06/05/2026
Ponderings by Pastor Courtney ~
This Sunday we will recognize and celebrate two graduating seniors, Savannah Klasing and Eli Rose. Savannah and Eli have been involved with our youth program for many years and Iāve spent a good deal of time this week thinking about the ways Iāve seen them grow and change over those years. It is our practice each year to select a scripture that affirms what weāve seen in these young people and itās become a favorite time of reflection for me. There is often so much I want to share with our congregation that Iāve seen in them but itās impossible to encapsulate it all. So I thought I would share with you a lasting memory I will have of these young people that I hope will give you even more insight into who they are and how, as always, the little ones are leading me and all of us.
Fist Bumps
If youāve ever been to our Turning Point worship service, you know that everyone is invited forward to receive communion and then return to their seats by the outer aisles. Any Sunday Iām not serving at the table, you can find me on the far right end of the front pews - a spot everyone walks right by after receiving communion. I am not sure when this started or who started it exactly but, at some point, Eli and his brother Sam would offer their hand for a gentle fist bump when they passed by. It was such a small act, just a tiny sliver of connection and encouragement and it never failed to make me smile. After a while, their grandfather āSam-paā and their mom Michelle would come to take part as well.
Again, it probably didnāt seem like a big deal on the surface but, to me, it was. Even more meaningful were the Sundays when it would get noticed by the next few people who rounded the corner and, one by one, they would follow suit with this small act of connection and encouragement. Sometimes life is going to call us to big gestures of support but I think so often itās the ability to share these small moments with one another that can truly deepen our connections.
Solo Zooms
The COVID pandemic brought a myriad of challenges to life and certainly to ministry. In those early months, Brad and I were scrambling to figure out how to do our jobs in this very new and uncertain world. When in person gatherings were not an option, we got very familiar with Zoom and virtual meetings and worship. The challenges were especially difficult for our young disciples. Our choir director at the time and I worked together to do music and stories on Zoom for our children and I led a weekly Bible study on Zoom for our youth. Some weeks we would have a handful of kids but a lot of weeks it was just me and one other kid - Savannah Klasing. I would always offer Savannah an out because I know one on one conversations about the Bible can be a bit much (even more so when youāre talking via screens) but she never once opted out.
Some of those one on one conversations were about the planned scripture or topic and some just about life in those unprecedented times. I know that Savannah is someone who takes her commitments seriously so it meant something to her to show up each week. What I donāt think she realized was how much it meant to me for her to show up each week. Those were indeed unprecedented times and I had no idea how to connect with kids and do my job. Savannah was the encourager I needed, just by showing up.
These young people are going to do great things wherever life takes them next and I have no doubt they will keep encouraging and showing up for the people around them - in ways both big and small. Might we all be inspired to follow their lead.
