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Dear Church Family,

     Recently, my husband, son, and I spent time reworking the front yard of our home. For nearly two years, the space had little more than grass after the old bushes had been removed. It was not dead, but it did not feel fully alive either. Through this, I was reminded how much care and intention are needed to cultivate beauty and vitality in every part of life.

     As we selected plants, we wanted more than the standard green so common around us, seeking color and variety that remind us that beauty does not always come through sameness.

     Planting was not easy. There was digging, measuring, bending, repositioning, and physical exhaustion in trying to align reality with vision. Before adding mulch, I installed a soaker hose beneath the soil because growth requires more than hope. Life needs attention and nourishment long before anyone notices results.

     Yet when we finally stepped back to look at the completed work, seeing the expressions on my husband’s and son’s faces reminded me why tending to life matters in the first place.

     I have been reflecting on how this process of tending, nourishing, and intentionally cultivating beauty mirrors the life of the church. Just as our yard needed attention to truly thrive, so too does the church need intentional care to flourish and show signs of genuine life.

     It is easier to point out what is missing than to help cultivate beauty. It is easier to critique than to kneel in the dirt and plant. It is easier to demand quick answers than to recognize that human beings require dignity, compassion, and grace.

     The church is not called to simply maintain what is easy and uniform; it is called to cultivate life. Our mission is to create spaces where people feel seen, heard, affirmed, and loved. If we believe God is the Creator of all, we should welcome and cherish the many colors of creation, not fear them.

     And yes, cultivating that kind of community takes work and patience. It takes those willing to water, nurture, encourage, and take on the hard work of growth.

     As we move into this new season together, my prayer is that we become people deeply committed to nurturing life and beauty within our church, mirroring the transformation we pursued in our yard. Rather than pointing at what is barren, let us each choose a specific area to plant and cultivate. Together, may we embrace the work of transformation, seeking beauty where others might expect sameness and commit daily to a practice that helps our community flourish, such as reaching out to someone new, serving in a ministry, or caring for our shared spaces.

Peace and grace,
Rev. Gilbert