Faith @ First - February 27, 2026
This weekend we tip off our new series, Full Court Faith—a journey that will carry us all the way to Easter. Over the next several weeks, we’ll explore what it means to be on God’s team: to know our role, trust the Coach, and play with purpose every single day.
All this basketball talk has me thinking back to the very first team I ever tried out for. I was in fifth grade. My basketball résumé was thin—just driveway games with my brother and his best friend. They were bigger, taller, and flagrantly fouled me whenever I tried to drive to the hoop. I spent more time picking myself up off the pavement than celebrating baskets.
So when I showed up at tryouts and actually made the team, I was a little shocked. Even more surprising was what my coach said. She asked what other team I had played for before- she could tell I’d been playing against some good defenders for a long time!
I’ve never told my brother or his best friend just how much their “enthusiastic defense” prepared me. But those driveway battles did more than toughen my game—they humbled me. I learned how to take hits, how to keep going, and how to improve without assuming I had already arrived.
Humility works the same way in our faith. Being on God’s team doesn’t mean we’re the stars of the show. It means we grow through challenge, trust through pressure, and remember that every gift we have has been given. What humility means to the game of basketball and our Faith will be the theme of our message this Sunday.
And just like any team, being part of God’s mission requires commitment. Teams don’t function on talent alone—they rely on shared investment. We invite those who have not already pledged their resources for our 2026 budget to do so. A pledge isn’t about pressure; it’s about participation. It’s a way of saying, “I’m all in. I’m on this team and I’m committed to what God is doing here.” When we pledge, we help resource the ministry, outreach, worship, and care that make up our shared game plan. You can set up your pledge HERE or by turning in your pledge card this Sunday or anytime to our Church office.
I can’t wait to worship with you this weekend and to keep learning and leading together as part of God’s team.
Keep the Faith@First and I'll see you Sunday.
Pastor Nicole
