In a Nutshell:

Today marks a significant threshold—the beginning of a farewell to familiar surroundings and hello to new possibilities. Change, even positive change, often triggers mixed emotions: excitement mingled with nostalgia, anticipation flavored with uncertainty. As you prepare to gather in our current location one last time, today’s devotional helps you embrace the tension of transition while focusing on the unchanging purpose that binds you together as church.

Anchor Verse (NIV)

“Every day they continued to meet together in the temple courts. They broke bread in their homes and ate together with glad and sincere hearts, praising God and enjoying the favor of all the people.” – Acts 2:46-47a

Unpacking the Word

The early believers demonstrated remarkable flexibility in their gathering practices—meeting in both public spaces (temple courts) and private homes with equal enthusiasm. This adaptability didn’t diminish their unity or effectiveness; in fact, it enhanced their ability to fulfill their mission in various contexts. They understood that the heart of their community wasn’t defined by where they met but by how they related to God and each other—with “glad and sincere hearts, praising God.”

Transitions naturally evoke reflection on the past. Your current church location holds countless sacred memories—moments of breakthrough worship, life-changing altar calls, baptisms, dedications, and deep community connections. As Pastor Shantel acknowledged, it’s appropriate to be “savoring our time in this location.” Taking time to honor these memories doesn’t indicate resistance to change; rather, it recognizes that God has been faithfully present in this place. Gratitude for past provision creates a foundation of trust for future transitions.

While honoring the past, today also invites anticipation for the future. Pastor Shantel described your upcoming move as “an answer to many, many, many, many years of prayer.” Sometimes God’s answers to prayer require us to embrace change and step into new territories. Just as the Israelites couldn’t possess their promised land without crossing the Jordan, your church family now stands at its own Jordan River moment—preparing to enter a new season that God has orchestrated. The emotions you feel today—whether excitement, nostalgia, or a complex mixture—are all part of healthy transition. As you worship together today, allow both gratitude for the past and hope for the future to fuel your praise.

Faith in Action

What specific memories from this current church location am I most thankful for? What new possibilities in the new location am I most excited about? Action Step: Take a moment during today’s service to write a brief prayer of both thanksgiving and anticipation, acknowledging God’s faithfulness in both your past and future church home.

A Moment With God

“Father of unchanging faithfulness, thank You for Your presence that has filled this place. As we prepare for transition, help us hold both gratitude and anticipation in balanced tension. We trust that You go before us, making every crooked path straight. May this new chapter bring even greater glory to Your name. Amen.”

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