Showing Up and Showing Out
I am still reflecting on the strong witness of our Crossfire Youth Ministry last Sunday—both youth and adults. They played the instruments, they sang the songs, they served communion, and they spoke eloquently in prayer and testimony. They showed up, they showed out, and they inspired! I was struck by several points our Minister to Youth and Families, Sarah Henson, made. One of those was that so much of youth ministry is about showing up—being present and available for each other and for others outside of the church family. Jacob Favre, adult chaperone and father of Maddie, spoke personally in his witness about the transformative effect just showing up has—for others and for yourself—even with the late nights of talking and eating peanut butter and jelly sandwiches. Daughter Maddie showed up and invited her friend Addie to come along; it was Addie’s first mission trip. I suspect it won’t be her last—she had a wonderful time.
It is this intentionality of witness that draws others closer to Christ. Interestingly, our worship attendance in the Sanctuary and online has been ahead of 2024, and for June and July, the increase has been 9% higher in the Sanctuary and 14% higher online than during the summer a year ago. Our people are showing up, showing out, and inviting others. That’s how things grow.
As part of our Bring 1 initiative this fall, we will have significant and celebrative opportunities every month to show up and show out. This weekend is one of them. The now four performances of Something Greater are filling up fast. We’ve invited friends to go with us Friday night. You can reserved your spot HERE. And on Sunday, after the 11 o’clock service, we will celebrate Jill Stoel’s thirty years of service—years that she and her late husband, Gerry, gave so generously to all of us in the kitchen—as she retires from her role as Kitchen Manager.
There’s a lot to be proud of, a lot to thank God for, and a lot to invite others to see—as we show up and show out for the Christ who animates us all.
Connecting God and Grace to Self and Community,
