A Summer Note from Pastor Katie

Dear Bethany Community,

As I look back on the first half of this year, I am filled with gratitude. As we step into summer, so much is unfolding. Our preaching theme is Courage for the Unknown. We’ll journey with Ruth and Esther, the Apostle Paul, and the Ten Commandments, listening for how God meets us on uncertain paths. This season invites us to trust that faith is often less about certainty and more about the next faithful step when the whole road is not yet visible.

Summer is also rich with life together. June is Pride Month, and we are grateful to continue living into our call as a Reconciling in Christ congregation. Many of us recently joined Crystal Lake Pride, and we will also be present at Woodstock PrideFest. These celebrations remind us of the holy truth that all people are made in God’s image, and of the gifts the LGBTQ+ community offers the wider church and world.

At the end of June, we will mark a transition as we say farewell to Pastor Paul as he completes his time as interim pastor. We will gather June 28 to give thanks for his ministry and to bless him in what comes next. Such moments are tender and sacred; times to honor what has been given and to trust what will continue to grow.

In July, we will reflect on faith and civic life as our nation marks the 250th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence. Together we will not seek simple answers, but a faithful posture shaped by humility, compassion, justice, and love of neighbor.

Woven through all of this is the joy of summer at Bethany: Vacation Bible School, the Ice Cream Social, the Summer Concert Series, and our youth mission trip; each carrying its own grace, laughter, learning, and service.

I find myself holding a simple image: a path unfolding as we walk it. We are not rushing ahead in fear, nor standing still. We are becoming, through God, together. You are invited into this life in many ways: through worship, generosity, shared time, and ministries like the Blessing Box. And beyond our walls, your acts of service - at the food pantry, in your workplaces, in travel, in everyday kindness - are also expressions of faith. My invitation to you is simple: carry the spirit of this community into every place you go this summer.

Whether you have been here for decades or are just finding your way in, there is a place for you. We are grateful you exist. I hope you find moments this summer simply to be present in this beloved community.

Thank you for the gift of being your pastor. I am grateful for you, and I look forward to the summer we will share.

With joy, trust, and peace,

Pastor Katie