Some bittersweet news…
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Some bittersweet news…

Easter is a reminder of God’s commitment to renewal. What God did for Jesus by raising him from the dead, He has promised to one day do for all creation and has begun to do in and through us, His people. And while it’s exciting to join God in doing a new thing; it can also be hard. Painful even. Change often is.

So it’s with a bittersweet feeling that I want to share some big news.

Matt Agresti, Park Church Associate Pastor of Worship and Communication (and so much more) recently accepted the call of

Pray for Ukraine
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Pray for Ukraine

After weeks of warnings from Western leaders, Russia has invaded Ukraine. Women and children are fleeing the country, others are taking refuge in underground subway stations, and the death toll is rising.

As my wife and I tried to explain the situation to our kids, the questions started coming. Why is this happening? Why is the bad man hurting people? Why can’t someone stop him? Our inability to provide simple answers to questions like these reminded me of two things.

Outdoor Services & Masks
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Outdoor Services & Masks

It was great to see so many of you for yet another gorgeous Sunday morning of worship! It was especially fun to kick-off Park Kids for the first time since the pandemic hit. I want to give a big THANK YOU to all our staff and volunteers who are once again helping to create safe and fun environments where kids can learn to know and follow Jesus. The journey back to normalcy has been slow, which is why every single step forward is important.

Speaking of steps forward, the recent updates to the CDC and state guidelines are encouraging, and they also raise questions for Park’s own safety guidelines for worship. With this in mind, I’d like to share an update:

About re-opening…
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About re-opening…

Dear Park Family and Friends, I have a vivid memory of one morning last March. I was eating breakfast at Americana Diner with my family and in-laws who were about to leave after a brief visit. The news anchors on the flatscreen TVs were consumed with the rapidly spreading coronavirus. I was consumed with the question of what this would mean for Park. That upcoming Sunday became our first Park@Home. Despite the adaptability and excellence with which our staff were able to pivot (special shoutout to Matt Agresti), after making the decision to move worship online, I remember thinking to myself, “I hope this doesn’t last more than a month.” And nearly one year later, here we are.

February 17, 2021February 17, 2021by
Peace Amidst Anxious Times
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Peace Amidst Anxious Times

Do you feel it?

Election night came and went. But the election is not over. It seems that every presidential election tends to put the collective nervous system of our society on edge. But something about this season seems particularly charged.

Counterintuitive Solidarity, Part 2
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Counterintuitive Solidarity, Part 2

About five years ago I came across a book called The Trouble I’ve Seen: Changing the Way the Church Views Racism. God used this book (and many others since then) to begin transforming my understanding of racism in America.
One of the most helpful ideas came in a chapter titled, “Don’t Go with Your Gut,” where author, theologian, and Jesus-follower, Drew Hart, calls Christians to adopt a posture he calls counterintuitive solidarity. To help explain, Hart makes a big claim: “most white Americans (Christian included) have been blind to the racism and oppression that has been so prevalent on this soil for the first 350 years, ever since Jamestown was formed.”

Counterintuitive Solidarity, Part 1
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Counterintuitive Solidarity, Part 1

A faint memory from my college days recently came back to me. I was walking down the hall in our library when I overheard a conversation among a group of black students. The young woman speaking was hurt and upset. In fact, she was livid. I didn’t hear enough to understand the total context, but I knew it had to do with race on campus and a recent experience of hers...

As we look ahead…some updates on our summer plans.
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As we look ahead…some updates on our summer plans.

Dear Park family,

During lunch the other day, my son displayed some behavior that landed him in his “think it over place.” He sat there quietly … for about three seconds. Then he decided he was done and ready to get back to life-as-usual. ...

Checking In & Giving Thanks
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Checking In & Giving Thanks

It’s been two months since we last gathered together for worship at 31 Park Road. Many of us have kept in touch via Community Group Zoom calls, regularly tuning in to the Park@Home worship videos, or other means of personal communication. And yet, despite the many ways we have to connect, it’s just not the same - and I miss you. One question I’m frequently asked is, “How’s Park doing?” It’s a good question...

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