You are in for a special treat this week, as we will have not one, but TWO preachers! Pastor Kate and I (Christina) will be co-preaching. And this is my debut, so please go easy on me!
We’re really looking forward to sharing this opportunity together. We often joke that even the smallest tasks are somehow “two-person jobs.” For example, is Kate going to fill her emotional support water bottle? Two-person job. Me opening an Amazon box for our monthly donations for our community partners? Also a two-person job.
While that’s mostly a joke (we promise we can function independently), it points to something deeper: ministry is simply more meaningful when we do it together. There’s something powerful about having someone to share the work with and to witness the impact alongside you.
And that’s exactly what we’re invited into this week.
In our Gospel lesson (Matthew 22:34–40), Jesus reminds us that everything—our faith, our actions, our lives—hangs on two things: loving God and loving our neighbor. Jesus combines these laws intentionally, showing us that we cannot fully love God without loving our neighbors.
Next week is Palm Sunday, and we have a tangible opportunity to live that out through the Love Thy Neighbor Project.
As a church, we partner with over 17 agencies and schools across Cincinnati to provide food boxes to more than 600 households. This year, we’ve even expanded to reach 24 additional households—24 more families who can rest a little easier, knowing there’s one less holiday meal to worry about.
This is our “why.”
Because at the end of the day, ministry isn’t just about what we do; it’s about why we do it. It’s about loving God by loving the people God places right in front of us. The projects, the numbers, the programs…those matter. But they only matter because they are expressions of a deeper love that is real, relational, and lived out.
And in the coming week, you have an opportunity to invite someone into that kind of love.
As we move closer to Easter, many people are already thinking about church. So instead of simply filling a seat, consider inviting a neighbor or friend to experience something meaningful alongside you this Palm Sunday. To participate in the Love Thy Neighbor Project. To serve together. To connect with one another. And to see what it looks like when a community puts love into action.
We look forward to serve with you in the parking lot next Sunday after the
9:30 a.m. service.
Christina Cotrone