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Introducon, and Daily Prayer As we embark on this sacred journey together, we are invited to reect on the love of God—a love that restores, renews, and rebuilds that people have found here at FCC Louisville. This capital campaign for our roof is more than shingles and budgets; it is a response to the restorave power of Christ’s love in our lives and our community. Just as God has connually healed and strengthened us, we are called to be instruments of that same healing through our faith, our generosity, and our love for neighbor. This devoonal is composed of reecons by people who have known God’s restorave love here both at FCC Louisville and First Kids. There are enough devoons to read one each weekday starng June 9 unl the Friday before our celebraon Sunday, June 29. We think these stories and reecons will remind you and inspire you about how the way we live the Gospel here has brought hope, belonging, and restored faith to many people.

A daily prayer to accompany each devoonal: Loving and restoring God, You have led our congregaon through seasons of joy and challenge, of ease and hardship, always guiding us with grace, faith, and hope. We come to You with open hearts as we journey through our “Love Restores” campaign to repair and renew the roof of this sacred space and connue the legacy of FCC Louisville. Bless this eort – not just as a construcon project, but as a living expression of our shared love, faith, and commitment to one another and to this community. May every gi given and every prayer lied reect our belief that Your love restores what is broken, strengthens what is weary, and builds what is lasng. May this campaign unify us, deepen our trust in You, and reect the inclusive and jusce-seeking spirit of Christ. Let this building shelter not only our worship but our work in the world – a house for all people, grounded in love. In the name of the One who restores all things, Amen

The lesson of the Gerbera daisy Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they shall be lled. ~Mahew 5:6 I have a Gerbera daisy. It grows two or three 4-inch, hot pink owers a year. They are spectacular. Every me I look at a bloom, I think how detail-oriented God must be to make something like that. What I like best about my Gerbera, though, is not so much the ower as it is the philosophy of the plant. It droops like the weight of the world is on its shoulders when it needs water. It sags and withers to the point of tempng me to throw it out. The plant makes an honest, simple statement of need. When I see my plant in that piful state, I drop everything and water it. Twenty minutes later it has perked up and is back in business—leafy green resilience strung its stu. I wish my friends and family would be like that plant. If they would just let me know when they need a lile watering. I’d give them the restorave love just as quickly as I tend to the Gerbera. Instead, they somemes wait for me to noce. And they’re way too subtle. Couldn’t they show from head to toe, with sagging posture or a needy look, that they could use a few words of faith? Or couldn’t they just ask? The lesson goes for me, too. Do I show others when I’m hurng? Do I let my guard down?

More oen, I keep up a brave face, denying that I need any help. I act like I have it together, and that keeps me from asking for those words of faith. So I look at my Gerbera daisy and thank it for the reminder to be more sensive to the needs of people around me, people who like me can’t easily droop and let the world know they need some restorave love. Prayer: Oh God of Love, open my eyes to the needs of others so I may share with them your restorave love, and help me in turn show others when I need encouragement. Deena Skees

‘I started here to renew’ To each is given the manifestaon of the Spirit for the common good. 1 Corinthians 12:7 In 2013, both my husband and my father died. My husband was diagnosed with stage 4 lung cancer in April and passed in June. My father died at the age of 100, exactly six months later. Ten years aer my mother died. I had spent years being a daughter, a wife, and then a caregiver. Now, suddenly, there was a seismic shi in my roles and path in life. My children were grown up and out of the house, living their own lives. What was my purpose? How was I to re-invent my life in this new future? Words cannot express how blessed I was to have my church. FCC was there for me for support, concern, and open arms. I started here to renew. I became a Stephen Minister, and while learning how to be a compassionate, supporve caregiver, I learned how to give myself grace and me to heal. This was a very special gi. I accepted a posion on the Discipleship Commiee and learned so much about a church’s role in a community. I made more friends and connecons. I learned how to give, and how to receive. These are gis I reap so many benets from, hopefully in ways I share with others. I will always be thankful for this church. I know what I was given and shown, and this is available to you as well. We are a community that, in so many ways and on so many levels, wants to be there for you. Prayer: Lord, bless this church and the love this village oers to all, no maer where you are on life’s journey. Amen. Penny Brill

