Hey Hope Friends,I am sucker for a good house renovation - especially when I can watch it on TV and it's someone else's time, money, and mess! Friends in Nashville were on one of those shows, and I got to walk through their house before the episode aired - it really was remarkable and beautiful. What hooks me is the potential seen in very run down properties, and then watching it restored to its f...  Read More

Dear Hope Friends and Family,All day yesterday I felt like I was missing something, there was so much time to just be with family! Clergy are used to one-day weekends which part of why Thanksgiving weekend is so fun! Ryan and I took the kids to see Moana 2 in a packed theater. (It was fine, but does not have the music of Lin Manuel Miranda and is not necessary viewing if you don't have a young kid...  Read More

Dear Hope Church Friends and Family,Part of creating meaningful relationships is holding space for each other's feelings, reactions, and thoughts. As a congregation we care deeply about the rights of all LGBTQ+ people as a starting point. It does not end there, as we are clearly called by Jesus' words in Matthew 25 to care for all marginalized people. The policies (not yet enacted, but) promised b...  Read More

Seeking to avoid platitudes, I just want you all to know that our congregation, our faith community, will not change our values and actions. We'll continue to be a place for those who are cast out, and together we'll work toward justice and mercy: God's kin-dom on earth as it is in heaven.I am going to a funeral this morning, and will be back at the church by 1:00pm and stay until at least 7:00pm....  Read More

Dear Hope Friends and Family,We are going to shift gears for the month of November, and talk about what it takes to create meaningful friendships in our lives (the photo below is my friends Halloween 1976). Studies about how to be happy and how to live a long life and how to deal with anxiety all talk about deep breathing, exercise, and eating healthy. They all also include meaningful friendships ...  Read More

Dear Hope Church,Tomorrow in our final week of Why? we'll consider our own personal spiritual practices and why this particular congregation matters. In some ways it is easier to critique faith and institutions of faith from a more global perspective. We can identify hypocrisy or harm in people and places out there.What about right here?How do we create healthy spaces for spiritual growth, practic...  Read More

Dear Hope Friends and Family,One year ago our congregation had to answer the question of whether we were going to open our doors for good. If you are newer here, please know it was a miracle that we made it to our current location, and I don't use that phrase lightly. You might not "feel" it with varying worship patterns and 2 service times, but we have grown 15% since January!A year later, withou...  Read More

Hey Hope Friends and Family -99% of the time our 9:30 and 11 worship experiences are exact replicas. However, tomorrow morning you want to be at the 11am because we are welcoming one of our brand new bishops, Bishop Bard!I'll be very excited to see you at 9:30 if that fits your schedule, and we'll make room for everyone at the later service if you'd like a chance to meet one of our new Bishops. Bi...  Read More

Dear Hope Friends and Family,Every major world religion has some version of this invitation to "do unto others" in their sacred writings. Why is this challenge so pervasive across cultures and religions, and what does it mean for our day-to-day lives?Tomorrow in worship we'll look at the background for Jesus' challenge in the New Testament. And we'll recognize that it is much harder than it sounds...  Read More

Dear Hope Family,Tuesday afternoon we launched a Bloomington-Normal Kindness Campaign with a multi-church Kindness Rally on the steps of the McLean County History Museum! All of the United Methodist Churches in town, plus 17 local politicians, came together to promote kind in this election season. Tomorrow in worship, we'll consider what that means. It's tempting to equate this to a feeling that w...  Read More

Dear Hope,Has anyone seen a child who is in a growth spurt such that the poor kid seems to be wearing high waters all the time!? It's like the height comes faster than Amazon can deliver the next right size! (Thankfully Van wears shorts in all seasons, or it would definitely appear we aren't getting him pants that fit!)That is a good metaphor for our congregation right now. We have more great oppo...  Read More

Dear Hope,The EBs live one mile from ISU and 2 blocks from IWU. Even without being on campus everyday as I once was, you can tell students are back in town! It's in the air. And I can hear the BHS marching band practicing from my back yard. All signs point to back-to-school!If I'm being real, I'm still not done with summer. Van and his D87 friends spent all day Friday at the pool while their Unit ...  Read More