Where everybody belongs

I met recently with someone who shared with me about her prayer life. She marveled at how prayers lifted up to God in the summer of 2020, had been fulfilled by 2024. Written on a slip of paper, here is what she prayed: “A place that felt like home, good work, a life partner” In dramatic fashion, within about a week, she had found all three: moved to Madison, began a dream job at a local company, and found the person who will soon become her spouse.

And there’s more. This person also let me know that she and her soon to be spouse are excited to join Midvale Community Lutheran Church. Why? In a way, for this couple, Midvale is a place that feels like home. It’s an answer to the original prayer- asking God for “a place that felt like home”. Yes, geographically Madison is home, and now Midvale is home too. Midvale is a home in the sense of belonging to a community extended beyond one’s immediate family, it’s about belonging to the family of Christ. Jesus himself began homing people by baptizing them. The Holy Spirit has been homing people into the life of the church since Jesus’ resurrection.

What a special mission we share, Midvale- to be the answer to somebody’s prayer! A place that feels like home. A place where everybody belongs.

This is why Pastor Blake and I are excited to contribute to the “Build to Serve, Grow in Love” campaign. God is at work all around us, continuing to make Midvale a home for you and yours to grow spiritually, both personally and as a community. Psalm 100 inspires us to give toward this project: “For the Lord is good and his love endures forever; God’s faithfulness continues through all generations” These words express the gifts that this ministry project will bring into our life now, and for generations to come. I hope you will consider a generous gift toward this project. I am lifting up prayers for Midvale’s continued impact in your life, the life of our community, and the life of the world around us!