If you are afraid…
If you are lonely…
If you are bullied…
If you are grieving…
If you are anxious…
If you are hurting…
If you are broken…
If you are healing…
If you are hopeful…
If you are making progress…
If you are creative…
If you are innovative…
If you are making a difference…
No matter how you voted or if you voted…
No matter what decisions you’ve made…
No matter your spiritual or ethnic background…
No matter from where you’ve come or where you’re going…
You Belong Here.
Come as you are.
We offer faith.
We offer hope.
We offer love.
We too are broken, hurting, afraid, anxious, healing, and trying to make progress.
We are at our best when we disappear and you see Jesus instead.
We are at our best when you see Jesus through all of our God-given diversity.
We are at our best when we live out what Jesus said.
It was Jesus who said:
- “Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.”
- “Let any one of you who is without sin be the first to throw a stone at her.””
- “Blessed are the poor in spirit, those who mourn, the meek, the merciful, the persecuted…”
- “So in everything, do to others what you would have them do to you….”
- ““You have heard that it was said, ‘Love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’ But I tell you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you.”
- “Let any one of you who is without sin be the first to throw a stone at her.””
- “Love your neighbor as yourself.”
Forgive us when we don’t live out what we say we believe.
Forgive us for forgetting that “God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him.”
We sang a song years ago that “Jesus loves the little children, all the children of the world,” but we’ve struggled to do that.
All the children of the world should be able to experience the local church as a refuge, a sanctuary, a safe place, and a place to call home.
Out of this conviction, we’re committed to learning the way of Jesus and standing with those experiencing hate, racism, and marginalization.
Here among us, you belong.
For resources, see Before You Move to Canada… (A Pastor’s Response to the Election)