The healing of welcome, worship, and care “Daughter, said Jesus, your faith has made you well.” 5:34 For my Epiphany star word this year, I got “repair,” which at the me meant only one thing to me: the building. We needed a new roof desperately, only closely followed by our sanctuary HVAC. But over the last few months this verse about repair and restoraon, which has been important to me since I was sick in high school with kidney failure, came back to me. Jesus heals the woman who had been hemorrhaging for 12 years with just a touch … but more than that, he restores her. He restores her to be a full and healthy part of her community again. At FCC Louisville, I see the ways we help people see how Jesus could make them well. How Jesus wants to make sure our children are full parcipants and leaders in our church whether at the Lord’s Table or Build-a-Bed. Restoring and repairing people through special prayer services that acknowledge their grief and pain, while oering hope and light in the midst of it. How we heal the pain of loneliness with our fellowship events from food trucks to Bunco, to pickleball. I can’t imagine a world without this congregaon oering that healing of welcome, worship, and care. I don’t have Jesus’ healing touch but I do get to be a part of this community of faith, nding our own ways to repair, heal and restore.

Prayer: Jesus, repair everything that needs to be restored with our building, our community, our hearts and your world. Pastor Amanda Meade

God has asked us to fulfill the needs of our church’ In my daily reading of the Bible, I found love is my favorite word. Love is mentioned about 700 times in the New Testament. In John 7, Jesus was presented with a woman who was caught in adultery. The Pharisees explained that in the Law of Moses, they were to stone the woman. Jesus traced his finger in the sand, questioning the Pharisees about their sin and about stoning her: Let any one of you who is without sin be the first to throw a stone at her. Obviously, no Pharisees were without sin. Jesus told the woman to go and sin no more. He did not condemn the woman but extended grace, mercy, and love. God has asked us to be charitable and fulfill the needs of our church. At FCC we need a new roof desperately, along with a new HVAC system. Our church brings new hope, worship and caring for all people no matter where we are. People find it so easy to worship at our table each and every Sunday. Our minister delivers impactful messages that uplift, inspire and encourage our congregation. Yes, bringing us to cheer!!! There are so many ways that build our lives around our church … food trucks, pickleball, Bunco, and Build-a Bed. It brings us together having so much fun making new members learning to really meet our congregation. Prayer: God, we come to meet the needs of our church. Remind us to always have our hearts together, with joy and love. Marcus Gentry

My strength restored, my spirit renewed, again and again 2 Corinthians 13:11 “Finally, brothers, rejoice! Aim for full restoraon, comfort one another, agree with one another, live in peace; and the God of love and peace will be with you.” Over the years, my relaonship with God has taken many twists and turns. I have both quesoned Him and I have trusted Him. I have turned away from Him and I have turned toward Him. I have been angry with Him and yet I've praised Him. I have chosen to walk with Him but have also at mes distanced myself. While some may idenfy with my journey, others may have traveled a much straighter path. Though we may have arrived at FCC with dierent stories, we gather here for many of the same reasons. Some of us come to hear a message of hope, some come in search of answers or in need of prayer. Together we sing praises, we oer our gis, and we share communion. Without a doubt, we are drawn here by our deep need for community. Regardless of who we are, where we come from, or what our needs may be, FCC welcomes us without excepon, a blessing I tend to take for granted. Just as we are called to care for and encourage those around us, we are called to care for our church.

