LETTER FROM KATIE • July 1, 2026

Marina Kappos (b. 1972) Veil Study (Mirage) (2026), acrylic on wood panel, 16 x 16 inches.

Dear Holy Comforter,

I grew up listening to sermons that taught Scripture by explaining its context, unpacking its meaning, and connecting it to our lives. That was also the way I was trained to preach. It is a good and faithful way to preach, and I will likely continue to do so at times in the future.

But over the past few months—especially since our Lenten series on the Examen prayer—I have sensed God inviting me to change how I preach.

As I encouraged you to practice listening for God's voice in your daily lives, I found myself praying the same question for our church: Lord, what are you inviting us into? What do we most need in this season?

Again and again, I sensed God drawing me back to a simple conviction: we need to become a people who know how to hear God's voice—in Scripture, in times of quiet with him, and through the events of our daily lives. And if the goal of studying Scripture is not simply to gain more knowledge but to be transformed by an encounter with the living God who speaks through his Word, then I began to sense God inviting me to let that conviction shape my preaching.

This does not mean that every interpretation is equally valid or that careful teaching no longer matters. Rather, it reflects my growing conviction that one of the pastor’s most important responsibilities is not only to explain God’s Word, but to help God’s people become confident listeners—people who can recognize the voice of the Holy Comforter and respond with trust and obedience.

And so I have begun to preach in a more reflective style, influenced in part by the meditations of the Taizé community. These sermons are often shorter and leave more space for quiet reflection. While faithful teaching and interpretation remain essential, there is also a kind of listening that no preacher can do for another person. My hope is that these sermons create space for each of us to ask, “Lord, what are you saying to me? What are you inviting me into?” and to respond with faithfulness.

You may notice that I ask more questions than I answer. I may linger over one image or phrase instead of addressing every part of the passage. I may resist drawing a neat conclusion or prescribing exactly what faithfulness looks like. This is intentional. I want the Scriptures to do their work among us, trusting that the Holy Spirit often speaks differently to different people through the same passage—not contradicting the truth of Scripture, but applying it personally to each life.

Not every sermon will take this form. Some passages call for more explanation, instruction, or historical background, and so my preaching will continue to be shaped by our readings rather than by a single sermonic style. But I do anticipate continuing to explore this more reflective way of preaching, because I believe it is one way God is inviting our community to grow.

As always, I would love to hear your thoughts. If this style has been life-giving, confusing, encouraging, or challenging, I hope you’ll tell me. Your feedback helps me as I continue to listen for God’s leading in my role as your pastor, and I welcome your prayers as I keep learning how to preach faithfully.

With much love,

Katie