Faith at First Aug-Oct 2025 Magazine

Hello my name is…

Have you ever noticed how our church staff are almost always wearing nametags? It’s not because we don’t know each other – it’s because we want to make it clear that everyone who walks through the doors of our campus feels seen, welcome, and invited to belong. We never want someone to feel like they’re on the outside looking in just because they don’t know a name or a face. A name tag is a small but meaningful reminder that hospitality begins with being known.

This spirit of welcome and connection is at the heart of the stories you’ll find in this issue of Faith at First. Each article is a glimpse into the many ways our church continues to reach out to one another and to our neighbors. Whether we’re celebrating work that’s already taken place or preparing for what’s to come, we are reminded again and again that we are called to be the hands and feet of Christ in a world that is hungry for hope.

As we look toward the fall, that same spirit will be shaping our lives together in new ways. Our congregational Vision Team is preparing for a season of deep listening, inviting church members and friends into in-person small group conversations around what discipleship, care, and mission might look like in the years ahead. At the same time, our September sermon series – Beautiful Belonging – will invite us to deeper reflection on what it means to truly belong to God and to one another.

So this September, don’t be surprised if you’re handed a nametag when you show up on a Sunday morning. Remember that it’s more than a sticker – it’s an invitation. Because church is more than a building. It is a community of belonging that we create together: one name, one story, one grace-filled moment at a time.

I am grateful to be building with you!

Peace,

Rev. Alan F. Dyer
Senior Pastor