News & A Change in Rhythm

Over the past year, I’ve been writing here pretty frequently—sometimes twice a week. Writing has been a way for me to process, to pray, and to connect. But as this next season unfolds, I anticipate posting a little less often as I am in a season of transition.

My hope has always been to write about once a week, but I've had a lot to say for the last six months. But I’m giving myself permission to let that rhythm be more flexible right now. Transitions take time and energy, and I want to be present to what is unfolding rather than trying to keep up with a pace that no longer fits this moment.

And, in the spirit of honesty and a little humor: apparently I now have something new to add to my “50 before 50” list—one more move. I've made moves many times over the course of the last 25 years of ministry. They are never easy - and come with a mix of excitement and grief.

This week I shared an important letter with the congregations of Silverton and Stayton United Methodist Churches. In it, I shared that it is the Bishop’s intention to appoint me to Mill Plain United Methodist Church in Vancouver, Washington, beginning July 1.

That letter says more than I could possibly summarize here—about gratitude, about the ministries we’ve shared, about the partnerships that have shaped us, and about the complicated mix of joy and grief that comes with any transition in ministry.

If you would like to read the letter in its entirety, you can find it here:

[Read the full letter on Mailchimp →]

I am genuinely excited about this new opportunity. I’m especially drawn to Mill Plain’s clear identity as an inclusive, justice-minded congregation. That alignment in values feels like fertile ground for meaningful ministry and faithful risk-taking together.

And yet—because I am currently preaching through Lent about the “arrival fallacy,” about the temptation to believe that the next thing will make everything settled and complete—I’m also trying to practice what I’m preaching. This is not about rushing toward July 1. It’s about living fully in the moments I am given right now. Loving well. Finishing well. Paying attention.

In the days ahead, I’ll continue to reflect here from time to time—about transitions, faith, presence, and the strange and holy work of letting go while still loving deeply.

Thank you, as always, for reading, for journeying with me, and for holding all of this in prayer.

~ Laura ❤️🧡💛💚💙💜