January 29th, 2026, submitted by Daniel Sentos, Pastor, Seward United Methodist Church

Seward’s Christian landscape is unique. There’s a saying you might have heard tossed around, something along the lines of “for every bar, there’s a church” or vice versa. I like to interpret that as there simply being diverse spaces for a diverse population to experience community! But yes, there are plenty of churches. There are nearly a dozen Christian traditions in our small town that span a wide spectrum. The local pastors meet regularly in what’s called the Seward Ministerial Association, and those meetings are filled with prayer, laughter, the occasional lighthearted debate, but always a common purpose to serve our neighbors in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ. There’s something beautiful and encouraging about how cooperative Seward churches are. Even as a new pastor, it doesn’t escape me that this faith community is extraordinary. And it helps that I’ve heard my peers who have been around much longer say the same!

As a new pastor, it was suggested to me by many, much more experienced colleagues to consider adherence to the Lectionary. The Lectionary is essentially a reading plan that takes text selections from all across the Bible that coincide with major holidays in the church calendar. It’s done in a three-year cycle (Years A, B, and C), each year following the Gospels of Matthew, Mark, and Luke, respectively, with John sprinkled in here and there. While the Lectionary logistically provides structure for a local parish, it’s also an ecumenical work; it is not exclusive to any denomination (though some might make adjustments). While Scripture is a work that binds all Christians together in a common faith in Jesus, the Lectionary is a supplemental work that binds its adherents to a common rhythm and cadence to the Scripture, bringing passages to everyone’s attention simultaneously, binding Christians with a common mind. 

This last Sunday, the Lectionary offered a scripture from Paul’s letter to the ancient Corinthian church. Being a new church so distant from the epicenter of Jesus’ ministry resulted in growing pains. Their leader, Paul, moved on to plant more churches, as did their second pastor, Apollos. This resulted in disorientation and disorganization.  

When Paul hears of this, he sends a letter to the Corinthian Church to instruct and encourage. He writes: “Now I appeal to you, brothers and sisters, by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that all of you be in agreement and that there be no divisions among you but that you be knit together in the same mind and the same purpose.” (1 Corinthians 1:10, NRSVUE)

For something written so long ago, it still carries so much weight. There’s wisdom, prudence, concern, caution, but also a great amount of irony. The Corinthian church survived its struggles of disagreements, but the greater “Church” has seen so many branches and splinters, for better or worse. We can look across the Christian spectrum and see every walk of life; every side of the aisle, every political party, every science, every superstition, from red hats to rainbow pins. But we still carry the cross, the dove, the fish, the bread, the wine, and a flame! The perspectives change, but as Paul puts it, the faith is unified by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.

Dear Reader, if you attend a local church, know that you are in good hands. The pastors in this town genuinely love the Lord, love you, and are committed to pursuing this unity Paul prescribes. Even if you’re not a believer in anything, there is a faith community in town dedicated to working together to serve this community in both practical and spiritual ways. From supplying clothes, food, and shelter, to sharing Christmas and Easter services, where all are welcome.

May peace and unity be upon us in this great place of Seward!