Sacrament by Anna Strickland

Kindred in Christ,

This Sunday is a special one—and I hope you’ll be there to help us celebrate it in all its Spirit-filled, rainbow-splashed glory.

Pentecost is the day the Church was born—not through force or conformity, but through a surprising, multilingual, boundary-breaking outpouring of the Holy Spirit (Acts 2:1-39). It’s a story that reminds us that God doesn’t flatten our differences—God fills them with holy fire. It’s about understanding one another across lines of language, culture, and identity. It’s about the miracle that happens when we listen deeply, speak boldly, and let love lead the way.

We’ll be continuing our worship series, Unbounded Love: A series on Pentecost and LGBTQIA+ Celebration, and I’ll be preaching a sermon about what happens when the Spirit breaks binaries—linguistic, cultural, theological, even personal. I’ll share a bit of my own story growing up in a bilingual Cuban immigrant home, and how that experience has shaped my understanding of the Spirit’s work in bringing people together not by making us the same, but by helping us truly hear one another.

This Sunday is also special because we’ll be welcoming Green Lake UMC to join us for worship at our regular service time. And as we continue in the discernment of two congregations coming together, this Pentecost moment offers a beautiful invitation: to resist the urge to dominate or assimilate, and instead to open ourselves to the possibility of something new being born in community.

So come.
Come ready to celebrate.
Come wearing red, rainbow, or whatever helps you sparkle as your authentic, Spirit-filled self.
Come ready to sing, to pray, to listen, and to imagine the church being reborn again.

I can’t wait to see you there.

Alongside you,

Rev. Paul Ortiz

Kindred in Christ,

Happy Pride Month!

This June, I’m thrilled to invite you into a new worship series:
Unbounded Love: A Series on Pentecost and LGBTQIA+ Celebration.

Rooted in the powerful imagery of Pentecost—the Spirit moving freely, breaking down walls, and drawing people together across language, culture, and difference—this series celebrates the holy work of liberation, authenticity, and beloved community. We’ll explore how the Spirit continues to set people free, how love cannot be contained or confined, and how God’s desire for us is not conformity, but courageous, diverse unity.

In a world that too often tries to bind people with shame or fear, especially our LGBTQIA+ siblings and selves, this is a time to proclaim loudly and clearly: God’s love is unbounded. It is expansive, freeing, and for everyone.

The title for this series is drawn from the beloved hymn Love Divine, All Loves Excelling, which describes Jesus as “pure unbounded love.” In early Wesleyan theology, that phrase was a way of expressing the radical idea that in Christ, God’s love had broken every barrier and come fully into the human experience. That same unbounded love continues to move among us, inviting us to become more free, more compassionate, and more deeply connected to God and each other.

Each Sunday, we’ll dive into stories of liberation and connection. This week, we begin with the story of Paul and Silas in prison (Acts 16:16–34) and Jesus’ prayer that all may be one (John 17:20–26). We’ll reflect on how the Spirit breaks chains, opens hearts, and brings new life, even in the darkest places. We’ll also look at how Jesus’ prayer for unity is not about sameness, but about love that honors diversity—and how that shapes the kind of church we are called to be.

And there’s more to celebrate! On Wednesday, June 4, we’ll be hosting a Drag Story Time for the neighborhood, featuring the renowned, Filipina, drag queen and activist Aleksa Manila. Aleksa brings joy, creativity, and bold advocacy to every space she enters, and we’re honored to welcome her as part of our Pride Month festivities.

Wherever you are on your journey of faith or identity, you are welcome here. Whether you’re a longtime member or visiting for the first time, I hope you’ll join us for this series—and bring a friend! Let’s continue building an inclusive, Spirit-led, justice-loving community where every person is embraced as God’s own.

Alongside you,

Rev. Paul Ortiz

Rainbow at Camp Indianola

Kindred in Christ,

This weekend marks a meaningful moment in the life of our church. As many of us gather for our Vision Retreat at Camp Indianola—a time of prayer, listening, and discernment—we step into a season of reflection on who we are and who God is calling us to become. Whether or not you are attending the retreat this weekend, the journey we are on is a shared one, and there will be more ways to participate soon. All of us are part of this unfolding story.

