Loving God, Loving People: Discovering Your Place in Service

The heart of our church beats with the rhythm of Loving God, Loving People. This isn’t just a slogan; it’s the driving force behind everything we do. And you, dear reader, are an integral part of this mission!

We are blessed with a diverse congregation, each member brimming with unique talents and passions. These gifts are meant to be shared, to build up our community and reach out to those in need.

Here are just a few ways you can put your talents to work for God and the people around you:
Community Outreach: Do you have a heart for serving those in need? Join us in organizing food drives, visiting the elderly, or participating in neighborhood clean-ups. Every act of kindness makes a difference.

Children and Youth Ministries: Sharing your love and knowledge with the younger generation is a rewarding experience. We’re always looking for volunteers to help with Sunday School, youth groups, and special events that nurture their spiritual growth.
Worship and Music: If you have a passion for music or the arts, consider joining our choir or worship team. Your talents can enhance our worship experience and inspire others to connect with God.
Mission Trips: Want to make a difference beyond our community? Participate in mission trips! These experiences allow you to serve those in need, build lasting relationships, and share the love of Christ.
Support Services: Do you have skills in organization, communication, technology, or a desire to contribute to the smooth operation of our church? Your help is invaluable! From managing events to assisting with communications and facility maintenance, every bit of support makes a difference.

Every member of our congregation has something special to offer. By serving together, we embody the essence of Loving God, Loving People.

Ready to discover your place in service? We’d love to help you find the perfect fit for your gifts and passions. Visit pumc.org/serve to explore the many ways you can make a difference!

Let’s come together to make a difference in our community and beyond. Your involvement is not just a contribution; it’s a way to live out our faith and share God’s love with others.

Stay Connected: Your Gateway to Community and Resources

Eiric Shriner, Director of Communications, eshriner@pumc.org

As we continue to grow as a vibrant United Methodist community, staying connected and informed is more important than ever. We’re excited to share a wealth of resources and opportunities to deepen your involvement and enrich your faith journey.

Your One-Stop Connection Point: The QR Code

Look for the QR code displayed on the screen during services, on the cards in the back of the chairs in the sanctuary, and on the chairs in the annex. This simple scan unlocks a world of information, including:

Connection Cards: Whether you’re a long-time member or a first-time visitor, we want to know you! Fill out a connection card to share your information and receive updates on church events, activities, and opportunities. We’re always thrilled to welcome new faces and connect with those who are seeking a spiritual home.
Weekly eNews: Stay in the loop with our weekly eNews, packed with information about upcoming services, special events, studies, and opportunities to serve. From insightful articles to heartwarming stories, the eNews keeps you informed about the vibrant life of our church community.
Giving: Your generosity makes a difference! Easily give through the secure online platform accessible through the QR code. Your contributions support our ministries, outreach programs, and community initiatives, allowing us to make a positive impact both within our church and in the wider world.
Current Activities and Studies: Explore the diverse range of activities and studies happening throughout the week, designed to help you grow in your faith and connect with others. Whether you’re interested in Bible study, small groups, service projects, or social events, we have something for everyone.
Website and Online Resources: Discover a wealth of information about our ministries, find prayer requests, volunteer opportunities, and more. Our website is a valuable resource for learning more about our church, our beliefs, and the many ways you can get involved.

Get Involved and Grow!

We encourage you to explore these resources and engage with our community. Your participation is vital to our shared journey of faith and service. Don’t hesitate to reach out to any staff member if you have questions or need assistance. We’re here to help you connect and feel welcomed.

Beyond the QR Code: Connecting in Person

While the QR code offers a convenient way to stay connected, we also encourage you to engage with our community in person. Attend our services, join a small group, volunteer for a ministry, or simply chat with fellow members after a service. These face-to-face interactions are essential for building relationships and fostering a sense of belonging.

Bread for the Journey

Pastor David Neuen – Lead Pastor, dneuen@pumc.org

In a lower desk drawer in my church office is a stash of mid-afternoon snacks. In bags and wrappers are an assortment of salty and sweet treats to help tide my hunger from a lite lunch. Yes, there is little redeeming nutritional value in my snack collection, but sometimes it’s flavor satisfaction that I’m craving.

I might do well to read Wendy Shah’s illustrated book “Is this Stomach, Mouth or Heart Hunger?” After all, sometimes our eating has to do with physical needs, other times to fulfill cravings of our senses, or because we’ve created a habit of eating when we are stressed or afraid. Food becomes one of a variety of items we hope will fill us when we feel empty. Peeling open a Reese’s cup takes far less investment than deeper reflection on an emotional need. Yet, as delicious as the chocolate and peanut butter may be, they may not answer the question for that which we truly hunger.

