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 […]
The Valentine’s displays are already marked down at Walmart, heart-shaped chocolate boxes sit half-eaten on kitchen counters, and some roses are starting to drop their petals. Now that the commercialized romance of February 14th is fading, we might find ourselves thinking about love in deeper ways. What does it mean to love extravagantly? How do […]
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 […]
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 […]
Have you ever tried to delete your past? Maybe you’ve purged old social media posts, shredded embarrassing photos, or desperately wished you could unsend that angry email. As we gather just days before Thanksgiving, maybe you are dreading certain conversations around the holiday table, wishing we could erase past hurts or start fresh. An ancient […]
Have you ever watched someone carefully assemble a quilt? Each piece of fabric, worn with love or vibrantly new, tells its own story. Carefully chosen and positioned, they form a beautiful whole. In the aftermath of our recent elections, amidst the beautiful quilts and sewing projects we see today, perhaps you feel like scattered pieces […]
In Manhattan last night, both teams faced pivotal moments. For KU, a crucial fumble ended their hopes of breaking a sixteen-year drought. For K-State, wisdom under pressure led to a game-winning field goal. These moments of decision – whether to dive forward or protect the ball, trust your preparation, or doubt yourself – reveal some […]
Rev. Andrew Conard 