From the Pastor

This is a weekly devotional space where our pastor, as well as staff members on occasion, offer reflections, spiritual insights, and words of encouragement rooted in Scripture and everyday life. These writings are intended to challenge, inspire, and draw us closer to God and to one another as we strive to live out our faith with boldness and compassion. Whether offering comfort, conviction, or a call to action, each column invites us into deeper discipleship and shared community. When The Columns does not run, there is no new entry for From the Pastor.

Aug. 23, 2026

“A Presence Driven Life.” This is the idea that I shared with the church staff and the church council this week. You’ll recognize it as a play on Rick Warren’s book title. As I said to the council, I believe presence precedes purpose. The best purpose in the world without a real, human, faith-filled presence behind it won’t go far.

I’m going to be talking about “A Presence Driven Life” for the next several months. I may choose to talk about it directly, as I’m doing here, or I may weave it alongside other ideas in sermons, writings, and conversation.


“I will place my dwelling in your midst, and I shall not abhor you. I will be your God, and you shall be my people.” Leviticus 26. “The kingdom of God is among you.” Luke 17. “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. … And the Word became flesh and lived among us.” John 1. “See, the home of God is among mortals.” Revelation 21.


In our faith tradition, God persistently seeks to be present with us. Human beings

persistently lose sight of God in the day-to-day. I get in my head. I get into the grind. I forget to take a breath, feel my feet on the ground, look up and around me here and now. Just a few days of that and I am all bent out of shape.


I find that writing out my gratitudes is one way to counter this tendency. I try to do it daily. Even on busy weeks, I get it done more than once. I record three things I’m grateful for today so that I don’t forget. I will forget. In a month’s time, I have a long list that grounds me in gratitude. It recalls me to the present, where the presence of God seeks after me.


I am grateful for a great Church Council Kickoff this week. I am grateful for a great church staff. I am grateful for lower humidity and sunshine. I am grateful for “guy time” with Elliot down at Pullman Square, in the bookstore, the arcade, the ice cream shop. I am grateful to live in Huntington with parks and shops and restaurants. I’m grateful for a church member I ran into at the Y who said, “I bought the book you referenced in your sermon, and I’m learning stuff!” Etc.


The world can be weighty. Gratitude, I find, has a buoyancy to it. But I have to practice it. I only grow in the things I practice.


What are you grateful for?

~ Rev. Zach Bay