When we think about Jesus taking on human flesh, we often think to suffering and the cross. But becoming flesh also means that Jesus came to be with us as a child. Through Jesus, God goes on a life-long playdate with us. Play is an essential means of connection for the young. Those of us who are grown can grow and heal by playing in God's story in worship, in learning, in meetings, and in fellowship.

It’s so easy to lean on what we know and what’s worked in the past. But have you noticed? Things that worked in the past are less and less successful these days. The world is changing fast, and the opportunity for the church is not merely to keep up, but to lead the way. In the Bible God says (more than once), “I’m doing a new thing!” And God invites us into that new thing. We have the chance to lead the way and present new ways of embodying God’s love, of being together as God’s creation, of serving our neighbors. We just need to gather our courage and learn how to see what’s coming down the road ahead of us.

Arts and storytelling in worship connect faith to the human heart in powerful, lasting ways. Through music, visual art, drama, and narrative, worship becomes more than spoken words—it becomes an experience that invites participation, imagination, and memory. Stories help pass faith from one generation to the next, making timeless truths accessible to children, meaningful to adults, and reflective for elders. Art crosses cultural and age barriers, allowing people to encounter God emotionally as well as intellectually. When worship engages creativity and story, it honors how people learn, remember, and believe, strengthening community and faith across all generations.

So much of ministry is improvisation. Things don’t go as planned. We don’t have the funds or the volunteers or the space. Something that worked before looks very different today. That’s the power of Yes, and! Good improvisers know that you take what you are given, and you make something amazing out of it. Turning lemons into lemon chiffon pie! When we look at our ministries as opportunities for Yes, and, we can begin to see that God has more in store for us than we can imagine ourselves, and that the church’s best days are still ahead.