In Luke’s telling of the call of the first disciples (Luke 5:1–11), Jesus steps into Simon’s boat,
teaches the crowd, and then invites the fishermen to cast their nets once more. Though they
have labored all night and caught nothing, they trust him—and the nets overflow. What follows
is more than a miracle story. It is a glimpse of the Kin-dom of God, where abundance is
discovered in shared labor, mutual trust, and faithful community. No one pulls in the nets
alone. All are needed!
That vision of shared calling speaks directly to this Sunday in the life of our church. This
weekend is Announcement Sunday. As we gather for worship, I am sure there is some
expectation on all our part considering where we stand in our capital campaign, A Faithful
History, A Hopeful Future. Like those first disciples, we wait with anticipation to see how the
Spirit has moved among us and what abundance has been revealed through our collective
faithfulness.
Sunday is also a day of blessing and transition as we recognize the students among us who are
stepping from one season of life into the next. Their journeys remind us that discipleship is
always unfolding and that each new chapter begins with courage, trust, and hope. Regardless
of the path of each student, we honor the years of preparation that have led to this moment of
accomplishment.
In addition, we mark Mother’s Day—a day filled with joy, gratitude, tenderness, and, for some,
grief and pain. We honor mothers and all who have nurtured, guided, and loved others with
steadfast care. For those without children of their own, this day also invites reflection on the
many ways we share in the work of parenting. Many of us have given our whole life towards
mentoring, and caring for our children in community. By the conduct of our lives and our
interest in seeing the next generations take their place in community leadership, we make
important investments that build each other up. In the Kin-dom of God, each of us has a place,
and every gift is needed.