05/23/2026
Dear friends,
When I think about how old I am, it often puts me in a reflective frame of mind. I’m older now than I’ve ever been before, and younger than I’ll ever be again. So then I’ll start thinking about what it was like to be twenty years younger, or try to remember what grade school was like, or think ahead and wonder about what it will be like to be retired, or when the kiddo goes off into the big wide world. Birthdays mark the turning of another year. They are a chance for both reflection and celebration.
Pentecost, which we’re celebrating tomorrow, is also known as the birthday of the church. Jesus has died and risen, the disciples have seen him transform out of this world, and his last words to them are that they won’t be left alone, that he will send his Spirit. So, they wait. They continue gathering and telling the stories. They eat together and pray together like Jesus taught. And then one day something undeniable happens: the Holy Spirit arrives. It’s so powerful it sounds like a rush of wind. It’s so powerful they can see it on each other’s faces, and like the flames of a burning bush, there is light over each head. And their hearts feel full, and suddenly Peter, who up until now has been a very enthusiastic but frequently misguided disciple, suddenly stands up and become a rock of hope and possibility and understanding. The Spirit moves among them and the miracle they receive is of being understood even across language barriers. This is the start of the church, this is its birth - the arrival of the Holy Spirit.
For Church on the Square, reflecting on the last year, there is much to celebrate and so much work by the Holy Spirit. There has been amazing work and new energy infused into our Sunday morning ministry with children. We’ve spent so much time together building relationships over a meal or over a Bible Study, and we’ve seen so much growth in terms of volunteers and volunteering. There are still challenges - how do we communicate what is possible? How do we help each other learn? How do we find a good fit for the many talents and gifts of our people? But over the past year I have been heartened to see so much growth and caring, so many of us finding ways to make a difference, whether in a small role or a big one.
A big part of this growth and development has had to do with our wonderful Council, elected last year at the Annual Meeting. They have been doing excellent work looking at the big picture for CotS and also getting into the weeds and helping us develop a plan for our finances. This last Sunday’s Annual Meeting was a testament to the hard work and dedication of this team, and we made big progress toward our goal of $181,000 in giving from the congregation for the 26-27 program year. (Confession: I had to redo some spreadsheet formulas after making the announcement at the end of last week’s meeting - that number wasn’t quite right.) Based on pledges received so far and our current regular gifts, we are expecting gifts of just under $150,000 in the coming program year. This is an amazing advance from the $116,000 we received last year and shows the love and support that is overflowing in this community. If you didn’t have a chance to hand in your pledge last Sunday, we are still collecting them!
This week, though, I would like to spend some time in gratitude for so much generosity of time and energy in our community. We’re working on thank-you notes for volunteers. (Birthday cards?) Maybe you know somebody at church who you admire or who you appreciate, or someone who has made a difference in your life. Take a couple minutes today to write them a note, or think of who you could write to tomorrow, and let’s appreciate each other and celebrate the gift of being together and being community.
Thanks be to God,
Pastor Amy Sens
Photo credit: Caterina Berger via Unsplash
