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Campaign Devotional

Introduction These devotions come from the hearts of our own Hyde Park Community UMC family. Members who are new to HPCUMC, those who have worshipped here for decades or since childhood, and our pastors and staff. Each writer is part of the leadership of our capital campaign, A Faithful History, A Hopeful Future, and each shares a glimpse of their story and their hope for how this campaign will shape our church and our community in the years ahead. Together, their voices reflect the breadth of our congregation reminding us that God’s work among us is carried forward through many lives and generations. We invite you to read one devotion each day as we move toward Commitment Sunday on April 19, holding in prayer a simple question: “God, what do you want to do through me?” May these reflections help you listen for God’s invitation and discern how you are called to be a co-creator of the hopeful future God is building through Hyde Park Community UMC.

Table of Contents A Faithful History, A Hopeful Future – It’s All in the Name Al Painter, Campaign Co-Chair...........................................................1 Living HPCUMC’s Mission Together Victoria Kuhlman, Campaign Co-Chair...........................................5 Curiosity: Come and See – Together Rev. Kate Smith..........................................................................................9 When Courage Becomes Contagious Rev. Dr. Todd Anderson...................................................................... 13 From Grace to Connection Rev. Kevin Buckley................................................................................. 17 Draw the Circle Wide Meredith Menius..................................................................................... 21 Holding the Story, Building the Future Christine McHenry................................................................................ 27 Building a Future with Our Yes Patrick Wantz.......................................................................................... 31 A Joyful Responsibility Rick and Allison Edwards.................................................................... 35 Gift with and for Children Charlotte Kuhlman................................................................................ 39 Room for Families, Room for Grace Laura and Dave Warren...................................................................... 43

The Sacred Cycle: Finding Faith in the Fold Mary Wheeler and Jack English........................................................ 47 A Church Where Our Family Belongs Will Gosnell.............................................................................................. 53 Choosing Community Over Individualism Kristin Earnest......................................................................................... 57 Seeing God’s Face Across the Table Andrea Slone............................................................................................ 61 J.O.Y. Together Teddy Meyers........................................................................................... 65 A Pew Across the Generations Holly Mattingly........................................................................................ 69

Al Painter, ready for worship.

A Faithful History, A Hopeful Future – It’s All in the Name Al Painter, Campaign Co-Chair

Scripture – Psalm 145:4 – One generation will praise your works to the next one, proclaiming your mighty acts. A lifelong Methodist, I joined HPCUMC in 1981 when I started my family here in Hyde Park. This church has provided fellowship, spiritual support and inspiration to me for 45 years. Thus it is a great honor to help lead this campaign to ensure that coming generations will be proud to call this church home, as I have.

Our Capital Campaign’s title “A Faithful History, A Hopeful Future” expresses the continuity of faith over many decades in the past and an expansion of God’s plan for us in the future at HPCUMC. I feel personally called to embrace new opportunities and ministries that keep our church at the heart of service to our city. “A Faithful History, A Hopeful Future” remembers our past servant leaders who established a commitment to community as central to our church’s mission. Leading with humility, empathy, and generosity, they focused their energies to make their dream of a vibrant church home a reality we now celebrate. It is in their spirit that we rededicate ourselves to this work for future generations.

I am so grateful for the time, funding, prayer, and faith that our past leaders dedicated to our church. I have often looked to their example to shape my endeavors as I grew into leadership here. They inspire us to fulfill God’s vision for HPCUMC and spread our wings toward a greater horizon. I am excited about God’s call toward a broader mission in Cincinnati and a wider social impact in Hyde Park and Over-the-Rhine. I believe that we are called to cultivate new partnerships and mission opportunities to follow God’s plan for HPCUMC. I pray that we will follow the precepts of our past leaders and embrace the opportunities presented to us at this juncture in our history.

I answered the call of leadership and giving in this campaign so that my children and future generations will inherit a thriving church that is integral to the spirit of Cincinnati. In order to ensure that bright future, we must embrace new opportunities across wider communities with more diverse members and step into God’s greater purpose for us. When our future members and leaders look back at this time, my prayer is that they are proud of the legacy we expanded for them, the community we fostered for them, and the opportunities we have provided for them to continue God’s mission in Cincinnati, in our country, and around the world.

Questions to Consider: 1. How have the gifts of earlier generations made a difference in your life or faith? 2. What kind of church do you hope future generations will experience? 3. What would it mean for you to invest in the church so future children, families, and neighbors can find belonging here?

Victoria Kuhlman, packing boxes at our Love Thy Neighbor Project Sunday.

Living HPCUMC’s Mission Together Victoria Kuhlman, Campaign Co-Chair

Hyde Park Community UMC’s Mission Statement: “We strive to embody the hope and love of Jesus for all through service, worship, and companionship.” Scripture – Ephesians 3:17–21 – I ask that Christ will live in your hearts through faith. As a result of having strong roots in love, I ask that you’ll have the power to grasp love’s width and length, height and depth, together with all believers. I ask that you’ll know the love of Christ that is beyond knowledge so that you will be filled entirely with the fullness of God. Glory to God, who is able to do far beyond all that we could ask or imagine by his power at work within us; glory to him in the church and in Christ Jesus for all generations, forever and always. Amen. Sociologist Ray Oldenburg defines a “third place” as social surroundings different from home and work and argues that they are important for democracy, civic engagement, and a sense of place. Some have argued that we are seeing a massive decline in our “third places,” due to societal shifts from COVID and the different ways we are able to find community virtually. This couldn’t be less true for me. I’ve never known a church home apart from HPCUMC. In fact, it has been one of the strongest constants in my life; one of those “third places” I have spent the most time, both as a child and an adult. As an active participant in 5

youth fellowship in the 2000s, I was not only accepted, but cherished, by other teens and adults, and encouraged to treat others in the same way. I formed authentic and lasting friendships and was able to explore my faith in a safe, supportive environment. As a young adult, I made the decision to recommit to HPCUMC as my adult church home after a sermon about the importance of friendship that deeply resonated with me. I jumped into Bible studies and volunteer opportunities, feeling fulfilled to experience such community and connection as a new college graduate finding my way.

