Yesterday, Grace United Methodist Church gathered with Retired Bishop Bill McAlilly (watch his message before the meeting here) for something more than a meeting. It was a holy pause. A moment to tell the truth about who we are, what we carry, and what God might be calling us to become.

The room was filled with voices, post-it notes, laughter, honesty, and a shared desire to see Grace UMC continue to serve faithfully in this season of change. People named what they love about this church, what weighs on their hearts, and where they see real needs in our community. What emerged was not a plan imposed from outside, but a picture shaped by the people who worship, serve, and love this church.

When members were asked what Grace UMC does well, the words came quickly. Love. Acceptance. Kindness. Support. Grace for others. Compassion. Friendship. A willingness to serve and help. People talked about how welcome they feel here, how no one worries about what someone wears, and how newcomers are treated with warmth instead of suspicion. The choir and music were named as a blessing. So were missions, young couples, and youth. One person wrote simply, “All are welcome,” and that phrase came up again and again in different forms. These notes painted a picture of a church that knows how to open its heart and its doors.

At the same time, the group was honest about the burdens. Several people named the lack of a dedicated youth leader and the need for more young people. Others spoke about the challenge of keeping in touch with graduates when they leave for college. Space was mentioned, both in terms of physical room and in how crowded the calendar can feel. Financial limitations came up, along with the fatigue that comes from trying to do everything with a small group of faithful volunteers. A few people also named something that many churches experience, that opinions can clash and that disagreement sometimes makes it hard to move forward together.

None of these were shared with blame. They were offered as realities that need to be faced if Grace UMC is going to grow into its next chapter.

The conversation then turned outward. What is already happening through Grace UMC, and what does our community need that is not being met? The list of ministries already in motion is long and meaningful. Grace UMC serves as a church for all kinds of kinds. It hosts Soup Sunday and Jail  Ministry. It offers a Blessing Tree and supports food pantries. Hospitality teams make sure people are welcomed and fed. School sports teams receive meals. The church shows up at community events. Youth are helped with scholarships to attend camp. AA groups meet in the building. These are not small things. They are the quiet, steady ways Grace UMC has been loving its neighbors for years.

At the same time, the group named needs in our community that remain unmet. There is a deep need for drug and addiction recovery support. There is a shortage of foster families. Single parents often feel alone and overwhelmed. Many adults have no health insurance and limited access to medical care. These needs are not abstract. They belong to people who live, work, and struggle right here in our town.

One hard truth was also spoken aloud. As a church, we have not always invited our Friends, Relatives, Associates, and Neighbors to be part of what God is doing here. We care deeply, but we have often kept that care inside our walls.

From all of this, a vision began to take shape, one that stretches across the next three, six, and twelve months.

In the next three months, the focus is simple and relational. Small get-togethers in homes, backyards, and living rooms. No pressure. No programs. Just people inviting people to sit, talk, and get to know one another in a non-churchy setting. These gatherings create space for friendships to form and for trust to grow.

Looking toward six months, the church is preparing to begin a regular sensory-friendly worship service. This will be a space where people on the autism spectrum, those with sensory sensitivities, and their families can worship without fear of being out of place. It reflects what Grace UMC already believes, that everyone belongs and that worship should be accessible to all.

At the twelve-month mark, the vision expands into deeper community partnerships. Plans include working with a local clinic to provide free health services once a month for those without insurance. There is also a plan to partner with Golden Chapel and use the Tishomingo church as a thrift store, creating a new way to fund mission work while meeting real needs in the community.

None of these ideas came from one person. They came from the collective wisdom, experience, and faith of the people in the room.

As the meeting closed, what stood out most was not a list of projects but a shared spirit. Grace UMC knows how to love. It knows how to welcome. It knows how to serve. Now it is beginning to imagine how those gifts can be focused, shared more boldly, and offered to neighbors who have not yet  experienced them.

There is still work to do. There are still questions to answer. But yesterday made one thing clear. This church is not stuck in the past. It is paying attention to the present and stepping toward the future with hope, honesty, and a willingness to trust where God is leading.

And that is a beautiful place to begin.