Hannah Reasoner: "Keep Planting Seeds" (Sermon for May 24, 2026)

“Among the disciples were Mary Magdalene, Joanna, Susanna; and many others who were contributing from their own resources to support Jesus and his disciples.”  - Luke 8:2-3Friends,What a joy it is to be back in NYC and worshipping with you all this Sunday! I grew up at St. Paul & St. Andrew, and you will always be my church family. This community nurtured and encouraged me, teaching me from an early age to live out my faith and put love into action. Those values have led me to mission work as a young adult.Together this Sunday, we will learn from Mary Magdalene, Joanna, and Susanna—women named in Luke's gospel. Their lives and hearts were transformed through Jesus’s ministry to the extent that they decided to leave their homes and travel with him. By supporting his work through their time, resources, and other gifts, they made it possible for many others to experience the same transformation and liberation they found in Jesus.As a United Methodist Missionary serving in Colombia since 2017, I’ve met many women like Mary, Joanna, and Susanna whose lives have been transformed and who are now working to ensure younger generations have those same opportunities. On this Pentecost Sunday, as we celebrate the coming of the Holy Spirit and the birthday of the Church universal, we will hear more stories of transformation, teamwork, and faith, remembering that fertile ground can nourish seeds even in unlikely places.Amor y paz,Hannah Reasoner