Pastoral note, from Garrett

426.

426 is a special number for us this year. But before I tell you why, remember: we are talking a lot about belonging this year. As we reestablish our life together in a renovated sanctuary, we will faithfully reestablish it if we keep belonging as the emphasis. Belonging is not just a pastoral value; it is a prophetic act. In a culture that tells us belonging is earned, curated, or restricted to the like-minded, the church bears witness to a different truth: belonging is a gift given in Christ and practiced in community.

But we also have to be ready and willing to broaden our community and intentionally create space within our life together for new friends. Thus, our goal for the rest of the year: 426.
 
Our goal is to make 426 new friends from March 1 to December 31 of this year. A “new friend” is a person who attends an event hosted by Woodland. An event could be a worship service, concert, WOW Book Club, ESL, Bible Study at the coffee shop down the street, or the Habitat for Humanity build. 
 
So when you meet a new friend, write down their name and hand it to a staff member. Or ask them to fill out a connection card, which will be MUCH more available starting now. 
 
As we re-enter the sanctuary, this is an important time for us to be intentional about reaching out to people who will be curious about who we are as a church and what’s going on here. 426 is a bold goal. A random number? Yes, kind of. The number is about twice our weekly worship attendance and ends in “26” for 2026.
 
But this isn’t just about recruitment, it’s about relationships. We care about making new friends because relationships matter. They’re transformative. We’re living in a time when loneliness has reached epidemic levels— when many people are surrounded by screens and yet feel unseen and unknown. 
 
Technology, and now AI, can be incredibly helpful, but it can’t replace the power of presence or the power of learning someone’s name, hearing their story, and sharing a meal. Making new friends isn’t about growing numbers. It’s about creating spaces where people are known, welcomed, and changed by relationships.

Experiencing the body of Christ is the strongest form of evangelism. Rather than explaining the faith, we can invite people to experience it for themselves in joyful sacred community. 
 
Whatever you are involved in right now, we hope you will consider the 426 impact. So far, we’re off to a good start. From March 1 to March 2, we have made 10 new friends. Let’s keep the momentum going.

Grace and peace, 
Garrett Vickrey
Senior Pastor