Dear Church Family, 

I want to take a moment and congratulate all of our graduates within the church family.  Graduates, while these past two years may not have been anything you had envisioned, your accomplishments should not be diminished.  These years should be seen as a unique moment in history that may have actually benefited you, even if those benefits are hard to discern at the moment. You have learned at least one valuable lesson in life for certain…flexibility. 

I call upon the First Christian Church Family to encourage and celebrate all of our graduates.  Pray for their continued growth and ability to find God’s calling and provision for their future endeavors. 

I also want to encourage us to consider how we approach this year’s remembrance of Memorial Day.  It can often be viewed by some as simply an extended weekend.  While having extra time for family and friends at a cookout is wonderful, it is important that we remember and honor the cost of the freedom that we enjoy.  I feel that this is all the more important, given the current state of our deeply divided culture. 

The freedom that we enjoy was not free, but costly.  That is why our nation is such a desired place to be.  This Memorial day, remember:

"Freedom has a high cost.

Lives given, the ultimate loss.

That cost they willingly give

So freedom can continue to live."

-Dr. Bill McDonnald

I hope that we will reflect on our blessings, remember those who sacrificed for our freedom, give thanks to God, and pray for our future.  

Loving you all,

Michael