September 2, 2026 Midweek News
As the world said goodbye to singer-songwriter Dolly Parton last week, we were all reminded of the ways she put her love into action and lived her faith. Her Imagination Library sent over 332 million books to children across the world. Her ‘Buddy Program’ initiative in Sevier County, Tennessee, helped the high school dropout rate decrease from 35% to 6%. Dolly donated $1 million to Vanderbilt University Medical Center, which helped fund the early research that led to Moderna’s vaccine against COVID-19. In 2016 when wildfires struck east Tennessee, she provided $1,000 a month for six months to hundreds of families who lost their homes. She even established a large bald eagle aviary sanctuary at Dollywood managed by the American Eagle Foundation, earning her a partnership award from the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.
Last Sunday we reflected on Romans 12. Paul’s letter to the Romans delivers incredible news: God’s abundant mercy renews our minds and redeems our lives. But right on the heels of that gift comes the demanding practical twist: we actually have to love other people! People are frequently grumpy, unpredictable, and downright difficult to be around. Even Dolly had to deal with detractors and harmful comments from others throughout her life and career.
Our faith is never just an intellectual theory or a private checklist. We don’t cultivate genuine love by pretending everything is sunny; we practice it by entering the grit of real community. We weep with those who are grieving, celebrate genuine joys, sit with the forgotten, and honor one another across all our rough edges. When our love becomes visible in concrete, everyday actions, we show our neighbors what the family of God actually looks like. Dolly showed us that kind love in action, and the world will never forget.
Blessings,
Pastor Jared