One denion of the word caring is "the provision of what is necessary for the health, welfare, maintenance, and protecon of someone or something." To care for our church, then, is to work together to provide what is necessary for the restoraon of our building. The needed repairs are extensive (and expensive). The queson is not "if" the building will become unsafe, but rather "when." Times are certainly changing, and while there are enes that can funcon and ourish solely online without a physical locaon, I don't see the church as one of them. My strength has been restored and my spirit renewed inside this building, me and me again. Healing happens here and we are tasked with protecng this holy space so that anyone stepping through our doors seeking inclusion will experience the unique kind of love and acceptance that only a strong community of faith can provide. Rhonda Marn

An oasis of love and support 1 Thessalonians 5:18 “Give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.” In a reality where one can see so much brokenness, loss, and struggles, it’s an invaluable blessing to nd an oasis of love and support, a haven from stresses and turmoils. First Chrisan and our family within its walls have been just that. Somemes I have trouble communicang verbally, connecng, and feeling like I belong. Music has been a language that lets me express myself, and church has unfailingly inspired and allowed me to grow in a discipline that has become not just a profession, but an integral element of my life. I grew up in church. My parents provided a strong foundaon for respecng and appreciang how important it was to learn about God, Jesus, how to live, how to treat people, and follow the teachings of Scripture. We were one of those families who went to church every Sunday morning, Sunday evening, Wednesdays, and any other mes in between. It became a stable anchor in life, but I always wanted to nd a community that was more than just welcoming. I wanted a place where someone could feel safe to come just the way they are. Several years ago, I found that at a Disciples church. However, aer about 35 years solid of playing music almost every weekend, I had reached a bit of a saturaon point, so I took a three-year hiatus from church, only to discover that I missed making music with other players, and I missed being part of a faith-based community.

I had subbed at First Chrisan and found that the people and community were like a balm to the soul. Becoming part of the congregaon restored the desire and excitement of sharing music with friends and loved ones. That has been such a profound gi to me, I am grateful and honored to be able to give music back to our church family. Angie Hopperton

Where ‘radically inclusive’ is spiritual pracce 1 Peter 4:8 “Above all, love each other deeply, because love covers over a multude of sins.” I didn’t know how much I needed a place like First Chrisan Church of Louisville unl I walked through its doors. Maybe you’ve felt that way, too - uncertain, searching, red from trying to t into spaces that only welcomed part of who you are. But something shis when love meets you where you are, without demands or disclaimers. That’s what FCC does. That’s what restoraon begins to look like. At FCC, I found more than just a church — I found a community that believes love is meant to heal, not to harm. This is a place where being radically inclusive isn’t a slogan; it’s a spiritual pracce. It’s woven into every handshake, every shared meal, every prayer spoken with and for someone who once felt they had no place in faith. Here, you’re not expected to have all the answers. In fact, your quesons are sacred. FCC gives room for you to grow at your own pace, to wrestle with doubt, to stretch toward hope, and to rest in grace. It’s a journey, not a checklist. And on that journey, love becomes the map, the compass, and the desnaon. What I’ve learned at FCC is this: Love restores. Not in some distant or abstract way — but in the very real, everyday moments where people show up for one another. In the laughter of children in the sanctuary, in the honest tears shed during prayer, in the quiet assurance that you are fully known and sll fully welcomed. FCC is worth invesng in — not just with resources, but with your heart —because it’s a place where brokenness is never the end of

the story. Here, love does what only love can do: It gathers, it heals, it transforms. And that kind of love? That kind of love brings us back to life. Is there a moment in your own journey where love met you and began to restore something inside? Pastor Jerry McBroom

Loving impact extends far beyond these walls 1 Corinthians 13:13 “Love is paent, kind, and enduring, ulmately love is the greatest of all virtues.” In my journey with First Chrisan Church, I've witnessed rsthand how love can restore and transform lives. The love within our community is not conned to the walls of our church but extends far beyond, touching the lives of many in profound ways. One of the most impacul experiences for me has been parcipang in the Forgoen Louisville monthly lunches for the homeless. Each month, FCC members come together to prepare lunches for those in need. The warmth and compassion shown by our volunteers create a sense of belonging and hope for the homeless individuals. I've seen faces light up with gratude. This act of service not only provides nourishment but also restores dignity and humanity to those who oen feel forgoen. Another remarkable group I have been blessed to parcipate in is our women’s book club. Each of these women has welcomed me in and I consider each of them as my precious family. The love of FCC members has also impacted me personally. Being part of such a caring and compassionate community has deepened my faith and inspired me to live out the teachings of Christ more fully. The support and encouragement I've received from fellow members have been a source of strength during challenging mes. Seeing the love in acon, whether through outreach programs or simple acts of kindness, has reinforced my

