The Infinite and the Intimate: A Theological Reflection from My Heart to Yours Dear Church Family, There are seasons in ministry when theology feels less like a textbook and more like a lifeline. This is one of those seasons. As I step into this new pastoral appointment, serving both of our churches in a new “Cooperative Parish,” I find myself carrying both joy and vulnerability. For me, theology is not just something I studied in seminary, it’s how I see God at work in the everyday questions, sacred conversations, and sometimes even the awkward silences. It’s where the Infinite nature of God’s promises meets the intimate realities of our lives. So what does it mean to be the church—Together? Is it a building? A time slot? A group of people with shared preferences? Or is it something deeper: a community shaped by the Spirit, grounded in grace, and called to live as the Body of Christ in the world? As we form this cooperative parish, we are being invited to rediscover the meaning of ecclesiology—the theology of the Church. In Ephesians 4, Paul writes: “there is one body and one Spirit… one Lord, one faith, one baptism, one God and Father of all.” This is not just a poetic phrase; it’s a blueprint for how we live in community. Unity is not uniformity. It is the Spirit’s work in blending our diversity into harmony for God’s purposes. Our coming together is not merely about shared staff nor worship schedules; it is about shared identity in Christ. This takes humility, compassion, and a deep trust that God is not calling us to lose who we are, but to discover who we are becoming together. No this is not easy. I see the courage it takes to embrace change, and I honor those of you who feel unsure or even a little heartbroken. The grief is real, but so is the resurrection power of God to do a new thing (Isaiah 43:19). The Church is not a museum of memories. It is a living, breathing testimony to what God can and will do through imperfect people who say “yes” to a holy calling. Over the years, I’ve found that most people don’t wrestle with abstract theology. They wrestle with personal questions of meaning, pain, and presence. And these questions are deeply theological: Questions like: If God is good, why do I still suffer? Why doesn’t God answer my prayers the way I hoped? How can I be sure I’m saved? Does God really hear someone like me? Will I ever feel whole again? Understand these are not signs of weak faith, they are invitations into deeper theological reflection, where we move from surface-level belief to lived trust in the God who meets us even in our pain. I’ve learned that when we cry out “why,” we are participating in the same tradition of lament we see in the Psalms and in Jesus Himself on the cross (Psalm 22:1; Mark 15:34). You see our questions are part of our worship when we bring them honestly before God. In my own life, and in my own dark nights of the soul, I’ve clung to the theological truth of the Incarnation—that in Christ, God became flesh and dwelled among us (John 1:14). God didn’t remain distant. God stepped into our world, into our grief, our mess, our loneliness. This is the God who still walks with us today, who is not intimidated by our questions, and who gently leads us toward hope. After 18 years of serving in my hometown, I’ve moved to a community where the roads are unfamiliar, the relationships are just beginning, and I’m learning what it means to be your pastor from the inside out. In this transition, I’ve been praying through the model of kenosis—Christ’s self-emptying in Philippians 2. Understand that Jesus didn’t lead with power; He led with presence, humility, and service. That’s the kind of pastor I strive to be. Not one with all the answers, but one who shows up faithfully, listens deeply, and seeks Christ with you. I’ve come to understand over these years, that leadership is NOT about control. It is about trust—trust in God, trust in these communities, and trust in the Spirit’s ability to work through our yes! This cooperative parish is not just a new arrangement. It is a new chapter in God’s unfolding story. It is the next movement in the symphony of grace that God is composing right here in our communities. Let us step into this together: with all our questions, with courage, with faith. Because, Here is the good news: We Don’t Have to Have It All Figured Out! God does! However, our task is simply to walk in step with the Spirit, with each other, and with Christ who goes before us. The Infinite God meets us in the intimate places: In shared prayers.In vulnerable conversations. In service to our neighbors. In our willingness to grow together. Let us keep showing up, with grace in our hands and hope in our hearts—trusting that the One who began this good work will be faithful to complete it. Pastor Cindy |
Pasadena Cooperative Parish
Two churches. One mission. One heart. One hope.
Two churches. One mission. One heart. One hope.
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