Remembering 9/11

Grace and peace to you in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ,

Today marks the 25th anniversary of the September 11 attacks. Like so many of you, I can still remember where I was and the steps I took as our nation came to a halt in the face of unimaginable tragedy. We remember the lives that were lost, the families whose grief continues, and all who served with courage and compassion. In those difficult days, people reached out to one another for comfort and strength, and our churches filled with neighbors searching for hope in the midst of crisis.

The Church remains a place where we can bring our sorrow, our questions, and our longing for peace. At Stonebridge UMC, we seek to offer a safe and welcoming community for every person who comes through our doors. When we gather for worship, we see the body of Christ—many lives joined together by the love of God. On this day of remembrance, I invite you to pray for those who continue to grieve, for our church and community, and for our nation and world. May God make us instruments of peace, courage, and healing in these uncertain days.

Coming Up in Worship…

This Sunday, we begin a new sermon series called Believe It or Not! Together, we will explore the core beliefs that shape us as followers of Jesus. One of the questions I hear most often as a pastor is, “What does your church believe about God?”

Using the Apostles’ Creed as our guide, we will walk through the essential convictions of the Christian faith. Whether these words are familiar to you or you are hearing them with fresh ears, I pray this series will deepen your faith, make room for honest questions, and help you speak with grace about what we believe.

We begin this Sunday with Believe It or Not! God Created Everything. Our belief in God as Creator is foundational to the Christian faith. Everything we believe rests upon the biblical witness that, in the beginning, God created the heavens and the earth. The God revealed in Scripture lovingly sustains creation and is at work to redeem not only humanity but the whole created order.

Why does this matter for our lives today? It matters because the God who created us has not abandoned us, and God is not finished with us yet. Even when the world feels broken, we trust that God continues to work—bringing healing from hurt, hope from despair, and new life from places that seem beyond repair. In joy and in sorrow, we are being drawn toward the goodness God intends for all creation.

If you would like to explore these beliefs more deeply as we journey through the series, I recommend the following books: Creed: What Christians Believe and Why, by Adam Hamilton; I Believe: Exploring the Apostles’ Creed, by Alister McGrath; and Reconsidering the Apostles’ Creed, by Brand Eaton.

God is not done with us. Let us keep watching for the new ways God is working among us and keep making room for one another along the way. We are better together. We belong together. By God’s grace, we are creating a place for you.

See you Sunday!

Pastor John Allen