belief that love truly has the power to restore and transform lives. In conclusion, the love of our FCC community is a powerful force that restores hope, dignity, and faith. It impacts not only those within our congregaon but also reaches out to touch the lives of many outside our walls. Through our collecve eorts, we embody the message that love restores, and we connue to make a meaningful dierence in the world. Prayer: Jesus, help me to love others as you love me. May my intenon, acons, and words reect your love, and may I always choose to be kind, compassionate, and understanding toward everyone. Laura Woods

Relaonship with God grows in many direcons Before coming to FCC, I would have described my faithfulness as “lukewarm.” A few years ago, I found myself in a state of spiritual apathy, meaning I was neither fully commied nor completely indierent about my faith. I had grown up religious but had tapered o in recent years. Aer having kids, my husband and I made a conscious commitment to actively pursue a relationship with God. We wanted our children to know that they are a part of something bigger than just themselves. We began looking for a church where our children could have a more active role in their faith. The emphasis at the time was mostly about finding a place where they could grow their faith. And this has happened. I have seen both of my kids grow in multiple ways so much since joining FCC. However, something else happened along the way. Each Sunday, my spiritual apathy became less and less. The people of this church have shown me it is OK not to be perfect and yet still be welcome. In fact, they let me know it is completely normal to question things in life. There are still things I continue to struggle with on my personal faith journey, but the connections I have found here have allowed me to give back in ways I never thought possible. From building beds, teaching Sunday school and giving offertory messages just to name a few, I have seen firsthand the difference

a place like FCC can make. I have seen the impact we have on each other and our community. We have all heard many times, that at the end of the day three things will last forever—faith, hope, and love—with the greatest of these being love. And in my lile corner of the world, this place and these people through love have restored my faith back in Christ. Heather Kovachik

The intergeneraonal community God calls us to be 1 John 4:7 “Beloved, let us love one another, because love is from God; everyone who loves is born of God and knows God.” This verse is one of my favorites, one I rst memorized during a week at church camp. A counselor set it to music in a fun, sing-song way, and it stuck with me. Somemes I sll nd it playing in my head on repeat. But honestly, that’s not a bad thing. It’s a great verse to have on loop. It makes a prey wonderful life moo and an even beer foundaon for a healthy, thriving church. When we look at one another and choose to love — not because of what someone has done or who they are, but simply because love is from God — we reect the kind of community God calls us to be. That’s why intergeneraonal ministry is so important to me. It teaches empathy. It allows us to see through someone else’s eyes and to care for others whose experiences dier from our own. It reminds me that love isn’t passive — it moves us to acon. I believe in a love that builds others up. A love that stands up for one another. A love that creates space for growth, grace, and belonging. And I’m so thankful for this church, for FCC, where that kind of love is pracced and built. As we build up this place, we’re not just shaping a building — we're shaping a community rooted in God’s love. Pastor Merideth Sprigler

Generosity of spirit, time, and treasures build family at FCC Cheerful: a wonderful emotion that seems to be in short supply in our busy and turbulent world! Many of us have fond memories or feelings for our grandparents. Growing up, I was blessed to be surrounded by two sets of grandparents and six sets of great-grandparents. Each home was welcoming, and the Grandmas also had a surprise treat stashed away for “starving” children … cake, cookies, or M&Ms. Grandparents were always generous with their time and treasures, as long as you didn’t interrupt a ballgame or, heaven forbid, “The Lawrence Welk Show.” My grandparents brought so much cheer into our lives. When I first visited First Christian Church in 2024, it was almost like walking into my grandparents’ house. Everyone was warm, welcoming, and genuinely happy to see us. Over the following months, the generosity of spirit, time, and treasures also became abundantly clear. Sunday worship now brings me joy again thanks to the gifted and thoughtful staff. Messages are serious and Bible-based but clearly based on the core Christian values of inclusion, equality, justice, and leaving judgment to God. Each week’s relaxed worship time brings surprises that make me smile – children playing up front, a toddler intent on joining his

