The Thursday Update

SEPTEMBER 11, 2025

Lakeshore Friends,

It was a beautiful late summer morning—clear skies, a gentle breeze, calm and serene. Then, at 8:14am everything changed. In the space of 90 minutes planes struck the Twin Towers in New York City, the Pentagon in Washington, D.C., and a field in Shanksville, Pennsylvania.

In the days that followed, churches across the country were filled with people seeking comfort, praying, and asking where God was in the midst of such sorrow. But only one week later, what had felt like a spiritual wake-up call had faded into the background. The United States had changed, but spiritual life slipped quickly back to “normal.”

Life has a way of doing that. It lulls us into a spiritual stupor. The things we enjoy—our routines, our hobbies, our favorite places—can so easily take on an importance which puts spiritual growth on the “back burner” of life. And that’s one reason committing to a Small Group can feel difficult. It asks us to step out of our routine, to trade a little bit of “me time” for something deeper.

But here’s the good part: Small Groups at Lakeshore aren’t just another thing on the calendar. They’re a place to belong. A place to build friendships that truly matter. A place to grow in your relationship with God through His Son, Jesus, who loves you, gave His life for you, and longs for you to know Him deeply. It’s a space where people learn to care for one another—and where you’ll discover you’re not on this journey alone.

This week is your opportunity to take that step. Our Small Groups display will be in the Atrium for one more week, and we’d love for you to stop by, ask questions, and find a group that fits you. If you’ve been thinking about it, maybe this is the moment to break out of life’s lull and step into something that could change your life.

Brian Rathbun
Discipleship Pastor