In his letter to the Ephesians, Paul writes about grasping the entirety of Christ’s love “together with all believers.” This phrase prompted me to reflect on the companionship I’ve experienced at our church. As I think about the relationships in my life that have grown with me and continue to have a profound impact on my faith and my life, a great majority are my peers I’ve grown up with and the older adults who spent time investing in me while at my favorite “third place.” I’ve been in our sanctuary for weddings, funerals, retreats, Emmaus walks, Vacation Bible School, meetings, and of course, Sunday morning worship services. I’ve played dodgeball in the old gymnasium; I’ve led “Imagination Station” in the Refectory; I’ve worshiped with other youth in the Little Theater; I’ve waited with my sister-in-law in the Fireside Room before she married my brother; I’ve napped on the couches in the Parlor; and I’ve visited my beloved grandfather in the Columbarium. What I find so special about this “third place” is that in spite of the different circumstances and events that have brought me here 6

throughout my life, the familiar faces of our church family remind me of God’s presence in my life.

Our capital campaign gives us the opportunity to expand our church family, and continue to uphold our mission of “embodying the hope and love of Jesus for all” by restoring and creating new “third places.” Our proposed projects will create vast impact and change lives in Hyde Park, Over-theRhine, and our greater Cincinnati community. I invite you to reflect on how our church has been a “third place” in your life and the ways that you can ensure that it continues to be one for our community in perpetuity.

Questions to Consider: 1. How has HPCUMC been a “third place” in your life? In the lives of others? 2. Who in your life is in need of a “third place?” Is there something we offer that might resonate with their need for belonging? 3. What is your hope for our Hyde Park and Overthe-Rhine Campuses in the next 10 years? 20 years? 100 years? 4. What part of HPCUMC’s mission – service, worship, or companionship – moves your heart most, and how might your generosity help that ministry grow?

Rev. Kate Smith with young adults at the Monday Night Young Adult Study.

Curiosity: Come and See – Together Rev. Kate Smith

HPCUMC’s Curious Value: We invite and celebrate questions. We bravely embrace the mystery of God and remain open to how that transforms ourselves and our relationships. Scripture – John 1:35–42 – The next day John was standing again with two of his disciples. When he saw Jesus walking along he said, “Look! The Lamb of God!” The two disciples heard what he said, and they followed Jesus. When Jesus turned and saw them following, he asked, “What are you looking for?” They said, “Rabbi (which is translated Teacher), where are you staying?” He replied, “Come and see.” So they went and saw where he was staying, and they remained with him that day. It was about four o’clock in the afternoon. One of the two disciples who heard what John said and followed Jesus was Andrew, the brother of Simon Peter. He first found his own brother Simon and said to him, “We have found the Messiah” (which is translated Christ). He led him to Jesus. One of my favorite stories about Jesus is when Jesus invited his first followers with three simple words: “Come and see.” Jesus didn’t offer a detailed plan or a list of expectations, just an invitation rooted in curiosity. What also strikes 9

me about this story is that the invitation didn’t just end with one person. Those first followers didn’t keep the experience to themselves. They felt compelled to go and tell others what they’ve just encountered in Jesus. And because they shared what they saw and experienced, the circle of followers widened.

Faith spreads not through certainty or persuasion, but through relationship and witness – come see for yourself. This is how faith has always grown. It moves from one person to another through trust, curiosity, and generosity. Someone takes the risk to share what they’ve encountered in the Divine, and someone else is brave enough to follow. Faith expands because people refuse to keep this good news to themselves. At Hyde Park Community UMC, curiosity is one of our core values because it reflects this same pattern of faith. We believe that faith deepens not when we have all the answers, but when we are willing to invite others to see and engage with what God is already doing. Across both our Hyde Park and Over-the-Rhine Campuses, that invitation shows up in tangible ways. It looks like worship that welcomes questions, Bible studies held around tables and in neighborhood spaces, and children learning that they belong to God just as they are. It looks like shared meals, yoga mats rolled out in the middle of the week, and people finding companionship within our walls. It also looks like hands-on service and justice-seeking love like partnering with local organizations and showing up where compassion is needed most.

Again and again, we are saying to our neighbors and to one another: come and see. Come and see how God is at work here. Come and see how love takes shape in real lives and real relationships. Our Capital Campaign is part of that same shared invitation. Like those first followers of Jesus, we are asked to share what we have so others can encounter Jesus too. Our generosity ensures that future generations will have spaces for worship and learning, places for community and care, and opportunities to serve and be served. Our investment now ensures there will always be someone ready to say, come and see for yourself. Jesus’ invitation still echoes among us. Passed from person to person and generation to generation. May we have the curiosity to receive it and the generosity to share it so that many more may come and see the grace and love of God for themselves.

Questions to Consider: 1. Who first said “come and see” to you in your faith journey? 2. What have you experienced at the Hyde Park or OTR Campus that you would want someone else to see and experience for themselves? 3. What does generous curiosity look like – sharing time, attention, listening, or financial resources so others can belong?

Rev. Dr. Todd Anderson, serving with others from our church in Cartagena, Colombia.

When Courage Becomes Contagious Rev. Dr. Todd Anderson

HPCUMC’s Courageous Value: Our faith makes us bold, compelling us to do hard things. We honor our word, relentless advocate for justice, and remain thoughtful and compassionate, even in the face of adversity. Scripture – Nehemiah 2:17 – “Come, let’s rebuild the wall of Jerusalem....” said Nehemiah. “Let’s start rebuilding,” they said, and they eagerly began the work. Courage is not the absence of fear; it is faith that moves forward despite it. In Nehemiah 2, we encounter a moment when courage becomes contagious. Jerusalem’s walls lie in ruins—a visible sign of vulnerability and a broken identity. The people have learned to live with what is unsafe, a defenseless city. Into that reality, Nehemiah speaks a courageous vision: Come, let us rebuild. Nehemiah’s leadership begins with honesty and purpose. He names the reality plainly: “You see the trouble we are in.” Courageous leadership does not minimize problems or pretend that everything is fine. It acknowledges the cost of inaction. Yet Nehemiah does not stop there. He casts a vision rooted in hope and dignity.

Rebuilding becomes the call to the assembled. Courage dares to imagine a different future. What gives Nehemiah the confidence to speak so boldly? 13

He shares his testimony: “I told them that my God had taken care of me, and also told them what the king had said to me.” His courage is grounded in experience—God’s faithfulness behind him and God’s promise before him. Vision without trust can feel reckless, but vision anchored in God’s providence becomes an invitation into a God-sized future. Notice what happens next. The people respond, “Let’s start rebuilding!” Courage, when offered humbly and faithfully, awakens courage in others. Nehemiah does not rebuild the wall alone; he invites participation.