mom in the praise band, and messages delivered in “Star Wars” attire or often with heart-felt laughter and tears. In his letter to the church in Corinth, Paul says, “Each of you should give what you have decided in your heart to give, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver.” As we join to build upon the foundation laid by past generations of FCC saints, I pray that we all remember what a wonderful and cheerful place and staff God has given us here to nurture. Prayer: Dear God, thank you for the foundation laid at FCC over the past 200 years. Help us to be the cheerful and generous disciples needed to strengthen your kingdom on Earth to be a more heavenly place of inclusion, equality, and justice for all. Amen. Steve Detweiler

‘They make teaching about Jesus so fun!’ What I love most about FCC is all the fun kids’ acvies it oers like: Sunday school, children’s church, and so many more. Mrs. Merideth and the rest of the sta are so kind and helpful while teaching us about Jesus and God. They make it so fun! Haley Kovachik, 8

First Kids … and rst grandkids, too In 1990 I moved to Louisville from a small town in East Tennessee, coming here to answer God’s call to ministry. For this small-town girl, moving here was culture shock! Seminary was not what I expected it to be. Aer vising several churches, I accepted a call to ministry in a South End church. It was a terrible experience. Then I found First Chrisan and First Kids. I will never forget the rst me I came into this building and the peace and love I felt here. I rst came here for an interview at First Kids. As a single parent, I needed to nd something that would work with a 10-year-old. The aer-school program would work out great! Finding First Kids was a blessing for both of us. Fast-forward 35 years … I am so thankful for FCC and for First Kids. Over the years I have felt LOVE over and over. Robby was blessed to be a part of the aer-school program, able to experience things that he would not have been able to otherwise. His rst job was at First Kids. A few years later Abby was born, and then ve years later Kae arrived. How blessed am I that both of my granddaughters were with me every day at First Kids! Abby’s rst job was also with First Kids, and I am sure when Kae is old enough, hers will be, too. As I think back on the years I have been here, tears ll my eyes.

First Kids and First Chrisan church have been and connue to be a huge part of my life. George and I were married in the atrium and then renewed our vows in the same place. I have seen the hands and feet of Christ through the mulple wholeness ministries. I watched Abby grow and develop a love for helping others through the Forgoen Louisville. As I connue my job and ministry here at First Kids, I am thankful that FCC values children and oers this ministry to families in the community. I am thankful for a church family where there is a love that restores. Debbie McCune

A season of living love for Kru and his family In 2024, my husband accepted an oer for his dream job. In order to take the job our family would have to relocate from Kentucky to Conneccut. The two things that I knew would be the hardest parts of leaving Kentucky were leaving my family and leaving everyone at First Kids. My 4-year-old son, Kru, had been at First Kids for four years. I knew how special First Kids was the second we toured it, while pregnant with him. I knew the experience we had there was rare and could not be replicated. I was in my 40s when Kru came along. In April 2020, at the beginning of COVID, I had to be admied to the hospital. Aer one surgery and a horrible week of doctors trying to gure out what was wrong, Kru decided he’d had enough and was born two months early. He was admied to the NICU for 45 days. When he was allowed to leave the hospital, we were nervous, scared, and happy to have this ny soul home. I was terried to let Kru out of my sight. How was I supposed to leave this ny baby with people I didn't know, to watch him for the majority of the day? It didn't take long for me to see the love and care that everyone showered on him while he was in their care. Kru loved them all so much and treated First Kids like his second home. The lile snker would even come up with excuses to go to the oce so he could hang out with Mrs. Dede.

