Sunday, March 8, 2026

Dear Talmadge Hill Family,

This week, I encourage you to mark your calendars and plan to attend our rescheduled Listening Sessions on the Past on Sunday, March 29, directly after worship. These conversations are an important part of our Interim journey together as we honor our history honestly and fully and discern the way forward.

Our worship this Sunday beautifully aligns with our Lenten series, Tell Me Something Good, with the global celebration of International Women’s Day. As we look at the feeding of the five thousand (Mark 6:32-44) and the soaring vision of Ephesians 3:20-21, we see that God does not begin with the problem—the "how will we ever feed all these people?" Instead, God begins with what is already in our hands: five loaves, two fish, and each other.

This spirit of multiplication is at the heart of this year’s International Women's Day theme: Give to Gain. It reminds us that generosity is never subtraction. Whether through advocacy, mentoring, or resources, investing in women's flourishing is an investment in the flourishing of us all. When women thrive, we all rise. On this Sunday, we are reminded that our God is a God of abundance, and that small gifts, shared freely, truly do feed multitudes.

We invite everyone to remain for the Congregation's Annual Meeting following the service. Your presence and participation matter.

I hope to see you on Sunday,

Mooi Loop,

Dries

Sunday, March 1, 2026

Dear Talmadge Hill Family,

In this season of transition, we find ourselves standing at a threshold, holding something precious in our hands. The question for us this Lent is whether we dare to break it open. The good news is that, deep down, each one of us already knows how.

This past Sunday, our sanctuary transformed. Our History Wall went up—a physical timeline of Talmadge Hill’s 155 years, stretching from our founding neighbors in 1870 to the community we are today. It will remain in place throughout Lent, coming down after Easter Sunday, leaving plenty of space for your voice to be added to the narrative.

Whether you have been part of THCC for decades or just a few months, your experience of this place is part of its living history. This is a communal act of remembrance—a chance to see, together, how much God has been doing in this place.

How to participate:

• Pick up a sticky note and pen from any station along the wall.

• Write a memory—a name, a moment, a feeling, or something you never want us to forget.

• Place it on the era where it belongs. There are no right or wrong answers, only your truth.

As you "walk the wall," I invite you to turn to wonder. Let yourself be surprised. What moves you? What had you forgotten? And keep a sharp eye out—there are two surprise questions hidden somewhere on the wall that I hope will stop you in your tracks and invite a little deeper reflection.

This coming Sunday, we continue our Lenten series, Tell Me Something Good—which draws on the beautiful creative resources of A Sanctified Art—we will contemplate Luke 7:36-50 and Matthew 25:35-40.

We’ll be sitting with the pointed question Jesus asked Simon that night: "Do you see this woman?" In a sermon titled Indecent Grace, we will look at what it means to truly see one another and the radical, sometimes scandalous, nature of the grace we are called to practice.

The wall is waiting. Come this week if you haven’t yet. Come back if you have.

Mooi Loop,

Dries

Sunday, February 22, 2026

Dear Talmadge Hill Family,

At Talmadge Hill, we are a people defined by stories. We carry the heart of 155 years of ministry, the wisdom of those who built our sanctuary, and the cherished legacy of leadership that helped us see the Divine in our midst. To look back is to see a history already filled with faithfulness and hope.

Yet as we enter this Lenten season and begin our new series, Tell Me Something Good, we find ourselves contemplating the Gospel story of the wedding at Cana (John 2:1-11), which underscores that God’s abundance is endless. It suggests that while we celebrate our past, God is still at work in our lives, preparing something new and equally beautiful for this moment. We aren’t looking back to move away from our history; we are looking back to see how rooted we really are. In fact, the word "radical" literally means rooted. This Sunday, we explore how the Good News calls us back to those roots—as individuals and as a congregation.

To help us visualize this journey, a History Wall will appear in the chapel—a timeline of our 155-year story from 1870 to today. We invite you to pick up a sticky note and add a memory, a name, or a moment that mattered to you. Whether you have been part of THCC for forty years or forty days, your experience is a vital thread in our living history.

Following worship, we will transition into our first Listening Session focused on our PAST. We’ll gather in the sanctuary to share the memories and "roots" that have shaped our faith. This is a season for honest reflection and surprising joy as we lift the past, seeing it as the very soil that allows our future to bloom.

Come and see what we remember together. There is a place at the table—and a spot on the wall—for you.

Mooi Loop,

Dries

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