Are you hungry? A significant number of people struggle with food insecurity and physical hunger. Some of those same individuals and others experience heart hunger as well. Loneliness, bitterness, unworthiness, and shame are only a few of the feelings we seek to satisfying with any number of fillers. Jesus reveals deep attention and compassion for both the stomach and the heart.

The good news of Jesus often begins with resourcing the community for mealtime. Around the table, Jesus provided bread with equity so that everyone had enough to eat and leftovers to share. Equally, Jesus responded to the spiritual starvation of the people, feeding them with company, acceptance, forgiveness, and love. His act of breaking bread with humanity reveals God’s attention to every hunger.

Barbara Brown Taylor writes, “Follow the bread and it will lead you to the source of all life.” Perhaps she is suggesting that as we follow Jesus, who is dispersing sustaining appetizers to all, we will find the fullness of grace and provision. Or maybe she is describing the search of scripture for bread basket stories and there we will find God’s spirit of life. Or is she pointing out that as we gather for bread we receive life in the fellowship around the table? After all, the word companion literally means to “share bread with.” Certainly, there is deep meaning dining from all of the above.

You are invited to reflect on hunger and God’s nourishment in our worship series “Bread for the Journey,” which began Sunday March 9th as the first Sunday in Lent. In both Classic and NewDay worship we will explore bible stories about bread to discuss its rich significance in the narrative of the people of God. We will be fed with God’s sustenance, the intimacy of the Spirit as we grow in understanding and faithfulness. We will move through this season of Lent, in spiritual preparation for Easter, turning with commitment to the things of God that fulfill our cravings. We will find belonging and fellowship as we experience bread through our senses, even some taste testing after services. We will be reminded that as we follow the bread we do experience life in the one who answers every hunger.

The Light Within: A Childcare Journey of Faith

Charity Aton – Director of Preschool Programs

I grew up knowing Jesus loved me. My momma made sure of that. We sang the lyrics “Spirit in the Sky” and “Jesus is just alright with me” as she drove her Volkswagon Bug with me in the back. We grew up loving nature and all the beautiful things God created. Our home was in the woods with a creek and we camped in the Smoky Mountains every summer.

The church bus would pick me up every Sunday and I can still hear the lady who invited me sing “Do Lord” all the way to church. We would sing at the top of our lungs. Sunday School, Vacation Bible School and church camp are fun memories and I am thankful for them. I believe my mom still has a craft made of walnut shells that says “nobody is perfect” made during VBS. I also remember asking Jesus into my heart at church camp.

As life continued, there were times God felt far away. In my heart, “This Little Light of Mine” was barely shining any light. I would pray and wonder, “God, where are you?” Thank God for the adults in my life who taught me I had a light, God, inside me.

Life’s pages turn, and at one point I was working part-time in childcare to socialize my son. I learned quickly I had specific values and expectations about the care my child received – and the care of other children, too. I decided I wanted to run a program that offered more than the basics of child care.

That took me to Cloverdale UMC where I opened Train Up A Child with God’s guidance. It was and remains important to me children know they are loved by God all the time, no matter what. I pray for children no matter where I am working. It would make me so sad to think there are so many children who have never heard of God. In my small-town mind everybody believed or had heard of God, right? Thirty miles down the road there are many kids who have not. Ours and many other ministry-based child care providers are necessary. I cannot imagine going through dark times without the little light I learned I had inside of me at a young age.

I am so thankful to be here at KIDS@PUMC where prayer is a part of the day. This ministry is my life calling. Our pastors make time to spend with our littles during chapel time and in the hallways. Children have attended VBS in our care. PUMC offers a safe place to play, learn and worship. There are times when kids cry or are just LOUD and that is OK – they are here in this place, and that is a gift, a sign of God’s call to each of us to love children and prioritize families and young people everywhere. When you see a stain on the carpet, a ding in the wall, handprints on windows or messes and glitter on tables and floors, will you join me in praising God we have children in our midst? God has brought them to us! I invite you to be part of the beautiful gift and opportunity we have to help fill them so full of God’s love and kindness they have no doubt how loved they are when they leave this place!