When we announced our move, First Kids helped get him ready by reading stories about moving, talking about his new home state, and giving him going-away gis. The last day at First Kids was one of the only mes I broke down and cried during this move. My favorite Bible verse is Ecclesiastes 3:1-8 … “For everything there is a season… “ I have held on to that verse my whole life. It has goen me through a lot, and I know it will connue to. First Kids, and all the special people that make it up, was a season in our life that will always stand out as an example of living love. The people and their acons will live forever in our family. Sherri Kruckas-Brindle

At FCC, a home where the loving gospel is lived out We rst started aending First Chrisan Church about seven years ago, shortly aer moving to the area. At the me, we were new—interlopers, really—dropping in every few weeks with our daughter in the nursery during services. But even in those early days, there was something about the warmth of the people and the spirit of the place that lingered with us. Fast-forward to 2019 … Krisn was pregnant with our twins when we faced one of the most challenging seasons of our lives. Due to complicaons, she was placed on extended bed rest and eventually hospitalized for nearly two months before the boys were born. Even aer birth, the challenges connued as the twins were in the NICU for the next ve weeks. During that me, everything felt stretched—our faith, our energy, our capacity to manage work, home, and the unknown. We live in a me when our society feels increasingly fractured. Beliefs are used as balegrounds, compassion can feel like a weakness, and material success is oen held up as the highest good. But in moments of crisis—and in the quiet, ordinary days that follow—what we truly need is the gospel lived out. And that’s what we’ve found here. And in our me of need we were not alone. Members of the church visited Krisn in the hospital, sing beside her, praying over her, and oering words of encouragement that carried us through the hardest days. They reached out to me while I tried to hold everything together at home. Prayers were lied when we didn’t know what to pray.

We saw what it truly means to be the body of Christ: not a building, but a community that shows up in love. It was during this me that First Chrisan Church stopped being the church we visited and became our church we belonged to. We were looking for a place that welcomes the stranger, a church that leads with love instead of judgment. A community of radical inclusion, where all are seen, valued, and embraced. A place that teaches our children the power of grace, and challenges adults to live out their faith with compassion and courage. These days, our daughter is no longer in the nursery, she longs to serve others, to help during communion, and to even sing with the praise band. Our sons now stand proudly during the children’s blessing and will lead the congregaon. At First Chrisan Church of Louisville, our children are free to be themselves, to speak, to sing, to queson, and to grow—knowing they are loved without condion. As parents, we are reminded not just to believe, but to be the good news in a world that desperately needs it. This is what it means to belong. This is why we call FCC home. Ma Weirich

Our world can be restored by our gis Bounty! It’s a word heard mostly in old Western movies. Yet, throughout Scripture that word has a dierent meaning. In the Bible, “bounty” is found as a recurring reminder to us of three things: The abundance of God’s love is freely given. Because God blesses us, life is not to be lived with closed sts but with open hands. The world is a place that can be restored by our gis. The gis that mean the most are those presented in love. A child’s bouquet of dandelions given to Mom and Dad on a sunny May aernoon is priceless. We are called “children of God,” and our best gis are those we oer as children to our loving parent. So it is with the gis of love that we oer to God, to our church, and to others. Those gis are restorave and renewing. True thankfulness overows in a desire to help others. We show our gratefulness when we share from our bounty to gi those in need. The gis need not be monetary. At First Chrisan Church, we have a cadre of volunteers who, through Build-a-Bed, present a gi to a child of a place to sleep at night that is not a cold, hard oor. There is a group at FCC who are creang blankets and quilts for another organizaon which will, in turn, present those blankets to the children who have received one of those Build-a-Beds.

Another group at FCC regularly provides a sandwich, fruit, chips, water, and a dessert for the homeless through Forgoen Louisville. Each of us can do our part to make sure that all share in the abundance. Our own life is enriched and our atudes change when we give ourselves away. Share your abundance as a child would share a dandelion bouquet. Oer yourself in the knowledge, in the faith, and in the trust that God will use you and your gis to restore and change the world. Prayer: Benevolent God, we give to you because we are grateful. We praise you, Lord, and rejoice in blessings beyond our deserving. We share because that seems our joyous goal amid the unequal distribuon of Your abundance. Increase our joy and our generosity for Jesus’s sake and in his name. Amen. Drexel Rankin