Ok friends. Are you ready for something new? I am resuming the practice that I started several years ago of posting something on social media - a thought, a picture, a poem, a short essay, a devotion - each day as I reflect on the words provided by Rethink Church. You can learn more here.This time  I am taking full advantage of being the Director of Communications for our church and I will be post...  Read More

Greetings! Christmas should be a wonderful time of the year… right? It should be that simple, but the season seems to be filled with busyness and chaos. Is this what we want for our families this year? Maybe we can slow down and savor what’s important and get rid of the things that aren’t. I came across a few things that might help us slow down this Christmas season. Stay Home and Be With FamilyI ...  Read More

During the month of November we have had daily reminders to start the day with giving thanks. Here are just some of the responses from our church community and beyond. God has abundantly given to each of us and we are reminded that we have much to be thankful for when we just slow down and look around.I’m thankful for being able to spend some time with my kids and grandkids this week! - Ellen C.I’...  Read More

Guard Your Heart              The famous kid song O Be Careful Little Eyes is making a comeback in my 42 year old brain, on repeat lately.  The song tells us to be careful little eyes what we see, little ears what we hear, little tongue what you say, little hands what you do, little feet where you go, little heart whom you trust, little mind what you think for the Father up above is looking down i...  Read More

Service Leadership “Jesus knew that the Father had put all things under his power, and that he had come from God and was returning to God; so he got up from the meal, took off his outer clothing, and wrapped a towel around his waist. After that, he poured water into a basin and began to wash his disciples’ feet, drying them with the towel that was wrapped around him.He came to Simon Peter, who sai...  Read More

Hidden Blessings  “Truly I tell you, anyone who will not receive the kingdom of God like a little child will never enter it. And he took the children in his arms, placed his hands on them and blessed them.” ~Mark 10:15-16 The first time I served in Children's Church, I left that morning feeling overjoyed, but I had no idea the huge impact that moment would have on my life to this day. There is som...  Read More

Hidden Blessings  “Truly I tell you, anyone who will not receive the kingdom of God like a little child will never enter it. And he took the children in his arms, placed his hands on them and blessed them.” ~Mark 10:15-16 The first time I served in Children's Church, I left that morning feeling overjoyed, but I had no idea the huge impact that moment would have on my life to this day. There is som...  Read More

Sitting at His FeetCome near to God and He will come near to you. James 4:8Have you ever been caught up in the presence of God, like times you don’t want the song to come to an end?  Your heart and mind are solely focused on Him, and you simply want to freeze time because His presence is so evident and overwhelming, you are in awe. There is no comparison to that feeling. I cannot adequately put th...  Read More

There’s a significant date looming on the horizon of my life and that of my family, too. Tomorrow—Sept. 28th—is my mom’s birthday, the first since her death seven months ago on February 28th. I’ve tried not to think about it or any of the other “firsts” that await me, because when I do, it makes me sad. I don’t want to be sad.But there’s one thing as the day approaches that makes me smile: the mem...  Read More

“Spirit, lead me.” That was a breath prayer that got me through a couple summers when I was in college. Our university would gather a lot of different students with a lot of different majors and interests and put them on a team together to go to 8 weeks of camp to promote the Kingdom, the university, and Bible colleges in general. This picture was from my first year of doing that. Yes, my first ye...  Read More

Thank you for the last 11 years! I’ve had so many great memories working at O’Fallon First UMC. In this time we have been through a lot together, but God has been so good through it all. I still remember joining the staff in 2012 and getting my feet wet in ministry. The first summer trip I ever took the youth group on was to North Carolina. This would be a staple in our student ministry for severa...  Read More

Impact: “Having a strong effect on someone or something.” I’ve been thinking about those who’ve had an effect on my life, one in particular: Tom Heaton.Tom and I shared a dorm room in the commuter housing of Christian Theological Seminary from 1993-1997. He became a great friend and mentor (he’s a few years older than me ). We’ve been friends and colleagues ever since. Tom adopted two boys—Jose an...  Read More