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Dear friends,

A friend once joked they knew God was good because they got a great parking spot at a Padre’s Game. While meant humorously, this idea has hints of a good God if life goes well. God is good when I get good things – if not, we must deserve it. This outlook links faith to receiving good things and assumes those who lack good things are at fault.

But what happens when things go wrong for reasons outside a person’s control; a catastrophic accident or illness, a hurricane or war? How do people reconcile the idea of a good God in real world living? How can people find the goodness of God when they are drowning in a sea of debt or doctor’s visits, or unending bombs or storm clouds?

This week, while I am working remotely (Wednesday, November 5 through Monday, November 10) Pastor Tom Davis will be speaking on God’s goodness as found in Haggai 1:15-2:9 and Psalm 145:3-5, 17-19. I know his message will bless everyone who hears it, whether online or in person.

As we continue to offer God’s goodness to our community, we welcome your gifts of non-perishable food for Bayside Community Center and grocery gift cards for military families at Chesterton Elementary School. These offerings will be blessed on Sunday, November 23, 2025, at our combined VN & EL Thanksgiving Worship Service beginning at 10:30 a.m. Together we will sing, pray, share Holy Communion, and then feast on a variety of cultural foods after worship. District Superintendent, Rev. Luis Garcia will be preaching and then preside over our Annual All-Church Charge Conference at 1:00 p.m., where we will give thanks for the work we’ve accomplished this year and make plans for 2026.

All are invited. All are welcomed. All means All.

Blessings,
Pastor Jeri