February 2026 Newsletter – Pastor’s Page
Hello church family,
February may be ‘love month’ with its focus on red, chocolate, and Valentine’s Day, but our current national conversation feels anything but loving. In recent days, many of us have watched unprecedented events unfold in our nation and in our communities. This includes militarized immigration enforcement actions, acts of violence, and untruthful narratives about current events from those we collectively entrust with power and authority. Even in rural Montana, these events stir up fear, grief, and a deep concern, especially for immigrant or non-white families in our community.
As God’s people – the church – we respond first and foremost as people formed by the gospel of Jesus Christ and our identity as United Methodists. We are not political commentators or party loyalists. As Christian activist Shane Claiborne likes to say, “We are not the part of the donkey or elephant – we are the party of the Lamb – the Lamb of God.”
The Social Principles of the United Methodist Church affirm that every person is created in the image of God, and therefore possesses sacred worth, including immigrants, refugees, and asylum seekers. We are called to oppose policies and practices that demean human dignity, rely on fear, or treat people as disposable.
In baptism, we make promises that guide us in moments like this. Just weeks ago, we remembered those vows:
“Will you resist evil, injustice, and oppression in whatever forms they present themselves?”
“Do you confess Jesus Christ as your Savior, put your whole trust in his grace, and promise to serve him as your Lord, in union with the Church which Christ has opened to people of all ages, nations, and races?”
These vows and God’s spirit shape how we see our neighbors. They inform our responses when human dignity is threatened with undue harm and violence. They call us to faithfulness in a congregation, our community, and our world.
Scripture reminds us to of what God requires: To do justice, to love kindness, and to walk humbly with our God. This is not a partisan statement. It is a fact of scripture and our faith in Christ.
How do we live and speak in this moment of local and national events? We speak with kindness and truth. We listen to those in our community, and proclaim the values we hold dear – justice, peace, compassion, grace, and forgiveness. We pray for families living in fear. We pray for all those in authority. We live with wisdom, restraint, and respect for human life as a witness to others, praying and encouraging that all people do the same. And we recommit ourselves to living out our baptismal promises with courage and hope.
May Christ guide us as the church, Pastor Jared