Message from Pastor Karyn for Nov, 2025
This afternoon we confirmed 21 of our young people. Yesterday we hosted our annual Fall Festival and trunk or treat which was the busiest yet. Our Sunday School students are working on learning songs for the Christmas pageant. The choir sang what I would say was a difficult song beautifully done at the 8:00 worship service. Confirmands talked about what makes a space sacred and kids during the 10:30 service built a temple with their imaginations and became the priests who were sent out to do God’s work. Then they surprised everyone by coming back to the sanctuary through the door by the organ. Adults gathered to learn and support one another. People shared their favorite Halloween costume with someone they didn’t know well at the beginning of worship. We welcomed new members. We built community. We served our neighbors. On and on the stories go of life at First this weekend. And I stood and watched and wondered at the place God called me to nearly 14 years ago.
“People at First are invested in being the most authentic, Spirit-led community they can be. ”
At each new member social, we ask folks to tell us what is it about First that has them joining us. As pastors we get to share why we love serving First. This kind of storied weekend is often the kind of story I tell. Not that we were busy with 100 different things, but that we walk with each other as we grow in faith. That the people are invested in being the most authentic, Spirit-led community they can be. That my faith has deepened far beyond what I could ever have imagined because of the people I serve (you, dear reader) and the ways they challenge and support me as a fellow Jesus follower.
This year, we are exploring the power of our stories woven through with THE story to shape and heal. I encourage you to jump in in whatever way is slightly uncomfortable for you (see what I did there?) and explore with us the ways God is working through us as we seek to Welcome All, Build Community and Serve our Neighbor.
