Homecoming Begins with an Open Door

As summer gives way to fall, we begin a new worship series called Homecoming. It is more than a season on the church calendar. It is an invitation to come home—to God, to one another, and to our community.

This summer has already reminded us of what makes St. Helens so special. Our church members gathered as our church bells rang on the Fourth of July, continuing a tradition that connects our congregation with the life of our community. Then, gathered again for our church picnic at Sonja and Jim's home to enjoy friendship, laughter, and God's beautiful creation together. Those moments matter because they remind us that the church is built through relationships.

One of the gifts I have discovered at St. Helens is your willingness to create spaces where people naturally connect. Through Choir rehearsals, Art & Prayer, Bible study discussions, community dinner events, and simple fellowship, you help people experience that faith grows not only in worship but also around tables, conversations, and shared experiences.

As we begin our Homecoming series, I find myself asking one simple question: Who has not found their way home yet?

Perhaps it is someone who recently moved to St. Helens. A neighbor living alone. A young family looking for friendships. Someone carrying grief or searching for purpose. Homecoming reminds us that there is always room for one more story, one more family, one more friend.

This fall, may we continue doing what St. Helens does so well—offering genuine hospitality—and perhaps take one more step by intentionally inviting a neighbor, a friend, or someone new to share life with us. After all, the church's front door is not the only door God asks us to open.

May this Homecoming season help us open our hearts a little wider and discover again the joy of helping others find a place where they truly belong.

See you soon,

~Pastor Lydia