904 Washington St SE, Olympia, WA 98501
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As hard as it is to imagine, we find ourselves in the latter half of 2026. In four short months, we will turn the page on this year and say howdy to 2027. Amazing how quickly time, life, and being Christ’s community here on the corner of 9th and Washington, goes by. The beginning of a new school year is just around the corner and soon the leaves will start to change color as the autumn season settles in on us. Again, amazing!
It’s as good a time as any to remind us that one of our goals as a church body for 2026 was our spiritual renewal. For a church our size, and given our overall age, the number of ministries we have our fingers in and the type of ministries they are, speaks volumes to how God has spoken into our collective hearts as followers of the Risen One, Jesus Christ! Our focus on spiritual renewal, building up ourselves and others in the way of Christ, ensures that our foundation for mission and ministry continues to be sound, relational, dynamic and growing. Just as there are stages of human development, so too are we as Christ followers, expected to grow in our faith. Sure, there will be side-trips and times of stagnation and/or even taking a break. However, God’s story is clear that we are to grow and mature in our faith; that we are not to get stuck in one place for too long. I think that means that the old book title: “All I need to know, I learned in Kindergarten,” is inaccurate when it comes to yours and mine, faith development.
Last month in the August Edition of the Windows, we asked folks to give us an idea about what topics, studies, subjects, etc., around faith and formation that you might be interested in. The response, so far, is, um, honestly? under-whelming. I don’t say that to give you those old feelings of guilt and shame, but that I understand that when it comes to faith, our personal faith, we sometimes are hesitant to talk about it. Sometimes, because we might be private people, or more introverted than others. Other times, it might be because we’re just not that interested. But mostly, it’s because we feel crunched for time and, again, if we’re honest, we have a hard time articulating the areas, questions, topics, that make us go, hmmm?
Let’s try this another way! What are you curious about? When it comes to faith, God, Jesus, the church, etc., what makes you go or say: WHY? Why does the bible say that? Why does God seem one way over there and completely different over here? Why does John’s gospel story seem so different from the other 3 gospel accounts? Are we supposed to take the entire bible, literally? Why or Why not? How should we read the bible? How does one pray? Privately or out loud, in front of others? Well, you get the idea now. No one is ever too old to ask why? Your curiosity will open doors of discovery, a-ha moments, insight, and even revelation(s), that God has for you.
We are, once again, providing the survey article from last month here in this edition of the Windows. It’s another opportunity for you to share with us the things you are curious about…your Why’s? Who knows where any of this may lead? Perhaps it will lead to having a once a month Saturday morning gathering of Why Questions? Whatever shakes out, we want to provide opportunities for spiritual growth and renewal. That growth, the curiosity of wanting to discover more about God, God’s story, etc., is the foundation of why we do, what we do, when it comes to mission and ministry.
Let me close with an example.
Luke 4:16-19, finds Jesus having returned to his home town, and being a faithful and observant Jew, he goes to the synagogue, where he reads from the prophet Isaiah, these words found in verses 18 & 19 of Luke’s gospel account:
The Spirit of our God is upon me:
because the Most High has anointed me to bring Good News to those who are poor.
God has sent me to proclaim liberty to those held captive,
Recovery of sight to those who are blind, and release to those in prison –
to proclaim the year of our God’s favor.
(Inclusive Bible)
Those words, Isaiah’s words but now through the lens and actions of Jesus is why we do:
Feed people, body, soul and spirit at Table Grace – why we deal with folks who are houseless, addicted, mentally challenged and/or ill or just on the margins of those things. Those words above are why we say things like:
You are made in God’s image; enough in God’s eyes; deeply, deeply loved.
It’s why we walk humbly, love completely, live differently.
It’s why we engage with people who were previously incarcerated and now are looking to live a new life as they re-enter that life, through One Parish-One Prisoner.
It’s why we support and partner with World Relief as they resettle refugees and asylum seekers who are displaced and fleeing unsafe, dangerous, homelands and refugee camps.
It’s why we say to whomever we meet:
COME AND SEE!
Here, you too can experience Jubilee – the year of God’s favor!
Blessings and Joy!
Pastor Mark (Rev)
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