Dear Friends,Tomorrow is the big day - Easter Sunday! It's the reminder that Jesus' life doesn't end with the crucifixion, and our lives don't end with the worst thing, either. Easter is the theological basis for our name, offering a place to find hope and the inspiration to be hope.If you are in town, please join us in person. If you are not, join us online: https://behopechurch.org/livestream (a...  Read More

Dear Hope,Yesterday, someone asked me, "People get weird about some made up 'war on Christmas', but what about the war on Easter?" I mean, of all the things I'm legitimately worried about right now in our country, this doesn't even hit top 5000. I'll be honest, I don't think I've heard anyone outside worship design meetings with Isaac talk about the fact that all Christians are entering Holy Week,...  Read More

Hey Hope Friends,It's later in the afternoon to send this email. I'm off my rhythm as I have been spending time in meetings this whole week about a possible new Hope opportunity. IF this materializes, we'll have more to share after Easter.Whether conversations this week mean anything or not, God keeps asking us to pay close attention to what we might be missing? Who is excluded? Is it that short g...  Read More

Dear Hope Friends,Wednesday evening (3/19) when Serena and I were picking up Van for Hope's Wednesday night programming (which was a great night, by the way), we ran out to the car parked at the church while being pelted by hail. By the time we crossed Veteran's, it was just raining, and pulling up to the house, Van ran out to the car in bright sunshine! Later Serena told Ryan, "We experienced THR...  Read More

Have you ever held your hand very close to someone else's without actually touching?What do you notice in the space between? What did you feel? Perhaps a sense of connection and of separation, at the same time? If someone asked: "So, are you connected or are you separated?" And the answer would be "yes", or perhaps closer to one side or the other depending on the circumstance. This is what we want...  Read More

Lent is a way of growing spiritually during the six weeks leading up to Easter Sunday. This year, we are going to really lean into this special season at Hope Church.It will start tomorrow, March 5th, 6-7:30pm, with a simple meal, short Ash Wednesday worship, and conversation groups for adults, kids, youth, young adults.Please join us at Hope Church tomorrow 6-7:30If you've never really observed t...  Read More

Dear Hope Friends,As we continue to be distressed and horrified by our country's treatment of vulnerable people and countries, I want to acknowledge how difficult this week has been close to home, too. Sitting on the bleachers at a junior high volleyball game, I heard the whispered words of encouragement from the parents behind me as their 8th grade daughter sang the national anthem. At the end of...  Read More

Dear Hope Friends and Family,I don't know about you, but nearly every in-person and text conversation I've had since January 20th has included at least a small section about what is being decided and declared in D.C. That's true even as Ryan and I check in with each other about our days and our kids.On one hand, it is helpful to say some things out loud. On the other, I hear the question repeatedl...  Read More

Hey Hope!Tomorrow morning our own Norris Porter, passionate Abraham Lincoln scholar, will teach us about the role that faith did and did not play in Abe's life. We'll be inspired by how President Lincoln navigated the challenge of a deeply divided country. And we'll get to hear his impression of the role of Christian congregations!This will also be Isaac Gaff's first Sunday as our worship leader, ...  Read More

Hey Friends,Now is a time when the rubber hits the road with our name. Do we have the strength and/or faith to offer hope to ourselves and those around us? It is time. We practice this every year in Advent - waiting in active hope not knowing what the next months or years (or days) will hold. And at the same time, needing to look at each other and say, "You are important." "You are loved." This is...  Read More

Dear Hope Family and Friends,We've always loved our kiddos at Hope - Van (my oldest) was born at the same time we were gathering a launch team for this would-be church, so it's the only church he's ever known. (One time when he was little he asked if could ever visit one of those churches with all the benches!) However, in 2025 our students and kids are getting a special focus.Sunday Hope Kids: At...  Read More

Dear Hope Friends,Who knows what the weather is going to be tomorrow!? If there is a storm, please take caution when deciding whether or not leave your home - including volunteers, we'll go forward with whoever is present. We have confirmed that the parking lot will be cleared if/when it snows, the heat in the building works, and I'll be there!Still, I'd love for you to join our new year conversat...  Read More