I invite you to be that adult who invites and brings a child or young person to church, makes the craft at VBS or teaches a Sunday school class. Be passionate about teaching children Jesus loves them. Point out the trees, the sky and the crawling ladybugs or an earthworm named Bob and tell them God created the heavens and the earth. Tell them they have God’s light inside and that they will shine light unto others. At any stage in life, we have an opportunity to influence a child.

Feeding Souls, Changing Lives

Elaine Jacone – Plainfield UMC Member

The folks who attended worship in New Day Praise January 5th received a word to reflect upon in 2025. My word: invite. As Pastor Abby invited me to share my story here, I extend the ‘invite’ to you to step into my life and how I ended up involved in our church kitchen!

Like many kids I grew up with, I baked cookies and participated in 4-H where I earned an award of merit for my attempt at a Swedish fruit roll! It wasn’t until I moved away from home that I discovered how much I enjoyed baking/cooking. I had every kitchen gizmo/ gadget. I baked bread, desserts, three-course meals and there was always a pot of soup on the stove. Now there was only so much baking /soup that could be eaten, so I began to take food to work on a regular basis. When I didn’t bring in something, I heard complaints!

Even on camping trips I would make soup from scratch and spend evenings giving leftovers to fellow campers; I didn’t know how to make a small pot of soup. I was fond of using the three-legged cast iron skillet over a fire – I even made biscuits on top of it!

That all came to an abrupt halt when I had kids and found they were happy with, and actually preferred, mac and cheese from a blue box. When I became divorced and a single mom, I really appreciated those blue boxes!

Fast forward to retirement: I wanted something worthwhile to do, so I started helping with the homeless outreach Monday afternoons here at PUMC. This is a real operation: from donations to purchasing to prepping and delivery, it all has to work together or there is no food to deliver. I started by chopping and dicing for soup or baking biscuits. I did help deliver, but felt more confident assisting in food prep.

Remembering those blue boxes of mac and cheese and how much I appreciated when someone would share a home cooked meal with me, I then reached out to help with our Last Saturday Lunch. This group encouraged me to take on planning and cooking the meal for 100 folks. Instead of calling that first meal a disaster, I refer to it as a learning experience. I had many learning experiences along the way. My meal organization skills improved and I made true friends over time. I even learned to operate the dishwasher much to the delight of the women who organized bereavement meals. When LSL expanded to Second Saturday Lunch, I stepped up to cook on a regular basis.

When COVID hit, everything changed. Saturday meals were placed on hold; the homeless outreach continued, but fewer folks participated and we worked in shifts to provide social distancing. Shortly after this, Phil Heffelman retired as the soup(er) chef. I became one of the four teams that took over. Yes – it took four teams to fill in for one Phil! Between dropping off supplies/cooking for the Monday downtown and Saturday lunch programs, I am in the kitchen A LOT and wouldn’t have it any other way!

Because of these food-based missions, I have witnessed God’s love in action. Whenever the funds get low, a huge donation is received. It’s a blessing and a gift – a sign of God’s presence – to be able to serve folks, like the one very hungry gentleman who came inside because he saw the sign outside about free lunch, to see folks picking up meals for their neighbors to ensure they have been fed. Where is God “inviting” you to offer your talents and time, the fruits of your hobbies or interests, to learn and grow so you might help others experience the loving presence of God?

Finding and Creating Belonging

Pastor David Neuen – Lead Pastor, dneuen@pumc.org

Excited and apprehensive, I moved along the red brick walkway past Pitts Library to my first series of classes at the Candler School of Theology. A year removed from undergraduate studies, I was anxious in my return to the rhythm of campus. The thought of reading and writing about religion and its expression in the world caused my heart to flutter and I could not wait for this opportunity to explore and extend my faith.

After my first class, I made my way to the fellowship commons, a large gathering space where students enjoyed their lunch-from-home while striking up engaging conversation. The faces were all new and names unknown. Quiet and detached, I surveyed the space. One table was deep in conversation about the ethics of Christian writers of which I had never heard. Another group was debating different theories of soteriology and ecclesiology, terms outside my vocabulary at the time. Another group was deep in the details of church structure and organization. Was there anyone around who wanted to discuss the football game on TV last night?

I had a deep love for Christ. I attended youth group, retreats and mission trips. I had played in a youth handbell choir. I had even participated in a student version of Disciple Bible Study. I was confident in God’s call to serve and lead in the church. But the students sitting around those rectangular wooden tables were deep in religious conversation where I had nothing to contribute, and I wasn’t even sure I wanted to. I began asking myself, “Do I belong here?”

