Sunday, February 15, 2026

Your Story Matters — And We Need to Hear It

"The telling of lives changes lives."

That line from pastoral theologian Mary Clark Moschella captures why this session matters so much. In a season of transition, the most important thing a congregation can do is tell its stories — honestly, openly, together. This session is about our history — the experiences that shaped this congregation, the moments that mattered. When those stories go untold, communities get stuck. When they are shared, something shifts. Energy returns. Clarity emerges. New possibilities open up.

We are looking forward to the first Listening Session, focused on the PAST, on Sunday, February 22, immediately following worship. A light lunch will be served. For planning purposes, we expect this session to last approximately 75 minutes. If you cannot attend in person, a Zoom session will also be available.

Theologian Nelle Morton once described a woman who, after being truly listened to, said: "You heard me to my own story." That is what we are making space for — a brave space where we hear one another into our own stories, and into the story of this congregation. Real community can't thrive if people's stories are suppressed. Your voice is part of our history. We are incomplete without it.

You don't need to prepare anything. Just come and share. Or simply come and listen — that, too, is a gift.

Future sessions will focus on the PRESENT (April 26) and the FUTURE (June 14).

This Sunday, Rev. Cheryl Bundy preaches on Transfiguration Sunday, contemplating Matthew 17:1–9 in a sermon titled Cloud Cover. And as we prepare to enter the season of Lent, please join us for our Ash Wednesday service this Wednesday, February 18 at 7:00 PM in the Chapel. Read more below about our Lenten series ahead.

Mooi Loop,

Dries

Sunday., February 8, 2026

Dear Friends,

Thank you to everyone who joined our interim conversation following worship last Sunday. If you weren’t able to attend, I invite you to watch the service on-demand here. [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IATsrXfdf2s&t=1s}

As we navigate this interim period together, your voice is the most vital part of the process. To ensure everyone has a seat at the table, please mark your calendars for our three upcoming Listening Sessions. These gatherings are designed to help us look backward with gratitude and forward with hope:

• Sunday, February 22 | The PAST: We will reflect on our history immediately following worship. For those unable to join in person, a Zoom option will be provided.

• Sunday, April 26 | The PRESENT: A session dedicated to where we find ourselves today.

• Sunday, June 14 | The FUTURE: Our final session focusing on our vision for what’s next.

Strengthening Our Digital Presence

Many of you have asked for practical ways to support Talmadge Hill. One of the simplest yet most impactful things you can do is subscribe to our official YouTube channel. [https://www.youtube.com/@talmadgehillcommunitychurc6932/featured This is more than just a "follow"—it’s a way to help our message reach others. As our subscriber count grows, YouTube’s algorithm is more likely to recommend our livestreams to those seeking a spiritual community. By clicking subscribe, you help transform our digital space from a simple archive into a vibrant tool for sharing the love of God.

Looking Ahead to Sunday

This coming Sunday, I will be reflecting on Matthew 5:13-20, exploring Jesus’ call: "You are the salt of the earth, you are the light of the world." Drawing on David Brooks’ recent New York Times farewell column, [https://www.nytimes.com/2026/01/30/opinion/david-brooks-leaving-columnist.html?smtyp=cur&smid=fb-nytimes&fbclid=IwY2xjawPwnt1leHRuA2FlbQIxMQBicmlkETFCWU1VMjg4ZXFtakVzNTdBc3J0YwZhcHBfaWQQMjIyMDM5MTc4ODIwMDg5MgABHozfrXymG1VahUCC7W4qBa-WBpyAd_XQoiQFUBxRJQBQyLHpbPdbmhOpoWcq_aem_uFENQw3dxEKgpX9nokoTyQ} we will consider how our church can participate in a "humanistic renaissance." We’ll explore how our path forward isn't found through technical fixes, but through an adaptive transformation rooted deeply in who God says we already are.

Whether you join us in the pews or through YouTube, please know that your presence makes a difference.

Mooi Loop,

Dries

Sunday, February 1, 2026

Dear Talmadge Hill Family,

Thank you for the incredible flexibility you showed this past week as we navigated the historic snowstorm. I was deeply moved to hear how so many of you reached out to neighbors and fellow parishioners to offer support and build community during the winter weather. It was also encouraging to join in worship for an intimate and moving Zoom worship service.

This coming Sunday, February 1, we look forward to gathering in person to commission our Transition Committee—Beth Horan, Peter Kircher, Lisa Michalski, and Betsy Wilson—as they guide us in discerning who we are becoming. Our scripture will be 1 Samuel 9, and my sermon, "The Grace of the Holy Detour," will explore how God often uses the mundane of the everyday, the joys and frustrations, to lead us toward unexpected grace as we live into the future.

