As April arrives, basketball fans across the country have their eyes fixed upward – watching shots arc toward the basket, players jumping for rebounds, and championship celebrations with confetti falling from arena ceilings. Is One Shining Moment your favorite part of the tournament? This Final Four weekend, millions witness stories of persistence, unexpected heroes, and […]
Have you noticed how this time of year plays tricks with our expectations? One day teases us with spring warmth, the next reminds us winter hasn’t quite finished. With April Fool’s Day just around the corner, we’re reminded how easily we can be fooled by appearances. Have you experienced that moment of uncertainty over the […]
As spring break begins in McPherson, many of us share a special kind of anticipation. Those refreshing first days when students celebrate freedom from alarm clocks and homework, when families might plan special activities, when the promise of spring starts appearing in tiny green shoots pushing through the soil. Yet alongside that anticipation, we often […]
Late February brings the first whispers of spring approaching. With temperatures warming and ice beginning to melt, we feel a subtle shift in the air – a promise of renewal. Yet in this season of transition, many of us still carry winter’s restlessness. The novelty of New Year’s resolutions has worn off, and we might […]
We gather this morning with heavy hearts, just days after the tragic loss of Flight 5342 from our the Wichita airport just down the road. You or someone you know may have known passengers or their families, and all of us feel the weight of this loss. In moments like these, when grief touches our […]
Late January finds us living in the wake of change. Just days ago, our nation witnessed the inauguration of a new president – a moment stirring hope in some hearts and deep concern in others. These national transitions remind us how change, even when democratic and orderly, may leave us feeling uncertain about what lies […]
By mid-January, most New Year’s resolutions have either taken root or fallen away. Our ambitious declarations about transformation often fade as routine settles back in. Many of us know what it’s like to stand up and boldly announce a change, only to face skepticism – sometimes from others, sometimes from ourselves. Whether it’s a commitment […]
As the calendar turns to a new year, many of us find ourselves reflecting on growth and potential. Maybe you’ve written down resolutions, hoping to transform areas of your life. Or perhaps you’re simply pausing to consider what wisdom the past year has offered and what understanding you hope to gain in the months ahead. […]
Tonight all across McPherson, people are singing “Silent Night.” We’re all celebrating Christmas Eve, but each of us is doing it a little differently. Some of us are sitting in the same pews where our parents and grandparents once sat. Others are starting new traditions. Some of us see empty places where loved ones used […]
Have you ever received life-changing news from an unexpected source? Perhaps it came through a child’s innocent observation, a stranger’s kind gesture, or a friend’s casual comment that suddenly illuminated everything differently. In our world of carefully curated messages and polished presentations, we often overlook how God speaks through ordinary voices and everyday moments. Today’s […]
If you are anything like me you may have started this December with carefully crafted plans – lists of gifts to buy, cookies to bake, events to attend. Maybe like last year, we created task lists and calendar items to manage it all. But life has a way of disrupting even our most detailed plans. […]
We gather this first Sunday of Advent fresh from Thanksgiving tables and carrying both gratitude and grief – some of us still feeling the warmth of family gatherings, others mourning empty chairs, like those who gathered Wednesday to celebrate Carl Kasey’s 101 years of faithful living. In these days between giving thanks and preparing for […]
Rev. Andrew Conard 