Courageous leadership creates space for shared ownership, where vision becomes communal and the work becomes collective. Our strategic value, Courageous, calls us into this same posture. We face significant repairs and upgrades on both of our campuses. We have identified four areas of focus—our plan to embrace God’s call to rebuild. At both the Hyde Park and OTR Campuses, these areas include preservation; energy efficiency and accessibility of our historic structures; and mission. Our mission commitments take shape through creating an emergency shelter in partnership with Found House and an affordable, community laundromat at our OTR Campus. Like Nehemiah’s vision, we are invited to speak hope into hard places. This campaign is ambitious. It may appear to be beyond our reach—and perhaps it is—but like Nehemiah and those he called together, it is not beyond God’s reach. Today, may we hear the call again: Come, let us rebuild. And may God give us the courage not only to see the vision, but also to begin the work. 14

Questions to Consider: 1. We name in our values that our faith makes us bold. What does boldness look like in this season of HPCUMC, and how is it similar to Nehemiah’s call to rebuild the wall? 2. Why does this moment feel both necessary and challenging for HPCUMC? 3. What stories of faithfulness from our past give you confidence as we step into this moment?

Rev. Kevin Buckley during a Children’s Moment in worship.

From Grace to Connection Rev. Kevin Buckley

HPCUMC’s Connected Value: True belonging begins with an experience of God’s grace. We extend God’s generous welcome to all, upholding integrity, practicing authenticity, and celebrating diversity across generations and cultures. Scripture – Romans 15:5–7 – May the God of endurance and encouragement give you the same attitude toward each other, similar to Christ Jesus’ attitude. That way you can glorify the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ together with one voice. So welcome each other, in the same way that Christ also welcomed you, for God’s glory. True belonging always begins with an experience of God’s grace. Before we are connected to one another, we are first connected to Christ, who welcomes us fully and freely. Christ’s grace meets us as we are, not as we pretend to be or hope someday to become. When we encounter that grace, we discover that we are already held, already loved, already included. From that place of security, authentic connection becomes possible. Paul then calls us to action: “Welcome one another, therefore, just as Christ has welcomed you, for the glory of God.”

Connection is not passive—it is generous. To be connected means opening our lives, our tables, our worship, and our hearts. We extend God’s generous 17

welcome to all, not selectively, but faithfully, because grace was extended to us first. Generosity becomes the natural response of people who know they belong. Living connected also means upholding integrity and practicing authenticity. We show up honestly with one another, trusting that God works powerfully through real stories, shared struggles, and mutual encouragement. Integrity keeps our welcome sincere, not superficial. Authenticity deepens our relationships, allowing us to grow together rather than merely coexist. This kind of connection reflects Christ, who meets people truthfully and lovingly. A connected church celebrates diversity across generations and cultures. Romans 15 speaks of many voices glorifying God together. Unity does not erase difference; it honors it.

When young and old, longtime members and newcomers, people from different cultures and backgrounds worship and serve side by side, we offer a living testimony to the reconciling power of God’s grace. Each voice matters. Each story enriches the whole. Connection requires endurance, patience, and encouragement—but Paul reminds us that these come from God. As we stay rooted in Christ, God supplies what we need to remain generous in love and steadfast in welcome. May we continue to live as a connected community, reflecting God’s grace through generous hearts, open lives, and a shared commitment to welcome all—for the glory of God. 18

Questions to Consider: 1. How has your experience of Christ’s grace shaped your understanding of belonging, and in what ways might God be inviting you to deepen your connection with others in the community? 2. What practices help you remember that we belong to one another in Christ? 3. Where is God calling you to practice generous connection—through authenticity, integrity, or embracing diversity—so that HPCUMC more fully reflects Christ’s welcoming love?

Meredith Menius with their boyfriend, Brandon, at a FC Cincinnati playoff game.

Draw the Circle Wide Meredith Menius

HPCUMC’s 3-year goal: As co-creators in God’s unfolding story, we commit to practices that build a beloved diverse intergenerational community that includes 250 new people investing in the life of the church and community with half under the age of 45 by 2027. Scripture – Ephesians 2:20–22 – As God’s household, you are built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets with Christ Jesus himself as the cornerstone. The whole building is joined together in him, and it grows up into a temple that is dedicated to the Lord. Christ is building you into a place where God lives through the Spirit. “Draw the circle, draw the circle wide Let this be our song: No one stands alone We’ll stand side by side Draw the circle, draw the circle wide” “Draw the Circle Wide” Lyrics: Gordon Light; Music: Mark A. Miller I started at HPCUMC in August of 2021 when I was 27 years old. I took a risk and applied to a job in a city I had never been to, knowing I would be surrounded by new faces and a new world that I was hoping to be invited into. After starting in August, I really struggled. Being a Duke fan this close to Kentucky was one thing. The reality of moving to a new place where I knew no one, alongside trying to help define and create a job that was new for HPCUMC (Director of Faith Formation and Connection) at the time 21

was another. However, in the midst of the struggle and of not knowing where this road would take me or the congregation, I was surrounded by people who wanted to help. Who wanted to be supportive. Who wanted to help make Cincinnati my new community. The verse from Ephesians reflects a more powerful message than just the verse itself. The entirety of chapter two shows how a radical invitation of two communities becoming one celebrates the differences that both communities bring into the larger narrative. The invitation doesn’t require each community to conform into one new community, where the cultures are changed and unrecognizable.

Instead, it is an invitation for both communities to come as they are, with their cultures and individualized expression, to form a community that holds enough space for both to thrive. This passage reflects the type of community I experienced when moving here and the type of community we continue to strive to be alongside this Capital Campaign. One where we continue to draw the circle wider by using the resources entrusted to us to try and provide community to people of all backgrounds so they do not feel alone. At this point, now in a new role again (Director of Operations), I hold a lot of care for that younger me who wanted to try something new, get out of what they knew their whole life, and grow into a better person. Because of that risk and the risk this congregation took with me by hiring a random person from North Carolina back in 2021, I was invited into the ongoing narrative of the history of this church and of the Nast Trinity UMC congregation. And 22

you’re invited into this risky narrative too, because this is what an intergenerational, diverse, beloved community does. It holds intentional space for everyone we encounter to feel seen, affirmed, heard, valued, celebrated, and included. Our Capital Campaign is seeking to draw the circle wide. Wide enough to include more people, both under the age of 45 and over the age of 45. Wide enough to offer more opportunities to serve our communities by addressing their own specific needs. Wide enough to include our faithful past of those who have gone before and our hopeful future of those who will come after us.