I count it as a blessing and privilege that I have no memory of anyone telling me, “We don’t want you; you don’t belong.” But I have experienced situations where I questioned if I was wanted, or where I wondered if my presence was noticed at all. Sometimes the priorities and practices of a certain group cause discomfort and communicate clearly that we are uninvited. Sometimes belonging is intentionally thwarted. Often welcome is withheld through negligence, apathy, and a lack of attention.

Yet Jesus’s ministry exemplifies the priority of belonging, as he made his way into crowds interacting with and forming relationship with those who were regularly excluded. He made space to hear stories, make conversation, and equip for leadership those whose situation or status left them on the outside. His departing instruction was for those who follow him to extend love as he had displayed, to follow in his way of inclusive welcome and extravagant grace. Faithfully, the earliest small groups of Christians created communities of belonging as they lived and shared their faith together.

As a pillar of our life at PUMC we commit to continuing the precedence of Jesus by committing to the cause of belonging. We will make way for people to feel at home with the Spirit of God moving in their life and in their relationship with other people. However you may engage with the life of this congregation, whether it be through worship, music ministry, missions, learning small groups, mowing the grass, or breading fish, I encourage you to ask how you do faith while helping others feel like they belong. May the wider community come to know that when they encounter PUMC, they will find welcome and joy, a place to be heard and known, and the space to be who they are and grow into the person God is calling them to be. Whoever they are, wherever they are from, and whatever kind of faith they have, they belong.

New Focus, New Beginnings

Pastor David Neuen – Lead Pastor, dneuen@pumc.org

At my yearly eye examination, the optometrist inquired whether I had noticed any change in my ability to read small print. “No doctor, all is looking clear,” I replied. Then enter the busy season of Christmas preparations and I found myself squinting into my tablet trying to make out the fuzzy characters. “How much must I zoom in this screen to make this thing legible?!?” Wrapping and labeling presents, I wasn’t sure whose name I was scribbling on the tags. I have lived with severe nearsightedness since my teenage years but this struggle with close vision was a new, uninvited obstacle. But nothing to be alarmed by says the eye doctor when evaluating my aging eyes. Some of you perusing this article through your readers know the experience. While incredible technology through laser surgery has proven effective to remedy many types of visual refractive errors, not all blurry vision can be fixed.

“Fixing my eyes” is a practice I wish to pursue in this New Year. No, I have not committed to Lasik surgery. But I do endeavor to reorient my focus on the revealing and revelation of Jesus. How might we experience this year differently if we wake up each morning to fix our eyes upon Jesus?

One opening to seeing differently is accomplished by identifying experiences of new life and restoration. Rather than focusing on our litany of problems, we can reinterpret our experiences to see where the Spirit is healing, reuniting, and presenting new opportunities. Perhaps you and I can begin a journal where we record these glimpses of heaven meeting earth, where God is at work amidst the mess that threatens to discourage.

Fixing our eyes also takes the intentional effort of naming areas in our life where the Spirit of Christ seeks growth. Perhaps we should be asking what spiritual practices, routines and roles needs to be reworked this year to stretch our adherence and witness to God. How might our priorities and investment of energy and resources shift to better align with our passion to follow Jesus?

Fixing your eyes upon Jesus is a practice of altering the atmosphere around you. What rhythms of breathing, prayer, reading, or making of music might move you from an environment of nervousness to peace? How can we see the day with gladness and joy as a blank slate for exciting interactions, opportunities to speak encouragement, and occurrences for love?

While I need to find myself a nice pair of reading glasses, I will also be praying to the Lord of all direction and comfort, “Be thou my vision!” And I’m praying for your beautiful new year in which you may see all things with the eyes of Christ.

And Who Is My Neighbor?

Larry Rudy – Plainfield UMC Member

Happy New Year, PUMC!

I am praying your Advent and Christmas have been blessed by moments of realizing how very near and present God is to you, to each person who lives and breathes, to all of Creation! We are so loved.

For many of us, our faith is of great importance – it is our very life, our knowing God, our getting to know Jesus through the work of the Holy Spirit. Our church is very important to us – it is the community that helps us grow in our faith, serve others as Jesus taught us and with whom we worship, study, reach to others and share fellowship. Some questions around these important facets of our life together have come to my attention as of late. What difference does being part of a church make in our life, in the lives of others? Where is God in all of it?

To help us better answer those questions this year I’ll be sharing this space with…you! Throughout 2025 you will find here the stories of lay people exploring the many facets of life as a disciple of Jesus. I pray they will both encourage and challenge you, as they do me!

