Sharing the Love for St. John's

I saw it as I was driving to work this morning. A bumper sticker on the back of a Ford F-150 that seemed to be someone's work-truck read "I LOVE ST. JOHN'S." Actually, it simply had a heart symbol instead of the word "love," so if you prefer you can think of the bumper sticker as saying, "I heart St. John's." Either way, you get the meaning. Whoever was driving this truck wanted people to know of his love for St. John's. 

Which St. John's? Who knows. Perhaps the driver loved St. John's College which has a campus just north of here near Santa Fe. Perhaps he loved another St. John's Church. Maybe he even loved the Island of St. John in the Caribbean? I am pretty sure, he wasn't referring our St. John's UMC since I haven't seen any similar bumper stickers around the church or our parking lot. 

But it got me thinking. What do YOU love about St. John's? What makes you come to church here Sunday after Sunday? Do you love St. John's because we offer an expression of faith that works for your needs and spirituality? Do you love St. John's because your community is here with friends and family? Do you love St. John's because it is home, or because you serve here in a meaningful way, or because you first encountered Jesus' grace here, or because a program or ministry has meaningfully affected you?

Whatever your reasons, I want to invite you to love our church whole-heartedly, especially at this time when we are thinking about stewardship. If you love St. John's, then love it actively by supporting our ministries through your prayers, presence, gifts, service, and witness. If you love St. John's, be sure to love it proudly and generously. Love St. John's because this is a community built on love, where grace is shared, and friendships are forged. 

-Rev. Josh Kouri