We are fast approaching the day on which we shall celebrate 125 years of being a church in this community. Grace has certainly found its roots in this beloved community of ours, and as we arrive at this historic 125-year-event, I hope that the year has treated you well.

Thinking about these words that the worship committee has decided on for its theme, comes to the front of my mind as I write this piece. Rooted in faith: like seeds taking root in good soil, a plant can only grow when it is loved and tended to. A plant cannot move or predict anything that may happen to it; it simply must adapt to the environment in which it has grown. To be rooted is to stand strong. This church throughout its history has stood the test of time. Through both triumphs and struggles, this church remains a pillar of this community.

However, these times of triumph or struggle can sometimes lead to moments where we think that we are doing something wrong or that things aren’t going right in our community. I do not wish to shy away from any of these problems. Instead, I wish to give you a word of encouragement. Sometimes, things happen in our lives far beyond any control we could ever muster. It’s like when the disciples ask Jesus if the blind man or his parents had sinned to cause him blindness. And the truth was that neither of these things caused his blindness. Instead, our Lord healed the man of his blindness because there was much work of healing left to be done.

Sometimes, things happen that can shake us to our core. But that is not a weakness, deficiency of character, or otherwise. Christ takes our focus away from the problem and puts it onto the places where resurrection life exists. It starts in the ground of Christ, whose love for us nurtures us like a seed, to grow deep roots so that no strong wind or hot sun could destroy us. And this brings us out into the space where God’s grace abounds all around us. The point of all this is to say: Life can be hard, but Christ’s Body, Blood, and Word are the ground of the Church’s growth in grace.

As we continue into the harvest months and this important anniversary, may the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, the love of God and the communion of the Holy Spirit be with you all as you continue to be rooted in faith and grow in grace. Amen!

Pastor Evan Meester, October 2026