On Sunday, we’ll continue our Eastertide sermon series, Signs of New Creation, by exploring a story of holy disruption and unexpected transformation. In Acts 11, Peter finds himself drawn into a new vision—one that stretches his imagination, challenges old boundaries, and ultimately opens the door for God’s Spirit to move in surprising ways. He doesn’t get there easily. His vision has to change. And when it does, the church is never the same.

We’ll reflect on what it means to be a community of vision and surprise—a people shaped not just by what we’ve always known, but by the ever-expanding love of Christ. Jesus’ final commandment to his disciples, “Love one another as I have loved you,” becomes not just a rule, but a radical vision for life together (John 13). It is that love that still invites us to grow, to risk, and to welcome.

Whether or not you are part of the retreat this weekend, I hope you’ll join us for worship on Sunday as we ask: Where is the Spirit surprising us now? What new vision might be taking shape among us? And how might God be calling us to love more deeply, more boldly, more like Christ?

See you Sunday. Come ready for surprise.

Alongside you,

Rev. Paul Ortiz

Kindred in Christ,

This Sunday, we remember that Mother’s Day was born not out of sentimentality, but out of solidarity. Its origins lie with women like Ann Reeves Jarvis, a Methodist who organized mothers for public health, peace, and justice. It was a movement grounded in deep listening—to the needs of their communities and to the call of compassion.

In that same spirit, we’ll reflect on what it means to truly listen—especially when it comes to hearing the voice of God.

Our scriptures introduce us to Tabitha, a disciple whose life overflowed with generosity and care, leaving a legacy of love in her wake (Acts 9). We’ll also hear Jesus speak about being the Good Shepherd, whose sheep know his voice—a powerful image of trust, intimacy, and discernment (John 10).

We’ll also draw on the wisdom of St. Ignatius of Loyola, who taught that deep listening to God begins in quiet, honest reflection. On Sunday, we’ll explore the Examen Prayer—a five-step practice for noticing where God may be speaking through your day: in your joys, your struggles, and your longings.

Together, we’ll honor the voices of women like Ann Reeves Jarvis and Tabitha, whose lives were centered on healing, justice, and peace. And we’ll practice listening—truly listening—for the God who still speaks.

Come join us.

Whether you’re seeking peace of mind, connection to God, or a deeper way to listen—we’ll be holding space for all of it.

Alongside you,

Rev. Paul Ortiz

Kindred in Christ,

This Sunday, we continue our Easter series, Signs of New Creation, where we’re watching how the Risen Christ shows up not just in empty tombs, but in transformed lives, courageous witness, and holy disruptions. One of the themes running through this week’s stories is the difference between sight and vision. We often move through life assuming we understand what we see—taking things in at face value. But God’s Spirit invites us into deeper awareness: to see not just the surface of things, but the sacred truth beneath.

In Acts 9, Saul is confident in his vision—he thinks he’s defending God’s law by attacking the followers of Jesus. But on the road to Damascus, he’s struck blind and only then begins to truly see. When his sight is restored, everything looks different—especially himself. It’s the beginning of a life shaped not by certainty, but by grace.

In John 21, the disciples are fishing all night and catching nothing. A stranger appears on the shore and tells them to try again. It’s only after they follow his instructions that they realize: this is Jesus. The risen Christ was with them the whole time—they just hadn’t seen it yet.

Fittingly, this Sunday also happens to be May the 4th—a day many recognize as Star Wars Day. And there’s a curious connection here. One of the most iconic characters, Han Solo, begins as someone who sees the world through cynicism. He looks out for himself and assumes that caring too much only leads to trouble. But something changes. Through community, struggle, and sacrifice, he begins to see differently. He discovers that love and justice are worth showing up for—and worth risking for.

This is the invitation of the Spirit: to let go of the certainty that keeps us safe, and to receive new vision. Vision that opens us to Christ among us. Vision that reshapes how we live. Come join us this Sunday, and bring your curiosity, your questions, and your heart ready to be opened. And may the force be with you!

Alongside you,

Rev. Paul Ortiz