Questions to Consider: 1. Think about a time in your life where someone drew a circle wider for you to join their community. What feelings are brought up when thinking about this memory? 2. Where do you notice people still standing outside the circle and how might we make room? 3. In what ways has HPCUMC invested in you and how might you invest in someone else’s faith journey?

Chris McHenry presenting prayer shawls to the Confirmation Class of 2025.

Holding the Story, Building the Future Christine McHenry

Scripture – 1 Chronicles 29:11a, 14b – To you, Lord, belong greatness and power, honor, splendor, and majesty, because everything in heaven and on earth belongs to you. Since everything comes from you, we have given you that which comes from your own hand. As a member of Hyde Park Community United Methodist Church for over 40 years, I have seen many changes. I’ve witnessed the installation of the organ, the closure of the gym and the opening of the Welcome Center, the addition of the columbarium, the purchase and then selling of the Erie building, the installation of the prayer labyrinth, and the church merger with what was once known as Nast Trinity UMC, now Grace on Race St., becoming our Over-theRhine Campus. And I’ve also witnessed how we approached the issue of human sexuality which ultimately split the United Methodist Church with grace and love. We have had some good times and some rocky times, but over the years HPCUMC has endeavored to be a place of welcome, acceptance, connection, and nurture.

HPCUMC is a caring, compassionate community of individuals who support and nurture one another and who reach out to others in need. Over the last several years, I have noticed an increased vibrancy, excitement, and joy within our community that I have not experienced before. I believe this increased energy 27

is due to people truly knowing we all are beloved children of God and all are welcome at HPCUMC. It comes from realizing all that we are and all that we have come from God. And it comes from experiencing others living out their faith 7 days a week, not just on Sundays. As a result, there is a desire and joy about giving back as a means of saying “thank you” to God. This “giving back” might take the form of volunteering time and presence, offering skills and talents, or donating money. HPCUMC is about community. I’ve experienced the love of this community both inside and outside the walls of the church building on Observatory and Grace Avenues which has been a second home for me over the years. Many ministries and programs have enriched my spiritual journey, from Sunday worship, Bible studies, and retreats to making prayer shawls and prayer squares and offering spiritual direction. The beauty of the sanctuary with its stained glass windows, the intimacy of the chapel, the warmth of the parlor and the social hall are all conducive to being open to experiencing the Sacred. And the Welcome Center is a wonderful space for retreats, classes, and meetings.

The early members of the congregation made significant personal sacrifices in order for this beautiful building to come into reality. We have been entrusted with this gift and need to take steps for its preservation so that future generations might experience this sacred space and the love of community.

So it is with great joy that I give back to God what is rightfully God’s own, my time, skills and talents, and money. I invite you to prayerfully consider how you feel called to use the gifts God has given you for the hopeful future of HPCUMC and the advancement of God’s Kin-dom.

Questions to Consider: 1. What memories from HPCUMC feel especially sacred to you? 2. Think about a sacred space that shaped your faith (it might be at HPCUMC). How might preserving HPCUMC’s spaces help future generations encounter God? 3. What part of the church’s history inspires you most as you think about investing in its future?

Patrick Wantz, serving in Tijuana, Mexico with our partners Tijuana Christian Mission.

Building a Future with Our Yes Patrick Wantz

Scripture – Isaiah 6:8 – “Then I [Isaiah] heard the voice of the Lord saying, ‘Whom shall I send?’” And I said, ‘Here am I; send me.’” I started attending HPCUMC at only a few months old in the fall of 2000. It was around this time that I was baptized and have been attending ever since involved in various ministries through the years from the children’s and youth ministry to the young adult ministry and even being on the mission team serving with Tijuana Christian Mission the summer of 2025. Reflecting on the question “Whom shall I send?” makes me think back to the times when individuals have come into my life that felt like God had planted them there for a reason. A lot of these individuals came around during my time at the University of Kentucky. College is a period in any young adult’s life that can lead to a lot of major questions, some exciting and some not. It also is a period where you are surrounded by diversity in your fellow students & teachers, things to do, and places to go. The college experience can also present temptation, doubt, and anxiety. Entering college, I was reeling from a span of anxiety and depression that made the thought of entering four years of college terrifying in a way. Yes, the first couple weeks were a challenge, as they are for a number of freshmen, but it also set me up with an understanding that so many others were in the same boat as me. This understanding further 31

developed with a sense of failure. Numerous interactions with complete strangers, freshmen like me trying to figure it out, who were in need of community and support, yet I turned a shoulder to the opportunity of those interactions out of anxiety. As if it were Divine intervention, these same individuals would cross my path again allowing me another chance to confront my social anxiety. Some became acquaintances, a few became meaningful friendships, and I began to learn how to be present, to support and welcome others into the community I was building. Perhaps Isaiah may have felt hesitation before saying yes, too. And yet, he trusted. Being part of the Capital Campaign leadership has helped me to shift my understanding of generosity. Not every individual will be able to contribute $25,000 or even $1,000, and that is ok.

It has been wonderful to see the church reaffirm that this is not about everyone giving the same amount, it is about shared commitment and that is for each person to determine. That discernment process doesn’t happen in isolation though, we are invited to pray about our decision that will hopefully connect one deeper with the Lord and, in time, with the rest of the church family trusting God to multiply what each person offers.

One of the many wonderful things about this campaign is the very well thought out proposal of projects. The proposed changes and renovations at the Hyde Park and Over-the-Rhine Campuses are not purely for beautification or to catch a prospective member’s eye. The raised funds will meet practical needs (like the laundromat and access to emergency shelter) and create a sustainable future so these campuses can thrive for another 100 years.

My hope for the congregation, and any anonymous donor too, is that the collective “yes” deepens people’s understanding of each other as a church family and that generosity goes beyond just providing money. Their prayers are welcomed, their gifts are incredible, and their generosity will shape a community that is more engaging for the next generation and the new individuals who look to find a place to belong.

Questions to Consider: 1. When you hear God ask, “Whom shall I send?” what moments in your life come to mind? 2. How have people God placed in your path invited you to grow in courage or community? 3. What might “shared commitment” look like for you as you pray about investing in A Faithful History, a Hopeful Future?

Allison and Rick Edwards, serving together at Thanksgiving Baskets in 2022.

