We are grateful to welcome Bishop Bill McAlilly, retired bishop who last served the Nashville Episcopal Area of the United Methodist Church, which includes the Memphis and Tennessee Conferences that serve middle and west Tennessee and western Kentucky. Prior to his episcopal service, Bishop McAlilly served as District Superintendent of the Gulf Shores District of the Mississippi Annual Conference, giving him deep ties our Conference and its churches. He will bring the message on Sunday based on John 17:1–5, titled Our Anchor Holds, a text that speaks directly to the heart of faith in unsettled times.

This passage invites us into Jesus’ prayer, spoken on the eve of the cross, where He entrusts His disciples to the Father and anchors them in God’s glory, presence, and sustaining love. These are words prayed not in comfort, but in the shadow of suffering, reminding us that faith is not rooted in ease or certainty. In a world that often feels uncertain and unsteady, Jesus’ prayer points us toward a hope that does not shift with circumstances, but rests securely in Christ Himself, who holds us fast even when the ground feels shaky.

Following worship, the congregation is invited to gather again at 1:00 pm with Bishop Bill for a church-wide meeting focused on outreach and missions. This will be a time of prayerful conversation as we reflect on who we are called to be as a church and how God might be leading us to engage our community in meaningful, faithful ways. Rather than starting with a fixed agenda, the heart of this gathering is discernment, listening, and shared vision.

Everyone is encouraged to come prepared to share ideas, hopes, and dreams for outreach and mission, whether that means continuing ministries that are bearing fruit or trying something new. This meeting is designed to give space for voices to be heard and creativity to be welcomed as we seek to live out Christ’s love beyond our walls. Together, grounded in the truth that our anchor holds, we will listen for where God is already at work and consider how we can join in. You can read the details from the meeting here.