05/27/2026
Midweek Reflection: Faith Was Never Meant to Stay in the Upper Room
This past Sunday was full in all the best ways. We were blessed to have two young musicians share their gifts with us during worship — Quinn and Ever Klavohn, piano students of our alternate organist, Jan Requa. Quinn shared his gift during our Special Music time, and Ever played during the offering. There’s something beautiful about watching young people step out and use their gifts in worship. It’s a reminder that God is always raising up new voices, new talents, and new ways to glorify Him.
Pastor Susan was away on a much-needed vacation, so I volunteered to serve as Liturgist Sunday morning. I’ll be honest… I was nervous. Very nervous. Somewhere between the opening words and the announcements, I apparently decided speed-running worship was a spiritual gift. 😅 I definitely spoke way too fast.
But despite the nerves, I truly felt blessed to do it.
Pastor Kevin has encouraged and inspired me from the beginning as I started down the Lay Servant Ministry path, and it meant a lot to me to be able to share that experience alongside him for my first time serving in that role.
And since I rapid-fired the announcements at everyone Sunday morning, I thought I’d slow them down a little here:
🔹 Tuesday night at 6:30 PM is Food Pantry Box Building for Saturday’s 9:00 AM distribution.
🔹 Sunday will be our final 5th Sunday Joint Worship with Fisher United Methodist Church at 10:00 AM, followed by a potluck celebration honoring Pastor Susan’s Ordination as a Deacon of Connectional Ministry in Full Connection.
🔹 Saturday, June 6th at 9:30 AM is the Ordination Service at the Peoria Civic Center. You are invited to attend in person or watch online. Due to remodeling construction at the Civic Center and Peoria permanently changing the traffic pattern near the Civic Center from a one-way street to a two-way street, please plan to arrive early and allow yourself a little extra time navigating the area.
🔹 Fran’s Friends will attend the Master Gardener’s Garden Walk on June 20th. Tickets are $10.00, and there is a sign-up sheet at the welcome desk.
🔹 Pastor Lisa Weidman hosts Open Road Ministry on Facebook Live Tuesday evenings at 6:30 PM. It’s a wonderful outreach ministry bringing Christ to people who may never feel comfortable walking into a traditional church building.
And honestly… that last announcement is the perfect segue into the heart of Pastor Kevin’s message.
Our scripture this week came from John 7:38-39:
“Whoever believes in me, as Scripture has said, rivers of living water will flow from within them.”
Jesus never intended faith to be something we keep contained inside church walls.
He didn’t tell the disciples to stay put, build buildings, and wait for people to come hear stories about Him. He sent them out into the world to live the Gospel among the people.
When the Holy Spirit came upon the 120 gathered in the upper room — with rushing wind and tongues of fire — they didn’t stay there hiding behind closed doors waiting for curious people to wander in and investigate the noise. They went out into the streets. They shared the message boldly and publicly with their community.
Somewhere along the way, though, many of us have unintentionally reduced worship to one hour on Sunday mornings inside a building we call our church home. And for countless others, worship happens alone within the quiet walls of their homes.
But faith was never meant to be passive.
God’s love for us certainly wasn’t passive.
He loved us enough to send Jesus to live among us, teach us, walk beside us, suffer for us, and ultimately die for us so that our sins could be washed away.
There is nothing quiet or passive about that kind of love.
That is loud. That is bold. That is action.
So maybe the question we should ask ourselves this week is this:
If the disciples were willing to leave the safety of the upper room to carry the Gospel into the streets… are we willing to carry the love of Christ beyond the sanctuary walls?
Not just through words. But through actions. Through kindness. Through compassion. Through service. Through encouragement. Through simply showing up for people who need to know they are not alone.
Because sometimes the loudest sermon we preach is the way we love others.
📣Call to Action
📖 Read John 7:38-39 again this week and reflect on what “living water” flowing from within us might look like in everyday life.
💙 Look for one intentional way to show the love of Christ through action this week — not because you have to, but because faith naturally overflows outward.
🙏 Pray for courage to move beyond passive faith and into active discipleship.
🏡 Remember that the Church is not just the building we gather in on Sunday mornings — it is the people carrying Christ into the community every day.
🙏Let’s Pray 🙏
Gracious and loving God, thank You for the gift of worship, fellowship, and the many ways You continue to work through Your people. Thank You for the gifts shared during worship this week, especially through Quinn and Ever as they used their musical talents to glorify You. Thank You also for those willing to step outside their comfort zones to serve, and for the encouragement we receive from one another along the journey of faith. Lord, help us not to keep our faith contained within sanctuary walls, but to carry Your love boldly into our homes, workplaces, neighborhoods, and communities. Fill us with the fire of Your Holy Spirit so that compassion, kindness, mercy, and grace flow from us like living water. Give us courage to live our faith actively and intentionally, reflecting Christ not only through our words, but through our actions. May others see Your love through the way we serve and care for one another. In Jesus’ name we pray, Amen.
🙏💜🙏
Reflective Scripture
📖 “Little children, let us love, not in word or speech, but in truth and action.” — 1 John 3:18
Have a Blessed Day,
Yvonne Waters,