A Joyful Responsibility Rick and Allison Edwards

Scripture – Luke 12:48 – “…From everyone to whom much has been given, much will be required, and from the one to whom much has been entrusted, even more will be demanded.” We visited Hyde Park Methodist for the first time in 2018, the same year we were married. Pastor Doug was preaching a sermon based on the misnomer that, “God never gives you more than you can handle.” We both agreed from our experience of having lost our previous beloved spouses to Alzheimer’s, that God gives us way more than we can handle. That, we believe, is how we learn the importance of relationships with God and with one another. Neither of us had ever heard a pastor preach that idea before. Hearing those words along with being greeted with such friendly smiles and warm welcomes from everyone sitting around us, we sensed that we had found what we were searching for and decided to make this church our home. We look forward to coming to church each Sunday, sitting in our beautiful sanctuary, listening to the glorious music and visiting with people we are now blessed to call friends.

That said, what we appreciate most about being part of this community is that we’re challenged to think beyond these walls, and these relationships, to those places and people whose lives are very different from ours, who we don’t know and yet we care about deeply. 35

When the idea was presented to expand our Over-theRhine Campus to include emergency shelter for families who were experiencing homelessness we could not think of a more worthwhile project.

Knowing there were many expensive repairs that were needed to maintain our own church home, we appreciated that we were simultaneously considering investing in a place of sanctuary for those in need. After all, isn’t that what Jesus calls us to do? The people we would be helping face more challenges than we can even imagine. In our hearts and minds, they are the very people God calls us to serve. We have been blessed with many gifts for which we are deeply grateful. It is our joy to share those gifts in the form of our time, talents and treasure with the church and the Greater Cincinnati community.

Questions to Consider: 1. When have you experienced God giving you “more than you could handle,” and how did community help carry you through? 2. What gifts (relationships, resources, opportunities) do you recognize as blessings in your life? 3. Where do you feel invited to share what has been entrusted to you out of gratitude?

Charlotte Kuhlman with grandmother, mother, and sister.

Gift with and for Children Charlotte Kuhlman

Scripture – 2 Timothy 1:5–7 – That precious memory triggers another: your honest faith—and what a rich faith it is, handed down from your grandmother Lois to your mother Eunice, and now to you! And the special gift of ministry you received when I laid hands on you and prayed—keep that ablaze! God doesn’t want us to be shy with his gifts, but bold and loving and sensible. Much like in the Scripture, you could say that my faith was handed down from my grandmother to my mother and now to me. My maternal grandparents, Dr. Steele & Betty Mattingly, began going to HPCUMC in 1965 after Bishop Emerson Colaw paid them a house call following their first attended service. Of course, it also helped that their son (my uncle, Bill Mattingly) declared that HPCUMC had the “best Sunday School ever!” They went on to raise both of their children, my aforementioned uncle and my mother, Elisabeth Kuhlman, in the church. My mother & father, Mark Kuhlman, were married in the church in 1989 and raised me and my siblings (Victoria & Benjamin Kuhlman) in the church. I was baptized in the church in 1995 and ever since then, this church has played a significant role in my life. While growing up, I was an active participant in Sunday School and youth group, both of which were instrumental in shaping my faith. I have vivid memories of this church from each of my 31 years. I remember being given the assignment of memorizing all of the books of the Bible in third grade 39

in order to earn the tabs for my first Bible (and doing so immediately, coming back the next week with all books memorized). I remember volunteering at my first Vacation Bible School, teaching preschoolers the lyrics of our opening song (C’mon let’s have some fun! It’s all about Jesus’s love!), trying to not mess up the hand motions. I remember being so terrified after college graduation, thinking about how I was not ready to be a real adult, and being hired by the church to work with Children & Family Ministry before I got my first teaching job.

A common theme amongst many of these memories is learning and teaching. HPCUMC was vital in helping me realize my gifts and affirming my gifts. While volunteering with Vacation Bible School as a youth, I came to realize that not only did I enjoy working with and teaching children, but I might actually be halfway decent at it. I went on to volunteer nearly every summer in middle school and high school; and once I was in college, I started volunteering as a youth group counselor. While working as Assistant Director of Children & Family Ministry, I often gave Children’s Moments at the 9:30am and 11:00am services. All of these experiences not only helped me feel more confident in my career path, but reaffirmed to me the gifts that God had given me. It helped me lean into these gifts and keep it ablaze, as he would’ve wanted.

There’s nothing like watching a child learn something for the first time; to see them have an “aha moment” or to ask a probing question that leads them to deeper thinking. When you see a child learning more about their faith, it becomes even more special. 40

I have had the privilege of watching so many children at HPCUMC move through their spiritual journey from Vacation Bible School, to Sunday School, to Confirmation, to youth group. What a joy it has been to watch the children in this church develop a rich faith and grow into their own spiritual gifts in the same way that I was able to. The generosity of this church, in terms of what it provides for its congregation physically, emotionally, and spiritually, cannot be understated. When I reflect upon my own life thus far, this church has been instrumental in generously providing for me exactly what I needed right when I needed it, whether I realized it or not. How could I not want to give back to this church that has given so much to me, and watch how others are abundantly blessed by its rich generosity?

Questions to Consider: 1. How has HPCUMC helped you realize and develop your spiritual gifts? 2. How has HPCUMC shown generosity to you? 3. How can you help hand down our collective “rich faith” to future generations at HPCUMC?

Laura and Dave Warren leading a team of volunteers providing food for Found House families in 2022.

Room for Families, Room for Grace Laura and Dave Warren

Scripture – Hebrews 13:2, 16 – Don’t neglect to open up your homes to guests, because by doing this some have been hosts to angels without knowing it…Don’t forget to do good and to share what you have because God is pleased with these kinds of sacrifices. Dave and I began attending HPCUMC a year or two before our first son was born in 1992. Three more children followed in quick succession, and having a church home for our family was a priority. Sometimes our only “alone” time during those years was next to each other in the sanctuary on Sunday morning with all 4 off in Sunday or Nursery School, and back then I don’t think we were allowed to have our coffee in the pews!

As it has for us, HPCUMC has been a home for so many of you, providing the love, sustenance, support, growth and community we all so desperately need to live a life led by God. At the core of that home for us is the mission and outreach of HPCUMC. We’re so blessed to be part of a church that believes deeply in serving and putting our faith in action. One way Dave and I do exactly that has been serving with Found House, formerly Interfaith Hospitality Network.

