July/August 2025: Assembly Plans Underway

We sometimes refer to the people closest to us, with whom we experience the most intimacy and love, as our “circle” of friends, or of care, or of trust. Make a physical reminder of your circle and hold in your heart where your circle might expand in the year to come. Get a pen or pencil and paper. Now draw freehand a light circle shape (or as circular as you can get). Within the circle, write the names of the people with whom you are already close. These are the members of your circle who impact you and lift you up and for whom you do the same. They may be living or dead, geographically near or far, or anyone to whom you already feel close. Then, on and around the edges of your circle, write the names of some more marginal relationships you might put intention into deepening this year. Is there someone new at church you don’t know well yet? Is there someone you often see at the grocery store or coffee shop you’ve never said hello to? Is there a person who was once a close friend, but at some point, you experienced tension or a falling out? Is there someone unhoused or struggling in your neighborhood? Pray for God’s guidance and invite at least one of these people out for coffee or time to get to know them better. Draw your circle wide and deepen your sense of connection in the new year!