The Ripple Effect

I first came to Church of the Resurrection with my husband Mark about 18 months ago when we were searching for a new church home. I received such a warm welcome from everyone I met that I felt at ease almost immediately. Like many of you, I suspect, I was initially drawn to the beauty of the sanctuary, the comfort and familiarity of the music and liturgy, and the coffee hour (of course)! I’ve stayed and become more involved in the ministry of this church because Liz, Whitney, Martha, and many of you extended personal invitations to join in the outreach and community building that is central to what makes Church of the Resurrection so vibrant.

I donate my time and talents but also my money to Church of the Resurrection because I know that financial resources are a critical tool for making a positive impact in our church community and in our larger world. Some of that impact is easy to see. But for me, the beauty and mystery of that impact is imagining how and where it pops up in unexpected ways. I often wonder how the words of a Sunday morning sermon result in random acts of kindness throughout the week, or how our support of the Hillcrest Food Pantry generates hope for families struggling to feed their children. Last weekend I attended the Women’s Retreat facilitated by Martha at The Bishop’s Ranch. She challenged us to “fear not” and consider ways that God may be calling us to do something challenging that will have a positive impact on our lives or in our world. I love to imagine the ripple effect that these individual actions and collective ministries have on our families and our community. None of them would be possible without our financial support.

Mark and I made our first pledge to Church of the Resurrection last fall, and the Harvest Dinner was one of the first church-wide events I attended. We’ve increased our pledge for 2026, and we’ll be back at the Harvest Dinner this evening. I hope you will prayerfully consider and imagine how your pledge could ripple out into the world to make a positive impact in the coming year and join in the celebration this evening.

— Sheri S.