For us, serving the temporarily homeless families who walk through our doors is putting God’s 43

words in action: welcoming the least of these, feeding them, talking with them and offering them unconditional love the way Jesus would if he met them alongside the road. As a Host Congregation over the past 25+ years, HPCUMC has provided warm beds and meals to these families in our Sunday School rooms for a week at a time, 4 or 5 times a year. A devoted team of HPCUMC volunteers has done a great job in making these temporary surroundings feel as comfortable and as much like home as possible. Other congregations (of varying faiths) throughout the city have similarly opened their hearts and doors as well. Now, HPCUMC, in relation with Found House, stands poised to be able to offer a stable single location for emergency shelter on our OTR Campus for families, up to eight at a time. No longer would families face the upheaval of weekly moves from one temporary location to another, or of reconciling meal, sleep, school and work schedules to accommodate new surroundings that change each week. Such a beautiful vision will be fed by the generosity of our congregation. As Dave and I pray for guidance about our own pledge to this Capital Campaign, God is helping us do two things: 1) acknowledge and return generously to God’s work some of the many blessings that God has entrusted to us, and 2) joyfully see smiles of the angels – children, mothers, fathers and other care-givers of the families – that will be able to call our OTR Campus their temporary “home”. As instructed in Hebrews 13:2, 16, HPCUMC is continuing to open its home and sharing what we have with others. This feels like the next step, a holy step, forward in the 44

direction of creating stable housing for all. Just like the home HPCUMC has created for so many of us, we hope that you will join us in creating an extended home, albeit a temporary one, for families experiencing homelessness in our community.

Questions to Consider: 1. When have you experienced HPCUMC as “home” in a way that shaped your faith or life? 2. What part of this permanent emergency shelter vision at our OTR Campus resonates most deeply with your heart and why? 3. What might a “holy step forward” look like in your generosity through prayer, service, advocacy, or financial giving?

Prayer for the Emergency Shelter created by the Temporary Housing Development Team in the Fall of 2024: Creator God, Help our church develop a plan that serves Your will. A plan that allows us to dream exciting big dreams for Your people. A plan that provides our team a THRILLING energy that keeps us motivated. But also one that is grounded and practical so that the plan is achievable. Help us to continue to move forward pushing through the DAUNTING tasks at hand, to be able to do Your IMPORTANT work. Amen.

Jack English and Mary Wheeler in Yosemite the week they got married.

The Sacred Cycle: Finding Faith in the Fold Mary Wheeler and Jack English

Scripture – James 2:14–17 – My brothers and sisters, what good is it if people say they have faith but do nothing to show it? Claiming to have faith can’t save anyone, can it? Imagine a brother or sister who is naked and never has enough food to eat. What if one of you said, “Go in peace! Stay warm! Have a nice meal!”? What good is it if you don’t actually give them what their body needs? For many, laundry is a mundane chore—a never-ending cycle of sorting and folding. But for us, it has become a profound language of love and a bridge to this faith community. Our Journey Home – Mary’s path to HPCUMC was a natural homecoming. Raised a United Methodist, she sought a church where “seeds of faith” could produce fruit. Through the preschool, family camp, the women’s ministry and the Faithweavers small group, she found this church to be far more than bricks and mortar; it is a living body seeking God in a harsh world. Jack’s journey was more of a “God-incidence.” First introduced to HPCUMC through an Emmaus retreat in 2001, he returned years later to find that God had “sent his mail” here. In 2018, he met Mary, who was already deeply immersed in the church’s life. Together they found music and worship, Bible studies, mission opportunities, social justice pursuits and so much more that offer both spiritual growth and respite. The Theology of the Laundry Room – We both view laundry

through the lens of service. For Mary, the accomplishment of removing a tough stain, the order of a perfectly matched sock and a correctly hung shirt, is a tangible symbol of love for her family. It is a quiet kindness that serves the “least of these” within her own home. For Jack, laundry has been both a career at P&G and a spiritual teacher. After losing his first wife to cancer, the “menial” task of laundry became his primary connection to his children. Through their clothes, he learned their favorite teams, their changing styles, and how they felt about their growing bodies.

But Jack’s work with the underprivileged shifted his perspective even further. He met a woman in transitional housing who told him, “Knowing I’m clean allows me to ignore the judgment of others and hold my head up.” For those in our city without easy access to a washer, clean clothes aren’t about ballet practice tights or the little league uniform—they are about dignity, employment, and the courage to face the world. Building a Laundromat, Restoring Souls – As we help build a laundromat for an underserved neighborhood in our city, we see it as a modern-day expression of Jesus washing the disciples’ feet. In a world of fast fashion, it is easy to forget that for many, clothing is a precious, finite resource. Cleaning is ultimately about the removal of impurities to restore a fiber to its purest state. Our own lives are much the same. We are worn and stained by experience, but through love, we are restored. Sometimes we need the “refreshing scent” of a kind word; other times, we need the “hot water” of scripture to hold us accountable. By building this laundromat, our church is making faith visible. We aren’t offering a grand oration; we are meeting a basic,

uncomplicated need. Like the interconnectedness or “circular ecosystem” often found in Jesus’s teachings, this ministry serves both the giver and the receiver. As we provide the “detergent” of grace to our neighbors, our own souls are cleansed in the process.

Questions to Consider: 1. We often notice when someone’s clothes are dirty or smelly, but how often do we consider the barriers they face to get them clean? When was the last time you personally had to look past the “stain” and see the person? 2. What “menial” task in your own daily life could be reframed as an act of worship or a prayer for your loved ones? 3. What professional skill or lifelong hobby do you possess that God might want to use to serve the community in an unexpected way? 4. Jesus taught that in serving others, we are also served. How have you experienced a “ripple effect” of generosity where a small act of kindness ended up changing your own heart?

Prayer for the Community Laundromat created by the Laundromat Development Team in the fall of 2024: Dear God, we pray that as we work to provide fresh perspective to a community please allow us to follow your example of humility and service. Remind us to constantly put the needs of others above our own desires. Help cleanse the souls of all those this ministry will reach and allow us to clean more hearts than clothes. Amen.

Will Gosnell serving at Habitat for Humanity’s Rock the Block in Covington.

A Church Where Our Family Belongs Will Gosnell

Scripture – Psalm 78:4–7 (paraphrase) – “We will tell the coming generation the glorious deeds of the Lord… so that they should set their hope in God.” I started attending HPCUMC in 2019 after our first daughter, Rosalie, was born. Then COVID hit, and we faded to a very sporadic schedule until 2023 after our youngest, Katherine, was born. We would sit in the Welcome Center with her, which gave us the opportunity to meet INCREDIBLE people like Pastor Kate, Meredith, Sarah, and many others. We became members just recently in 2025.

