February 26 Newsletter

Unleashing the Hope of Jesus in

St. Charles County

Devotional: Love That Moves

“Let us not love with words or speech but with actions and in truth.” — 1 John 3:18

February is often centered around love. Cards. Candy. Flowers. But Scripture reminds us that love is not simply something we feel — it’s something we do. Jesus didn’t just speak about compassion. He lived the fullest meaning of compassion: TO SUFFER WITH. He moved toward people. He touched the untouchable. He fed the hungry. He welcomed the outsider. He made love visible.

As a church, that is our calling too. When you move dusty furniture on a cold Saturday morning, you are making Jesus’ love visible. When you deliver packed food backpacks to school staff who may be too busy to even acknowledge you, you are making Jesus’ love visible.  When you serve overnight at the Warming Center with folks who may not experience the same reality as you,  you are making Jesus’ love visible. When you organize what seems like the same school supplies for the 50th time, you are making Jesus’ love visible. When we act and live and serve as one saved by the blood of Jesus, we make the love of Christ tangible for the world to see. You are putting hands and feet to the gospel.

This month, ask yourself:

• Where is God inviting me to move toward someone and suffer with them?

• What would it look like for my love to be visible?

• Who needs to experience hope through action?

Love is more than a feeling. It’s a response to the love we’ve already received in Christ. Let’s be people whose love moves.

Prayers

Please join us in praying for:

• Our unhoused neighbors to find safety and security and a compassionate community.

• The ministry partners who serve families facing food insecurity

• School staff and administrators navigating mid-year challenges

• Volunteers who faithfully show up and serve behind the scenes

• New leaders emerging within our outreach crews

Prayer:
Father, thank You for loving us first. Give us eyes to see needs around us and the courage to respond. Strengthen our ministry and community partners. Protect the vulnerable. Raise up compassionate leaders within our church. May everything we do unleash the hope of Jesus in our community. Amen.

📅 Upcoming Serving Opportunities

SAVE THE DATE!

Good Neighbor Serve Week is July 12-18th!

Look for more information this spring!

Mark your calendar now!

🌟 Volunteer Spotlight

Do you have a serving story to share? When we highlight your story, it isn’t about drawing attention to you — it’s about honoring God and helping others see how they might step into serving too. If you’d be willing to share how God is working through your local outreach involvement, we’d love to connect with you.

New to Local Outreach?

Not sure where to start?

1. Pray about where God may be leading you.

2. Click here to take the SHAPE assessment and familiarize yourself with your spiritual gifts.

3. Explore current serving opportunities.

4. Try one opportunity and see how God works through it.

5. Consider stepping into leadership if you sense God nudging you.

There is a place for you.

💬 Final Encouragement

Serving our neighbors isn’t a one-time event that we check off when we are done. It’s a rhythm of life that honors what Jesus did for all of us. It’s choosing compassion when it’s inconvenient. It’s showing up consistently. It’s believing small acts can create eternal impact. Thank you for being a church that doesn’t just gather — but goes.

Together, we are unleashing the hope of Jesus in St. Charles County.

With gratitude,
HCC St Charles – Local Outreach Team