Friends, I am delighted to share this “Word” with you, as Rev. Karyn finishes up her final few days of resting and renewing. While she has been away, the work of First Church has, nevertheless, kept going. Just in the last week alone, we have hosted the memorial service for Bob Meyers, the former Treasurer of the Oregon-Idaho Annual Conference, with not one, but two bishops presiding. Our Director of Children, Youth, and Family Ministries, Drew Hogan preached a fabulous sermon in our “The Best of All” worship series, before his commissioning interviews with the Pacific Northwest Annual Conference Board of Ordained Ministry next week. The First Church Trustees and Finance Committee met for their bi-annual joint meeting. Our Card Connect Ministry Team prepared next month’s card assignments. The Lay Leaders made plans for next week’s Parish Conference meeting. The Shovel and Rake Gang attended to the outside needs of the campus—in the cold and rain! And, as I type this, we have opened the doors of our sanctuary to the PSU choir to rehearse for their concert this weekend.

This is a busy and vibrant place. And the truth of it all, is that this work is not mine, Karyn, or Lowell’s. It’s yours. Or, perhaps, more technically stated: it’s ours. Because, indeed, we are all—every single one of us—the church together.

Serving among you as one of your pastors is one of my greatest joys and privileges. In the words of the Apostle Paul, “I thank my God every time I mention you in my prayers” (Philippians 1:3).

I am continuing to pray for you and for us this Lenten season. We are walking along the way of Jesus together, reminding ourselves of the great truth, affirmed by the founder of Methodism, John Wesley, on his deathbed, “The best of all is that God is with us.”

My friends, wherever you are this day or this weekend, whatever situation you find yourself in, whatever news comes your way, know that you are not now, nor will you ever be alone. God is with you. God is with us.

And so, as our church continues to stay busy and as our vibrancy continues to grow, let us keep walking along Christ’s way, knowing that God goes with us, wherever the road may lead.