued through the Middle Ages and well into the early modern era. Yet today—especially here in America—Christmastide often fades quickly into a blur of post-Christmas sales, gift returns, and New Year’s resolutions. The tree comes down, the lights go dark, and we move on.

But in our Christian tradition, Christmas is not a day—it is a season.
A season in which we celebrate the gift of Emmanuel: God with us.

Too often, we spend far more energy preparing for Christmas than actually living in it.

So this season, linger a little longer. Leave the decorations up. Before counting calories or making resolutions, enjoy the Christmas cookies you baked or were given. Keep giving gifts—especially gifts of kindness, generosity, and service. And don’t rush past the greeting just yet. Continue to wish one another a Merry Christmas. Or Happy Christmastide. Or even dare to proclaim the ancient words aloud:

Christ is born!
Let us glorify him!

May this holy season continue to fill your home and your heart with light, joy, and the deep assurance that God is still with us—now and always.

Grace and peace,
Pastor Kevin

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Standing Room Only and Full of Grace

Dear Friends at Grace,

This past week, I found myself grinning almost the entire evening as I had the joy of participating in the Jacob’s Learning Ladder Christmas program. I had the honor of accompanying on guitar while our preschoolers sang familiar carols, and the Christmas story was shared by their teachers and lovingly acted out by alumni of the preschool.

The children sang their hearts out, Silent Night, Feliz Navidad, Twinkle Twinkle Christmas Star, and more, and they did a wonderful job. But what made the night especially meaningful was not just the music. It was looking out and seeing the Great Room completely full, literally standing room only, with parents, grandparents, relatives, and friends gathered to support these children and the ministry of Jacob’s Learning Ladder.

That kind of turnout does not happen by accident. It is a powerful witness to the deep commitment of the teachers and staff of the preschool, and to the congregation’s ongoing support of this vital ministry of our church. Through Jacob’s Learning Ladder, we continue to plant small seeds of faith, seeds that will be nurtured by God and revealed in ways we may never fully see. And yet, on this night, we caught a glimpse of that holy work unfolding. The Spirit was clearly at work in the lives of these children and their families.

I want to express my deepest gratitude to Director Stephanie Cryderman, Assistant Director Betty-Jo Freeman, and the entire Jacob’s Learning Ladder staff, as well as to our church staff here at Grace, for their care, creativity, and dedication. What a gift it is to be part of a congregation that so fully embraces this ministry.

I will confess, it certainly put me in the holiday spirit. More than that, it reminded me of the quiet, joyful ways God continues to show up among us, singing through young voices and gathering us together in love.

See you in church!

With gratitude and joy,
Pastor Kevin

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