Pastor’s Message for September 2025

Dear Friends,

Jesus gives us a simple but powerful promise in Matthew 18:20: “For where two or three are gathered in my name, I am there among them.”

Those words remind us of something deeply true: life is not meant to be lived alone. From the very beginning of creation, God said it was not good for human beings to be by themselves. We are made for connection, for fellowship, for walking alongside one another.

Faith is the same way. While we each have a personal journey with God, that journey is meant to be shared. Prayers gain strength when voices join together. Worship feels fuller when we lift our hearts side by side. Hymns sound richer when sung by more voices. Even our struggles feel lighter when we realize we don’t carry them alone.

Jesus knew this. That’s why he didn’t just send his disciples out one by one, but in pairs. That’s why the early church met in homes, breaking bread and bearing one another’s burdens. And that’s why his promise still stands today: whenever we gather—even if it’s just a handful of us—Christ himself is present.

That means when we come together for worship, Christ is there. When we meet for Bible study, Christ is there. When two friends pray over the phone, Christ is there. His presence is not reserved for grand cathedrals or packed  sanctuaries; it is found wherever hearts unite in his name.

So let’s keep gathering. Let’s keep encouraging one another. Because life is better together—and when we come together, Christ is right there.

God loves you, and so do I,
Pastor Jim Sands