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Welcome to Coming Home

Remembering the Goodness of God Together

Over the past year, our church community at First United Methodist Church - Elgin has walked through a deeply profound landscape. Together, we have navigated unexpected seasons of disruption, rebuilding, uncertainty, grief, hope, and renewal. Each step of the way has challenged us, shaped us, and proven the resilience of our shared faith.

As we now prepare to return to worship in our beloved sanctuary, we recognize a beautiful truth: "coming home" is about so much more than a physical building. It is about rediscovering God’s enduring faithfulness hand-in-hand, acknowledging what has changed, and courageously stepping into the new things God is creating next for us.

Wherever you have been, whatever you have carried over the last year, and no matter where you currently find yourself on your spiritual journey: You are welcome here.

"My prayer is that these reflections, Scriptures, prayers, and Motivational Moments encourage you to pause, breathe, reflect, and remember that God is still at work in your life and in our community." > — Rev. Dr. Felicia LaBoy, Lead Pastor & Life Coach

Week 1: July 5 – "Time to Go Home"

  • Scripture: Haggai 2:3-5 (NLT)
  • Theme Focus: Acknowledging change and loss while stepping courageously into what God is creating next.
  • Weekly Action: Reflect on what you miss about the "old" season and what you hope for the new one.
  • Weekly Songs: 

Week 2: July 12 – "When the Rain Finally Came"

  • Scripture: 1 Kings 19:4-8 (NLT)
  • Theme Focus: Giving yourself permission to rest after long seasons of stress and survival.
  • Weekly Action: Choose one intentional act of rest this week without guilt.
  • Weekly Song:

Week 3: July 19 – "Making Room for More"

  • Scripture: Acts 15:8-11 (NLT)
  • Theme Focus: Making room for who God is bringing next; extending grace past fear and love past comfort.
  • Weekly Action: Welcome someone new and help make the church a place where everyone belongs.
  • Weekly Song:

Week 4: July 26 – "We Needed Them Too"

  • Scripture: Ecclesiastes 4:9-10 (NLT)
  • Theme Focus: Recognizing that we are stronger together and healing comes through community.
  • Weekly Action: Thank someone who helped carry you through a difficult season.
  • Weekly Song:
    • Brother - NEEDTOBREATHE & Gavin Degraw

Week 5: August 2 – "Still Becoming"

  • Scripture: Isaiah 43:18-19 (NLT)
  • Theme Focus: Trusting God with the past, embracing the present, and stepping into new beginnings.
  • Weekly Action: Write down one hope for your future and one for your church community.
  • Weekly Song:

Weekly Motivational Moments from the Bible

The Complete "Coming Home" Experience

One Journey. Three Ways to Engage.

To get the most out of this summer series, we invite you to connect in three distinct ways each week. These aren't separate tracks—they are designed to build upon one another to help you process, heal, and grow:

  1. The Sunday Sermon: We gather together in the sanctuary (or online) to hear the core message and worship as one body.
  2. The Weekly Devotional Booklet: Your daily companion for personal reflection. Each week features deep-dive Scripture readings, guided prayers, and personal reflection questions to help you unpack the message at your own pace.
  3. The Monday Motivational Moments: Short, punchy video transmissions from Pastor Felicia (posted right here and on our social media pages) that act as your mid-week check-in, giving you practical life-coaching insights to put your faith into action.

Get Your Copy of the Devotional

Don't go through the week empty-handed! You can grab a high-quality printed booklet at the church or download the exact digital replica right now to keep on your phone, tablet, or computer.

How to Use the Devotional with the Weekly Videos:

  • Step 1: Read & Reflect (Monday – Wednesday) Open your booklet to the current week's section. Read the designated Scripture (NLT) and write down your thoughts using the guided reflection prompts.
  • Step 2: Watch the Motivational Moment (Monday Drop) Watch the weekly videos. Pastor Felicia will give you a fresh angle on the week's topic to keep you inspired when the mid-week slump hits.
  • Step 3: Take the Weekly Action Step (Thursday – Saturday) Every week concludes with a specific challenge (like choosing an intentional act of rest, thanking a mentor, or welcoming someone new). Use the momentum from the devotional and the videos to step out of your comfort zone!

Week 1: Moving Past the Comfort of the Past

  • Status: Releasing Monday, July 06
  • Focus: A deeper dive into Haggai 2. How do we grieve what used to be while actively building the beautiful future God has for us right now?

Week 2: The Grace to Collapse and Recover

  • Status: Releasing Monday, July 13
  • Focus: Expanding on 1 Kings 19. Pastor Felicia shares a personal life-coaching insight on breaking the cycle of burnout, escaping the "survival mode" mentality, and accepting God's gift of true rest.

Week 3: Stretching the Walls of Your Heart

  • Status: Releasing Monday, July 20
  • Focus: It’s Return Sunday! This video challenges us to move past comfort to make explicit space for the new people, new ideas, and new blessings God is bringing through our doors.

Week 4: The Power of Vulnerable Community

  • Status: Releasing Monday, July 27 
  • Focus: Exploring Ecclesiastes 4. Why is it so hard to admit when we need help carrying our heavy lifting? Discover how healing accelerates when we open up to trusted community.

Week 5: Stepping Boldly into Your "Next"

  • Status: Releasing Monday, August 3
  • Focus: The finale of our series based on Isaiah 43. A powerful motivational charge to stop looking over your shoulder at the past and run directly toward the new horizon God is forming.

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Together We Remember. Together We Grow. Together We Keep the Journey Going.