07/10/2026
This past Sunday, Rev. Peggy O'Neil Files opened our summer sermon series, The Path of the Prophet, with a reflection on her recent visit to Outdoor Church in Boston. She and members of our congregation went, listened, and told stories. And what Peggy discovered was simple and profound: when we listen to one another, and when we give people the chance to be heard, we discover how much we have in common. In that discovery, we come closer to one another — and closer to God.
Peggy's sermon inspired us to ask a few of our church members a simple question: Who was the first person who really listened to you — who really heard you, like God does?Here's what they told us:
Ann (Prayerful Stitches) — Grandma Finnie (Helen Finnie) was the first person I ever felt really listened to me.
CJ (Stream Team) — One of the first people I remember really listening to me was my grandpa, Jay. It didn't matter if we were on the golf course or in the kitchen making pizzelle cookies — he had a way of always making me feel heard and valued.
Lily (Kids programming and event planner) — My horseback riding coach, Whitney. She loves horses as much as I do.
Robbi (Music Ministry chair) — For me it's my friend and mentor Charles Bankston, who started me on my spiritual journey.
Hank (Cooking for a Cause chef) — The Nature Specialist at my school, Ellyn. We can talk bugs for hours!
Andy (past Moderator) — For me it was one of my best friends' moms and my confirmation sponsor, Mary Lee Berridge.
Six different people. Six different listeners. But the same holy thing happened in each story: someone was heard the way God hears us — and in being heard, they came a little closer to knowing themselves, their people, and God.
Who helped you feel like a child of God's by listening to you?
Tell us in the comments — or come sit with the question this Sunday at 9am, in person or on livestream at the YouTube link: youtube.com//streams
