Anyone else already tired of back-to-school ads? It’s only early August, but every store has transformed into a shrine to three-ring binders and number two pencils. My favorite are the commercials showing perfectly organized children cheerfully packing their backpacks at dawn. Meanwhile, most of us remember or experience the reality—frantically searching for matching socks while […]
August in Kansas sometimes means we’re caught between seasons. Summer isn’t quite finished with us, but fall is already sending advance notices through school supply displays and fall sports practice schedules. Many of us are still watering gardens – some thriving despite the heat, others looking like they’ve had quite enough of this Kansas summer, […]
Sermon Today our worship feels special. We’re celebrating both Mother’s Day and our high school seniors. You may see a few proud moms wipe away some tears as they watch their kids grow up. Our seniors might feel both excited and nervous about what comes next after graduation. Significant milestones in our life sometimes come […]
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 […]
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 […]
As the decorations come down and resolutions fade, mid-January often feels like returning to earth after the holiday season’s heightened moments. Perhaps you’ve noticed how quickly our ambitious New Year’s commitments meet reality’s gravity. The gym crowds thin out, the healthy recipes get more creative with “substitutions,” and those meditation apps send increasingly hopeful notifications. […]
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 […]
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 […]
From generation to generation, for 150 years, our congregation has been a testament to God’s enduring faithfulness. As we celebrate this milestone today, we’re reminded of Abraham gazing at the stars, each point of light representing a promise that would unfold across centuries. Have you ever considered how your faith today connects to those who […]
Imagine standing at a crossroads, the horizon stretched before you, painted with the bright colors of dawn. This moment, right now, feels like that—a pivotal point in our journey together. As I share the news of my upcoming appointment to McPherson First United Methodist Church, we stand together on the edge of change, between the […]
Rev. Andrew Conard 