Sunday at Rock Island Cumberland

Presbyterian Church was a meaningful reminder of what it means to walk through life with faith and with one another.

Pastor Barry’s sermon, “Suffering and Trust,” centered on 1 Peter 4, a passage that speaks honestly about something every believer eventually encounters. Scripture reminds us not to be surprised when trials come. Hardship, loss, and testing are not signs that faith has failed. They are part of the path of following Christ.

Peter calls us to respond differently in those moments. We are encouraged to remain clear minded and prayerful. We are reminded to love one another deeply, because love covers a multitude of sins. We are called to serve others with the gifts God has given us, not for recognition, but so that in all things God may be glorified through Jesus Christ.

One message that stayed with me is that trust in God is not something we choose only once. It is something we choose again and again. Faith becomes real when life becomes difficult. In those moments we commit ourselves to our faithful Creator and continue to do good.

This Sunday was also special for our church family as Rob and Gail Cook formally joined our congregation as members. While they are not new faces to our church family, it was a beautiful moment to witness that step of commitment. A church is not simply a place we attend. It is a community we choose to belong to, serve with, and grow alongside in faith.

In the coming days we will also be planting a magnolia tree on the church grounds in memory of Caroline Garvin Markham, the granddaughter-in-law of Beth and Bill. This tree will stand as a quiet and living remembrance of her life. Trees are powerful symbols of hope and continuity. Even through loss, roots grow deeper and life continues forward.

Moments like this remind me how important a church family truly is. We gather in worship, we grow in faith, we support one another through joy and sorrow, and we learn together what it means to continue trusting God.

Grateful for this community and the reminder from Scripture that whatever season we are in, we keep trusting, we keep loving, and we continue to do good. 🤍⛪️