Since then, this church has become an extended family for our children. This building and its membership are one of the few places where I honestly feel like I can relax and be at peace knowing my kids are safe and loved. This church has pushed us to be better stewards, to lift our talents and skills for service, to choose hope over fear, and to “do all the good we can” to make this world a little better for everyone. With three young children and multiple jobs, our family’s most limited currency… is TIME! Still, we try to always answer the call from church when possible. Through service events, music, and even this capital campaign. It is not always pretty and we are far from perfect, but we try! 53

When I think about what I hope my children learn from the church’s faithfulness is: • that God is a safe place where all are welcome. • that “all the darkness in the world cannot extinguish the light of a single candle” (St. Francis). • that we respect differences and reach out a hand when someone is in need. • that we plant the seeds ensuring that God will see the yield from the growing season. Personally, this church was a large motivation in my path to the Sycamore School Board. I wanted to serve and help and protect our children, their teachers, and their education. I am honored to have been elected to serve in this exhausting blessing and greatly appreciate the church’s leadership and ministry in serving our communities and using your talents to help those around you! Thinking about my children’s faith changes how I show up. If we want this church to continue being a safe, loving place for our kids, then we need to show up and help in that mission. We can honor the generations before us who have this amazing O’hana and now carry that torch for those who come after! May we tell the coming generations what God has done and trust that our small acts of love will grow into hope.

Questions to Consider: 1. When have you experienced the church as an “extended family” in your life? 2. Where might God be inviting you to “show up and serve,” even when life feels busy? 3. What do you hope future generations will know about God because of HPCUMC’s faithfulness today?

Kristin Earnest playing viola with the HPCUMC Community Band.

Choosing Community Over Individualism Kristin Earnest

Scripture – Romans 12:4–6 – We have many parts in one body, but the parts don’t all have the same function. In the same way, though there are many of us, we are one body in Christ, and individually we belong to each other. We have different gifts that are consistent with God’s grace that has been given to us. I started attending Hyde Park Community UMC in November of 2023, about six months after I had moved to Cincinnati for my first job out of college, and it was almost immediately when I realized that it was different from any other church I had encountered. I shared stories of my previous church trauma, voiced my questioning and admitted grappling with my faith, and was met with affirmation, understanding, and grace. I saw bulletin boards proudly proclaiming the church’s support of people of color, queer folks, and other marginalized groups. I heard sermons and prayers speaking out against atrocities committed across the world and in our country. On my very first visit, I saw church members in assembly lines in the parking lot packing Thanksgiving food boxes to be distributed to people in need across the community.

And as I dug deeper into Hyde Park Community UMC and its ministries, I discovered a church that offered a myriad of ways for its members to serve our neighbors, which I believe to be the 57

most essential thing that God calls us to do across scripture. Romans 12:4–6 encapsulates the way I wish the world was constructed, and the type of community that God calls us into: the intersection of uniqueness and collectivism. We were created as beautifully distinct beings, each with our own interests, talents, and passions that deserve to be honored and embraced, but these verses remind us that we were not created in a vacuum. An individualist view would encourage us to focus on “me and mine,” to use our gifts to pursue personal gain and worry about what happens to those around us only when it impacts our inner circle. But the moment we choose to see ourselves as a part of a larger collective, a web of stories that cannot be disconnected from one another, we understand our larger call to serve that collective with the gifts we were given. That’s what I deeply respect about HPCUMC, and especially the work at the OTR Campus. One of my biggest passions is to create and support spaces that allow people to find community, be creative, and share their stories. Since October 2024, the OTR Campus has been used for a broad range of activities that invite people to connect with each other and invest in their communities, from craft markets to yoga classes to free meals. I’m thrilled about the plans to further invest in the space, not only making it a better-equipped and more accessible space for the variety of activities it will continue to hold, but also providing additional essential services to the OTR community and to HPCUMC’s community ministry partners through the affordable laundromat and emergency shelter for 8 families at a time with Found House.

Whatever ministries may inspire you to serve or allow you to contribute your talents and passions, 58

investing in community spaces that help your neighbors and create opportunities to connect and be in fellowship with each other benefit us all. I pray that we all can have our eyes opened to the unique talents and value within us, and the ways we can apply those gifts to serve the collective body of Christ that ALL are a part of.

Questions to Consider: 1. How has being part of HPCUMC shaped your understanding of belonging? 2. How have you seen your gifts grow when shared in community rather than used alone? 3. Where is God inviting you to trust that your story and gifts are needed?

Andrea Slone enjoying fellowship in the Welcome Center on Sunday morning.

Seeing God’s Face Across the Table Andrea Slone

Scripture – Hebrews 10:22–25 (The Message) – “So Let’s do it – full of belief, confident that we’re presentable inside and out. Let’s keep a firm grip on the promises that keep us going. He always keeps his word. Let’s see how inventive we can be in encouraging love and helping out, not avoiding worshiping together as some do but spurring each other on, especially as we see the big day approaching.” I love Sunday mornings. Though the music, sermons and liturgy are inspiring, the highlight is when I get out of my comfort zone in the Welcome Center and attempt to engage with others. I call this ‘communion’ with coffee and pastry being the elements. I feel almost exactly the same way at the monthly neighborhood breakfasts we serve at the OTR Campus. It’s an opportunity to see images of God’s face in fellow HPCUMC members and our unhoused neighbors. There are regulars and new folks each month.

Welcoming people in out of the cold for a hot meal feels sacred and gratitude flows in all directions. In another food story, when sharing a meal with our Found House guests in the refectory, I met a woman who changed my understanding of homelessness. She was there with her husband and three children. When they arrived in the evening after a day of work and school she immediately had her children do their homework. She presented as an educated, competent, trustworthy leader so when she 61

told me she was a department supervisor at a hospital it made sense. When her husband lost his job they lost their housing. These two ministries and more will come together with the renovation of our OTR Campus. These are two of the ways HPCUMC ministers to others and also to me. They give my life purpose, richness, and meaning.

“Blessed to be a Blessing” was a sermon preached by former HPCUMC pastor, the Rev. Dr. L.H. Mayfield (1911–2009) that continues to speak to me today. I am blessed. In gratitude, my husband, Larry Yates, and I are responding by whole heartedly supporting the capital campaign in order to: •

Preserve the buildings so they will survive well into the future.

