Monday Musings by Pastor Ron - June 1, 2026

Friends,

Summer has arrived. Almost all the schools are out, and we are all gearing up for time spent together on vacations, at camps, or wherever/whatever we are going or doing for the next three months.

There seems to be a different dynamic in summer, more time to spend with family. Less reason to worry about getting homework done or completing work assignments. Yet summer is also a time when family time sometimes runs too long. I had an interesting conversation with my dental hygienist as i sat in her chair this morning (granted it was pretty much a one-way conversation since she had my mouth pried open). Her summer vacation is a cruise with her two adult daughters and her brother and his three adult children. Her brother's comment about the cruise was he was happy that it was only four days long because longer than that might family disruptions might begin to show. When I had a chance to talk, I told her that every family has some dysfunction, that's what makes each one unique. Some dysfunction is larger than others, but we all have some. (If you don't believe me join us over the next four Sundays as we tell the story of Abraham and Sarah.)

That includes our church family as well. We don't always agree. We don't always want to head in the same direction. But we remain a family by joining together to move forward with whatever decision is made as a whole. We are preparing to embark on one of the most important efforts I believe we will take in the life of our congregation. In late June or early July, we are going to begin a six-month exercise to determine who we want to be in the next five years. Not only who, but how are we going to get there. This will be an effort for the entire church family, not just leadership, not just a few, but everyone. We will be creating a visioning/leadership team to shepherd the process. If you are interested in being part of that team, please let me know.

I am excited about where we have been but more excited about where we are going. As I said Sunday, God has called us into a partnership to do Godly work in West Houston. I know we are ready. We just need to decide who we want to be and how we are going to participate in that partnership.

I am excited about our church family and especially in the opportunity to watch our church family grow as we continue to welcome everyone that walks through our doors. I am excited to watch as the recently opened apartments begin to fill, and the new residents arrive at our doorsteps after we have welcomed them into our community.

Summer is here. Let's spend some quality time with our families: at home and at church.

God bless you. See you Sunday