09/28/2026
As the day is winding down and many are preparing for the week ahead, I am reflecting on the incredible time of fellowship and worship this morning at our Goshen 275 Anniversary Celebration. What began as a discussion over a year ago and moved through months of prayer and planning, came to fruition today. God’s grace and faithfulness brought us to a moment in time where we honored the past, celebrated the present, and renewed our commitment to an unseen future. Throughout the morning I had the opportunity and privilege to step back and observe a group of people whose lives have been impacted by the work and ministry of Goshen United Methodist Church. Seeing the smiles, hearing the laughter, witnessing tears of joy, and listening to stories filled my heart with immense gratitude… A sense of gratitude brought about by God’s love and grace allowing us to take part in this special moment, while also inviting us to continue telling the story of “God’s glorious deeds” in the midst of life. From the preparations, planning, setup, fellowship, worship, prayers, and even the cleanup, today served as a witness to our community that God is still working to transform hearts and minds. Additionally, I am humbled by the outpouring of support from so many, especially the people of Goshen who gave of themselves in a variety of ways in service to ensure our values of Loving God, Loving Others, and Serving Both are always lived out. I am also reminded that while today was a monumental time of celebration, our work is not done. While my body may be tired (along with many others), my spirit is renewed and rejuvenated to continue telling the old, old story of Jesus and his love. Today has filled my heart with a sense of awe, but even more, my prayer is that each of us would continue creating a legacy that outlives us, sharing stories of God’s love that echo in the future, and continually work to build a future for Goshen we will never see. May those who come after us bear witness to our faithfulness for another 275 years and beyond. Thank you for the blessing of celebrating this day with you, and for the incredible honor to serve as your pastor! To God be the glory; great things He has done… and will continue to do for others!
Love you all,
Chance