Rev. Abby Lietz
Associate Pastor

And Who Is My Neighbor?

by Larry Rudy

This fall we concluded the all-church study “Short Stories by Jesus.” In response to the lawyer’s provocative question and his attempt to redefine who qualifies as his neighbor, Jesus tells the parable of the Good Samaritan. Jesus makes it clear in this parable our neighbor is anyone around us, no matter their ethnic, religious or socio-economic status.

It was about one year ago the Presbyterian Church near my home became the Sikh Gurdwara Shaheed Akali Baba Phula Singh Ji. I was pleased to see the church property finally occupied, but just who were our new neighbors? A gurdwara, as I looked up, is a place of assembly and worship in Sikhism. I also noticed they left in place the Presbyterian church sign statement, “GOD IS GOOD ALL THE TIME.”

In the months that followed their arrival, I observed frequent daily activity and large numbers of cars filling their parking lot. This past fall my interest in “my neighbor” peaked as, passing by, I saw two workmen very active on a project at the entrance of their Gurdwara.

In late October I harvested a bumper crop of canna lily rhizomes, so I took two grocery sacks full with me to meet my neighbor! Hi neighbor! My name is Larry. Would you like to have some canna lily rhizomes for your garden? I found the two workmen did not speak English well, but we were soon joined by a fellow named Surinda who welcomed me graciously and offered me delicious hot tea with milk. We exchanged pleasantries, and Surinda answered several questions I asked about the Sikh religion. He then gave me a tour of the Gurdwara. Shoes were removed at the entry and a cover wrap placed on my head. Surinda explained this was in reverence for being in a holy place of worship. I noticed the Sikhs had no furniture for sitting, no pews in their large prayer room. Every room was lushly carpeted for worship as well as for eating. Worshipers come and go throughout the day and food is always available. I met two ladies who prepare all the meals. They smiled but spoke no English.

I was invited to attend their “Festival of Lights” celebration two days later, Diwali. I did not know anything about Diwali, but Surinda explained it was like our New Year’s Eve, a celebration of coming out of darkness into light. That sounded very good to me and I accepted his invitation to arrive at 6:30pm. In the meantime I did some research on Diwali and Sikh history to prepare.

I arrived on time, removed my shoes at the entry and struggled to secure the head covering until assisted by someone who was also entering. I did not see Surinda but followed a line to the central room where there was a buffet of food ready. Everyone was dressed in traditional Indian/Pakistani garb with men wearing turban headwear and full beards. I saw no Sikhs greeting visitors like me, but met a Plainfield policeman on duty for security. I followed the officer through the food line, sampling each item prepared, without any idea what it was!

After the meal I entered into what used to be the sanctuary of the old church. Music was played and there was singing in a language foreign to me. I sat with others on the outside wall and observed. Worshippers entered and proceeded to an altar where they knelt in a prostrated position for prayers. After a short time of observance, I quietly left the building.

I had only been in the Gurdwara for about 45 minutes and never saw my host, Surinda. I returned home having met my neighbor, rewarded by the welcome, but without the feeling of acceptance in the sharing of Diwali.

We might consider my singular experience at the Sikh Gurdwara if the role was reversed. What do visitors to Plainfield United Methodist Church experience when they enter? Are we open to accepting those who may be different from us in ethnicity, race, sexual identity, social sophistication or language? Do we venture to meet those we do not know on a Sunday morning, or only speak to those we call close friends? In our daily living, are we willing to risk our discomfort to reach out to someone who is unlike ourselves to become more neighborly? Who might we seek to connect with this year, who might we learn from as we reach beyond ourselves?

I believe the question of “who is my neighbor” leaves much for each of us to think about.

Exciting News from PUMC Youth!

This Sunday is packed with opportunities for fellowship, worship, and excitement with PUMC Youth! We’ll kick things off at 9:40 AM in Room 204 with a fun Youth Gathering—don’t miss the donuts and fellowship before worship starts. It’s a great time to connect with friends and get ready for a powerful morning!

At 10 AM, join us in Room 200 for Youth Worship as Brock Kinnamon brings an inspiring message titled The Influencer. We’ll reflect on how the Christmas season brings out the best in us—more kindness, more joy, and more grace. But what if the joy of Christmas doesn’t have to end after the season? This week’s message reminds us that Jesus’s arrival was meant to change everything, forever, and that His love and influence don’t fade after December. Be sure to read John 1:45-46 and John 3:16 ahead of time to dive deeper into this powerful message.

