Dear SCF Family,
It has been almost a month since I started at Sunriver Christian Fellowship as your new pastor, and I have felt most welcomed by all of you! Thank you for making me feel so at home here at SCF. Hopefully, my husband and I can get my kids to attend church at some point too. Seeing as they are teenagers and young adults, I don’t push church on them; instead I just make “helpful suggestions” and hold out good hope for them. I know you understand.
As your new pastor, I’d love to get to know each of you. If you’d like to grab coffee, take a walk, or share a meal together, just let me know. I’m also happy to come by your home if that’s more comfortable, or you can stop by my office, and we’ll sit and chat. Feel free to email me anytime at kelliott@sunriverchristianfellowship.org to set something up.
For those wondering about my schedule: for now, I’ll be in Sunriver—either in the office or out visiting—on Tuesdays, Wednesdays, and Thursdays. On Mondays, I’ll be working from home on liturgy and sermon prep, and Fridays are my day off. This schedule may shift if church events, meetings, or get-togethers come up on Fridays or Saturdays.
And now, here we are, stepping into November—a month that calls us to Thanksgiving and reflection, and, oh, yes, that small matter of a presidential election. It’s a lot to hold. There’s gratitude for all God has given us, but also probably some anxiety for what’s ahead. Honestly, looking ahead, I feel a little overwhelmed: we have the election results to navigate, the holiday season right around the corner, and three out of four of my kids, my husband and Jesus, all born in December!
I’m reminded of the invitation from Jesus, “Are you tired? Worn out? Come to me. Get away with me and you’ll recover your life. I’ll show you how to take a real rest. Walk with me and work with me—watch how I do it. Learn the unforced rhythms of grace. I won’t lay anything heavy or ill-fitting on you. Keep company with me and you’ll learn to live freely and lightly.”
Thanksgiving, at its heart, is an invitation to recognize God’s provision, even if life feels a little rocky.
It’s not about perfect gratitude or looking at the world through rose-colored glasses. It’s a chance to stop and remember that God holds all things, no matter how uncertain they may feel. In the stillness, we might find that gratitude is really a kind of courage—a quiet trust in God’s presence.
And about this election? It matters, of course. But we have to remember that our identity goes deeper than our politics. We belong to a kingdom that cannot be shaken, with a Savior who does not run for office and who governs with love, justice, and compassion for all. Following Jesus gives us the power to approach one another with kindness, listen deeply, and actively work for peace, especially where it’s challenging. Being a peacemaker isn’t passive; it’s something we live into.
So let’s allow November to be a month where we commit to prayer, trust, thanksgiving and meeting those with whom we disagree…gently. We’re people who hope, who breathe deeply, because we know our foundation is Christ. May we find our rest in Christ, trusting that in all things, God’s love is steady, strong, and enough.
With trust and thanksgiving,
Pastor Kally