In the often-forgotten book of Esther, God never speaks, performs a miracle, or is even mentioned by name—and yet God’s presence seems to whisper through the entire story. When a plot threatens the lives of her people, Esther must decide whether to remain safely hidden or risk using the influence she has been given. Her famous calling “for such a time as this” isn’t accompanied by certainty about what will happen next. Instead, Esther reminds us that courage isn’t the absence of fear; it’s choosing faithfulness even when we don’t know how the story will end.

As we continue our Forgotten Books of the Bible series, we’ll explore what Esther can teach us about trusting God when God seems silent, finding courage in community, and recognizing the influence each of us already has to make a difference. God’s silence is not the same as God’s absence—and sometimes God’s work becomes visible through ordinary people willing to take the next faithful step

Special words from our Clerk of Session on Mission

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Join us this Sunday for the second installment of our Forgotten Books of the Bible series as we explore the often-overlooked book of Ezra. Set in the aftermath of exile and devastation, Ezra tells the story of a people returning home to find that everything has changed. As they rebuild their city, their temple, and their community, they wrestle with questions that still resonate today: How do we find our identity after loss? How do we hold grief and hope at the same time? And how do we move forward faithfully when we can’t go back to the way things were?

Through this powerful story of restoration, we’ll reflect on the difference between healthy remembrance and dangerous nostalgia and discover how God meets us in seasons of rebuilding. Whether you are navigating personal change, recovering from disappointment, or simply seeking hope for the future, Ezra reminds us that faith is not about returning to the past—it is about trusting God to help us build what comes next.

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Join us this Sunday as we embark on our sermon series to round out the summer: Forgotten Books of the Bible, beginning with the remarkable story of Ruth. Though often overlooked, this small book offers a powerful vision of God’s heart—a God who welcomes outsiders, creates chosen family, and calls us to lives of steadfast, devoted love. Together we’ll explore what it means to belong, how God’s grace expands our understanding of family, and how the church is called to be a community where all are welcomed home.

This Sunday we will also celebrate the Sacrament of Communion, gathering around Christ’s table where strangers become family through God’s grace. In addition, our worship will include a special liturgy marking Pastor Jessie’s return from sabbatical, as we give thanks for a season of rest, renewal, and learning and celebrate the beginning of this next chapter in our shared ministry.

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This Sunday, as we celebrate Father’s Day, we’ll reflect on a truth many of us know all too well: life rarely goes according to plan. Drawing on the various scriptures of the day, Pastor Jessie will share lessons from her recent sabbatical about unexpected detours, changed plans, and surprising encounters with God’s presence along the way.

When our carefully crafted itineraries unravel—whether in travel, parenting, careers, relationships, or faith—we often discover that God is already at work in places we never intended to go. Join us as we explore how God’s guidance is often found not only in our destinations, but also in the pivots, interruptions, and unexpected turns that shape our journey.

This service will also include honoring of all our helpers with children in our church as well as a commissioning of our Youth Mission trip participants who will be serving in Harrisburg from June 21-26.

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