March 16, 2026
A New Chapter For Our Playground
On Sunday, March 22 as our worship concludes, we will step outside together for a special moment in the life of our church: the groundbreaking for the renovation of our playground.
For decades, this playground has been a place of laughter and friendship. Children from our church, our preschool, and families from the community have climbed, swung, and explored here. Many of us can picture the memories made on this very ground – first friendships, brave climbs up tall ladders, and the joyful sounds of children at play.
Now we begin a new chapter.
This renovation will transform our playground into a natural playground – a space designed to invite curiosity, creativity, and connection with the natural world. Children will explore logs, stones, hills, and natural materials. They will balance, build, climb, and imagine in ways that encourage both play and discovery.
This space will be a wonderful teacher. It will invite children to solve problems, to cooperate with one another, and to notice the beauty of God’s creation all around them. A stick can become a director’s wand, a walking staff, or part of a tiny fort. A stone can become a step in an adventure. Nature itself becomes part of the playground.
This vision reflects something deeply biblical. In Genesis 2:15, God places humanity in a garden – an environment meant to be explored, cared for, and enjoyed. Throughout Scripture we see that creation is not just scenery, but a place where people encounter God, learn wisdom, and grow.
Our renovated playground will continue to serve the same purpose it always has: welcoming children. But it will also invite them to experience wonder, creativity, and the goodness of creation in new ways.
This Sunday let’s gather with gratitude for the many years this playground has already served our community and with excitement for the generations of children who will play, explore, and grow here in the years to come. See you Sunday!
Rev. Lee Ritchie