What does it look like to love someone in a way that is real, visible, and felt before anything is ever said?
In Sunday’s Scripture, John 21:1-14, we find the disciples returning to something familiar after the resurrection: fishing. They spend the entire night working and come up empty. It’s in that moment, in the ordinary and unsuccessful, that Jesus appears. He doesn’t begin with a lesson or a challenge. Instead, He meets them in their need and guides them, provides for them, and shares a meal with them. It’s a quiet, relational moment that speaks volumes about who He is and how He loves.
This story reminds us that the Risen Christ is not distant from our everyday lives. He meets us in them. He cares about what we are carrying, what we are lacking, and what we are longing for in our lives. And often, His love is experienced not first through words, but through the presence of and relationship with someone else.
As we approach this Sunday, which is Mother’s Day, I’m especially aware that this kind of love is something many of us have seen, experienced, or longed for in the context of family and relationships. For some, this day brings deep gratitude and joy. For others, it carries grief, complexity, or unanswered questions. The range of emotions we hold together as a community is a powerful reminder that people are walking through real and varied experiences every day.
That reality speaks directly to our mission. Some people are searching for truth and desire something that is genuine and life-giving in the middle of their actual lives. They need to know that God’s love is real, present, and active right now.
This is where the life of the church becomes so important. The way we show up for one another and for our community matters. The small, consistent ways we care, notice, serve, and connect have a lasting impact. As we all know, kindness shouldn’t be just an occasional action, but something that grows within us as we walk with the Spirit and allow God’s love to shape who we are. When that happens, even simple moments and acts of kindness can carry deep meaning and create ripple effects far beyond what we see.
In the coming weeks, we take intentional steps to live this out more fully as a congregation. You will hear more about opportunities to engage and serve in ways that are both practical and relational. These are not about adding more to your schedule, but about being more aware of how God works through your everyday interactions.
My hope is that we would all continue growing as people who reflect the heart of Jesus in the way we live and interact with others. Because long before people receive and understand the Gospel, they are often looking to see it lived out.
So, join us this Sunday as we all go fishing… for people.
With love,
Pastor Corey
