Pastoral note, from Garrett

The Woodland Kids are at Passport Camp in Brownwood, TX this week. They return on Wednesday. The camp theme this year is “VAMOS!” They’ll be learning about discernment. Asking questions like: What stirs something deep in your heart and pushes you to take the next step forward? Following God is like running the most important race of your life—a race that’s not about speed, but about purpose. You don’t just show up; you prepare, you listen for God’s direction, and you build strength through every challenge.

This Sunday you’re invited to join friends from church at Big’z Burgers after the 11 a.m. service. We’ll meet there for our last official lunch bunch of the summer. 

Plans are coming together for our first Compassion & Justice Night on August 26. We’ll be talking about Hunger in Texas with special guest Kelly King from the San Antonio Food Bank. Kelly will update us on the possible cuts to SNAP benefits that will push people deeper into poverty. 

SNAP stands for the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program. It’s a federal government initiative that provides food-purchasing assistance to low-income individuals and families, commonly known as food stamps.

9 out of 10 meals for hungry people are provided by SNAP. Churches/non-profits provide 1 out of 10. What would the world look like without SNAP? To cover the loss of SNAP, every church in the country would have to provide an additional $400,000. And by the way, two-thirds of U.S. churches have annual budgets of less than $100,000. At the end of the night on August 26, we will have the opportunity to participate in Bread for the World’s “Offering of Letters” to advocate for SNAP. 

Grace and peace, 

Garrett Vickrey
Senior Pastor