A special note for our Hospitality hour: Eric Remole has shared that he and Jenny will be bringing Sticky Buns, among other treats! As many of you know, the presence of these Sticky Buns has been rumored to significantly boost church attendance in the past, so you won’t want to miss out.

Please note that we now stream worship live on YouTube and that you can also stream the service on demand during the week from Talmadge Hill’s YouTube channel. Immediately following the service, please stay for an informal gathering and information session. For those unable to attend in person, the session will be available on Zoom as a webinar so you can join the conversation directly after worship.

Remember, by showing up, you make a profound difference; your presence, your stories, and your voice are what weave our collective narrative together. I am so grateful to be on this journey with you and look forward to seeing your faces this Sunday.

Mooi Loop,

Dries

Sunday, January 25, 2026

Dear Talmadge Hill Family,

This weekend, I am inviting you to stay warm and stay safe. As a frigid weather system and a possible snowstorm approach this Sunday, let’s make it our priority to check on our homebound members and neighbors. Please reach out to ensure everyone is warm and has electricity.

Service Updates

• Commissioning Service: Due to the weather forecast, we are postponing the Transition Team’s Commissioning Service to Sunday, February 1.

• Sunday Worship: We still plan to gather for worship this Sunday at 10:00 AM. We will monitor road conditions closely and share any further updates via email.

Join Us Online

We are now live-streaming our services on YouTube! While we are still ironing out a few small technical challenges, this is a wonderful opportunity to worship with us live from our Sanctuary in the comfort of your home. You can join the service in real time or stream it on demand at any time during the week via our YouTube archives; please visit our YouTube channel here.

This Sunday: Seeking Refuge, Finding Companions

In worship this Sunday, we will reflect on Matthew 4:12-23 in a sermon entitled, "Seeking Refuge, Finding Companions."

When Jesus heard that John had been arrested, he withdrew to Galilee. Before beginning his public ministry—before calling anyone to follow him—he needed space. He needed to retreat to safer ground to process what had happened to his friend and colleague.

This Sunday, we explore what it means to honor the rhythms that sustain us rather than deplete us. In a culture that celebrates constant motion and treats rest as laziness, Jesus models something radically different: he withdraws, he gathers companions, and only then does he begin the demanding work of ministry.

As a congregation in transition, we are learning what it means to resist the pressure to rush toward answers. We are discovering that "liminal spaces" are not problems to solve, but sacred thresholds to cross with intention. Join us as we reflect on how Jesus' example invites us into patient listening, communal discernment, and trust that the God who has sustained Talmadge Hill in the past continues to guide us forward. Please see the "Questions and Answers" from our Talmadge Hill Transition Committee included below.

Whether online or in person, know that your presence makes a difference.

Mooi Loop,

Dries

Sunday, January 18, 2026

Dear Talmadge Hill Family,

Your "next chapter" during this transitional time at Talmadge Hill is off to a wonderful start.

The first meeting of our Transition Committee was a powerful affirmation that this is exactly the community of faith I wanted to serve. Sitting with Beth Horan, Peter Kircher, Lisa Michalski, and Betsy Wilson around a dinner table was profoundly sacred. By offering her hospitality, Lisa created a space of openness, vulnerability, and curiosity.

In that space, the committee outlined our upcoming congregational conversations with a deep desire to serve. They hold a profound reverence for the past, yet see it as a vital building block—a gateway for a church that is blossoming and growing into its future. Please join us for an Information Session on Sunday, January 25, after worship, where we will discuss the transition process and answer questions.

This Sunday, January 18, we gather to honor the legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. and continue Talmadge Hill’s commitment to "Building Beloved Communities." Our worship will center on Jesus’s challenging words from Matthew 5: "Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you."

During this interim time, we are unpacking the core values of Talmadge Hill—our commitments to radical hospitality, intentional spiritual growth, and the work of justice and transformation. Dr. King taught us that building the "Beloved Community" requires more than condemning external evils; it demands the harder, more vulnerable work of examining what lives within us—the fears, prejudices, and assumptions we carry, often unknowingly.

In my sermon, "The Work Within," I will share a personal story about discovering how my own fears surfaced in an unexpected and painful way, even years after leaving South Africa and adopting my sons from Ethiopia.

I am looking forward to seeing you in worship this Sunday!

Mooi Loop,

Dries