March 8, 2025 Attendance: Colerain: 558 Ross: 672 Online: 82 Giving: Last Week: $61,029 Year-to-date: $433,325

Luke 14:25–33  (Click to access the full text.) Jesus never hides the cost of following Him. He speaks plainly: discipleship requires surrender and it costs us something. These words are not meant to discourage us, but to ground us in reality. Jesus invites followers, not admirers. Counting the cost does not mean measuring our strength. It means recognizing our need. We do not follow Jesus because we are capable, but because He is faithful. This season of preparation invites

2 Corinthians 5:17  (Click to access the full text.) Repentance does not leave us where we were. In Christ, we are made new. Turning toward God always leads to transformation. A new direction does not mean instant perfection. We walk forward not defined by our past but shaped by God’s renewing work. God is not simply calling you away from something. He is calling you toward new life in Him. Reflection Question: What evidence of new life can you already see God forming in you?

Joel 2:12–13  (Click to access the full text.)   “Return to the Lord” is not a threat. It is an invitation rooted in God’s character. Joel reminds us that God is gracious, compassionate, slow to anger, and abounding in love. Repentance flows from remembering who God is. We turn not because we fear rejection, but because we trust His mercy. God’s kindness is not weakness; it is the power that transforms hearts. As this season draws us closer to the cross, we see God’s kindness

We spring forward this weekend. This comes with immediate pain (losing an hour of sleep on Saturday night) but with long-term benefits. We have more daylight. Spring is right around the corner! We can sense newness and renewal are in the air. The month of March has always been bittersweet for me....