In addition to Sunday Worship, we’ve got some exciting events coming up!

Christmas Eve Candle Prep (Dec. 19): Help prepare candles for Christmas Eve services and earn funds for your youth account!
Pizza Fundraiser: Materials are available after Youth Worship, so get your order forms and start fundraising for youth events like retreats, camps, and trips.
Summer 2025 Trips: We have exciting mission trips, camps, and adventures planned for next summer! Be sure to mark your calendars for the Mission Trip (June 8-14), Camp Adventure (July 6-11), and the Canoe Trip (July 13-20). Registration packets are available by the youth room and Pastor Bob’s office.

Don’t miss this Sunday—there’s something for everyone! Let’s gather together to worship, grow, and look ahead to all the amazing things God has in store for us in the coming year! Questions? Contact Pastor Bob for more details. See you there!

Reflect, Reconnect, Renew 2025

Pastor Abby Lietz – Associate Pastor, alietz@pumc.org

Today is a beautiful fall day – the clouds are grey, there are still pumpkins on porches and a bit of color on the trees here and there. We are in a season of gratitude as Thanksgiving approaches, at least it was at the time of my writing, and in a season of preparation: Advent will have begun by the time you read this, the season in the church we prepare our hearts and homes to welcome Jesus once again. We have also seen another United States presidential election, and a general election that saw Indiana consider candidates for governor, lieutenant governor, attorney general and more – all the way down to our town councils and school boards. I’m admittedly still processing the outcomes and what they say about the state of our nation, what the role of the Church and we as Jesus followers play in all this. It’s the end of 2024; 2025 is fast approaching. In the past year we said goodbye to one senior pastor and hello to a new, we had lots of staff shuffles and even more are on the way with the retirement of our youth pastor next summer. Our General Conference of the UMC met last spring and opened the way for gay clergy to be ordained and gay couples to be married by our pastors in our places of worship. We received a new bishop in Indiana! I got married and moved farther away from you than I wish I was. Via the Worship Annex, we are launching something new this month – the beginning of what I am certain will birth incredible ministry and sharing the love of God with others. There is a lot I could say about any of these moments, these decisions and how they impact us and will continue to impact, inform and guide us in the days, weeks and months to come.

But what I want to share with you is encouragement, some reminders, some challenges to take up for the year ahead. I am convinced, now more than ever, our institutions are not going to save us, that our stuff is not going to save us, nor our money or our health or anything. We have Jesus, God and the Holy Spirit, we have ourselves, we have each other and this beautiful Earth. How, in 2025, can you connect more deeply with these four areas – your own Self, Creation, your fellow human beings and God? What do you need to cut out of your life or give up or take up in order to connect, to reconnect? What do you need to dive into? Ease into? What must you walk away from? Who must you listen to? Don’t forget – trees are people, too!

I mean this seriously: it matters how we live. And we can talk all day about ideas over coffee, but I wonder what practices can help us stay connected. What can we do to stay grounded, to heal, to create more capacity to love and forgive ourselves and others? So we can ask ourselves: Are we worshiping God with every part of our lives? Where else do we need to surrender to God? Where else can we serve some aspect of the Earth or other humans who are not us and our immediate household? How can we live more joyfully and peacefully with ourselves, each other and God? These are good reflection questions to ask so when 2025 arrives we are ready to live, at least a bit more fully, the lifestyle Jesus modeled when he was alive and the one he calls us to live yet today. One that bears life-giving fruit.

Dallas Goldtooth, a Native American environmental activist and performance artist recently shared ways people can organize themselves in their community. He listed things like:

Create a local group where you can share ideas and create support for people who need help
Get together with crafty people to craft and learn to craft and be in fellowship
Join a radical read book club where you read books often banned or that push you into new territory for thinking and serving in the community
Make art – radical art – like public art, theater, and zines. Make music! Play it! Read poetry in public!
Join or start a community garden
Start a community fridge or a clothing pickup point, or a sanitary products giveaway
Volunteer with a cause you care about
Get to know your neighbors

As the church, we are great at coming up with these kinds of efforts but if you’re like me, maybe you need a fresh start. I hope we can be about even more intentional connection this year – the kind of efforts and connections that don’t burn us out, but instead fill us up with the love and assurance that we are loved by God and empowered to make a real difference in the world around us by the way we live, by the way we speak and forgive and love. It’s going to be OK in 2025. God is already making a way for us – I’ll see you there!