•

Make our buildings more accessible to everyone including our selves as we age and possibly develop mobility issues.

•

Expand our ministries to the community;

•

Improve energy efficiency as we are all called to do in our homes.

HPCUMC is our spiritual home.

Questions to Consider: 1. When have you experienced simple moments (coffee, conversation, shared meals) as holy? 2. Where have you seen God’s face in a neighbor, stranger, or fellow church member? 3. How could your support help create more moments of connection at our Hyde Park and OTR Campuses?

Teddy Meyers delivering food for Love Thy Neighbor Project to one of our partner agencies.

J.O.Y. Together Teddy Meyers

Scripture – Romans 15:13 – “May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, so that you may abound in hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.” I started attending Hyde Park Community UMC in 2017, in my mid‑twenties, at a time when I was still figuring out what adulthood and faith looked like. I was looking for a church that felt like home — a place where I could grow, serve, and belong. What I found at HPCUMC was a community that welcomed me before I had much to offer and gently invited me into a deeper, more grounded life of faith.

Somewhere early on, I heard the JOY acronym — Jesus, Others, Yourself. It wasn’t presented as a rule or a slogan, but as a way of ordering life around what matters most. Over time, JOY became a quiet compass for me, especially as I got more involved in the ministries of the church. One of the most meaningful places I’ve seen JOY take shape in my life has been through serving with our youth. There wasn’t one dramatic moment that changed everything — it was the steady rhythm of showing up, week after week, and realizing that God was doing far more in me than I expected. When I first started volunteering, I wasn’t sure I had anything particularly wise or profound to offer. I didn’t walk in feeling like I had all the answers. But what surprised me 65

was how quickly the students made me feel like I belonged. They didn’t need me to be perfect; they just needed me to be present. And in that simple act of showing up, God started reshaping me. There were nights when a student would share something honest — a worry about school, a question about faith, a moment of vulnerability — and I’d feel this quiet nudge from God reminding me to slow down and really listen. There were times when I watched them encourage each other, and it challenged me to be more encouraging in my own relationships. I went in thinking I was there to help them grow, but over time I realized they were helping me grow. They were teaching me patience, compassion, and what it looks like to put others before myself in a way that feels natural and joyful rather than forced.

Living by JOY has shaped how I think about generosity as well. When Jesus comes first, generosity becomes a response to grace rather than an obligation. When others come before myself, generosity becomes a way of honoring the people God places in my life. And when I trust that God will take care of me — even when I’m not at the center — I find that I have more to give than I expected. As Emily and I prepare to welcome our first child, this verse from Romans feels especially meaningful. I’m praying that our home will be filled with the kind of joy and peace Paul describes — the kind that doesn’t depend on circumstances but grows from trusting God’s presence in every season. I want our child to grow up seeing generosity not as something extraordinary, but as the natural overflow of a hopeful, Spirit‑led life. 66

My prayer for our congregation is the same: that God would fill us with joy and peace, and that our generosity — in this campaign and beyond — would be the fruit of a community learning to live by JOY together.

Questions to Consider: 1. How might ordering your life around Jesus, Others, Yourself change your daily decisions? 2. Who are the young people in your life and how might you encourage them in faith? 3. What helps you trust that God will provide, even when you give something away?

Holly Mattingly and family at granddaughter’s baptism.

A Pew Across the Generations Holly Mattingly

Scripture – Colossians 1:9b–12 – We have not ceased praying for you and asking that you may be filled with the knowledge of God’s will in all spiritual wisdom and understanding, so that you may walk worthy of the Lord, fully pleasing to him, as you bear fruit in every good work and as you grow in the knowledge of God. May you be made strong with all the strength that comes from his glorious power, so that you may have all endurance and patience, joyfully giving thanks to the Father, who has enabled you to share in the inheritance of the saints in the light. We have been blessed to return to Cincinnati after 38 years out-of-state to the church my husband grew up in, our son was married in, his father’s funeral/internment services were held in, and where our granddaughter was baptized. Occasionally, 4 generations sit in a familiar pew to worship in this place. I ponder the saints who prayed this place into being, gave of their gifts; monetarily, and in time and spiritual graces. They built not only the walls and spaces, but they moved hearts to lead, teach, shepherd, and direct this church forward through the ages.

As I look at my toddler granddaughter I wonder: Who will teach her and her children the stories? Who will inspire her from the pulpit, move her to lift her voice in song, challenge her to look beyond the walls to those in need? 69

Will the space be a healthy one, an inclusive one? Can people access ALL of it, at all ages and stages throughout the life span? What souls will “walk the walk” that will inspire her so that she too can bear fruit? If I am honest, it is not just THESE walls and THESE people that have inspired and instilled narrative and drive to keep the momentum going in my life. I hear my mothers mantra from the biblical narrative, “You are blessed to be a blessing.” I see, like yesterday, my father at the kitchen table, while I counted my waitress tips, lecturing on tithing, as I laid aside my tenth, under his mentoring eye. I hear my catechism instructors, bible school teachers, college professors, and numerous pastors in Scriptural study. Every covenant group meeting, choir anthem, hymn, music offering, Sunday School class, centering/contemplative prayer session has brought me closer to feeling the presence of God. The imprint of mission trips, retreats, and a tour of the Holy Land—even worship online have connected me to the Church universal. Its as if the DNA of my spiritual being was called into being by the saints that came before us—and they call to me still. It’s this rich tapestry of prayers, voices, and experiences that have strengthened and nurtured me in the faith. It’s not always been a straight path. The Call has seemed occasionally distant. A spiritual director would undoubtedly tell me to don my Spiritual hearing aids!

But of this I am certain: The Call has come for what is needed. The call for safety, environmental soundness, inclusivity, and outreach in our own community. Real needs. Real people. And I am asked to give—prayerfully, sacrificially, and even joyfully. The responsibility now lies with us— with 70

me. Our ancestors and the saints before us trusted God to do something new. I am grateful for their example and the assurance of walking in faith. It gives me hope for our endeavors, and hope for those who will benefit now—and in the future.

Questions to Consider: 1. Who are the “saints” in your life who shaped your faith? What did they teach you? 2. When have you felt most connected to generations before or after you at HPCUMC? 3. How might our collective care for the buildings and ministries help future generations experience God’s belonging and hope?