Have you ever had someone just be there with you, no need to fix things or have all the answers—just walking alongside you? That’s at the core of our calling at First Lutheran. We call it “accompanying.”
It’s about showing up for others as they are, wherever they are, and sharing God’s endless love. And it works both ways—when we walk with others, we’re not just giving support and help, we’re also learning, growing and receiving something in return.
This year’s “What We Can Do” Stewardship campaign is all about what it means to accompany, and we’re unpacking this with five words that guide us. Our first focus is embracing.
Embracing goes further than just a welcome. It’s showing God’s love in real ways and helping everyone feel like they truly belong.
Hospitality might mean greeting someone new with a smile, asking someone to join your table at coffee hour or making sure nobody is left out, no matter how long they’ve been coming to First Lutheran.
Generosity isn’t only about money. It’s about giving your time to help out, sharing a skill or pitching in so our ministries can keep running strong.
Sometimes embracing comes easily—a friendly hello, an old habit. Other times, it asks us to stretch a bit and open up to new faces or ideas. It’s all about making space, in our hearts and community.
This week we invite you to carry this word—embracing—with you. How might it show up in your day-to-day life at First Lutheran and beyond?
Maybe it’s reaching out to someone you haven’t talked to before or offering a hand when you see a need. It could be pitching in with a ministry, making a pledge to support what we do or simply listening to someone, especially when their story is different from yours. Embracing doesn’t stay within church walls either—maybe it’s talking to a neighbor, being patient at work or choosing kindness wherever you are.
Notice the moments where embracing feels natural and keep an eye out for times you might need to take a step and make space for someone else. Let’s continue to walk together, answering the call of “What We Can Do” with generosity, hospitality and open hearts.
