God loved you before you were useful.

Grace and peace to you this week. Sunday was week five of Reconnect, our six week series on getting reconnected to God and to each other. Whether you watched online or sat in the room, thank you. If you missed it, this one starts with a text you never answered.

One church, two campuses, one family.

RECONNECT, Week 5: Signal Out

You answered three work texts and sent somebody a funny video. But one message is still sitting there: "Do you know anybody who could help me get groceries home?" You started a reply. Got interrupted. Never came back.

You cared. And somebody still doesn't know how the groceries are getting home.

"I don't know what my gift is" can be an honest question. It can also be a safe place to hide, because once you make an offer, somebody might count on you. "I'm still figuring out my calling" feels a lot safer than "Yes, I can help Thursday."

Write this down: Ask one person what would help. Make one offer you can keep.

Paul gets the order right before he ever mentions work. Ephesians 2 says salvation is God's gift, not a paycheck for good behavior. Then comes verse 10:

"For we are God's masterpiece." (Ephesians 2:10, NLT)

God loved you before you were useful. You don't become more His when you say yes, and you don't become less His when you need help. Your good works answer grace. They don't buy it. That frees you to care for somebody without becoming everything they need.

Your practice this week: serve, give, or help someone in a practical way. Start with a need you already know about. Ask before you decide what somebody needs. Then be specific. Skip "Let me know if you need anything" and try "I can pick up groceries Thursday. Would that help?" If they say no, respect it. If they say yes, follow through. Don't offer rent money you need yourself, and don't reopen a door to someone who isn't safe.

👉 Join a Life Group this week

Watch the Replay

Missed Sunday, or want to send it to somebody who has been waiting on your reply?

👉 Watch "Signal Out" on YouTube

Go deeper: The Reconnect Life Group Study

Life Groups run one week behind the sermons. This week they're working through Reconnect with People. Next week they reach Reconnect with Calling, the same ground as Sunday's message, with one question for the table: what need could we respond to together? Pick in person, virtual, or the self guided track if you worship online, and start where the group is. You are not behind.

⓵ Text LIFEGROUP to 33777.
⓶ Go to marshillchicago.org/life-groups.

Worship through the week with the Reconnect playlist: 👉 Listen on Spotify

Every message lives in one place: the full Mars Hill message library.

Wednesday night: Ready, Not Scared

We moved it, and it's this week. Ready, Not Scared joins trust in God with practical care for the people who depend on you. No disaster countdown. No call to hoard. One calm household conversation before the next disruption.

Wednesday, November 11, 7:00 PM Central. It streams on our new Mars Hill Anywhere channel, on Facebook, and on my channel.

👉 Watch on the Mars Hill Anywhere YouTube channel

This Sunday: Full Bars

RECONNECT, Week 6. The series finale, and we're gathering in person. You typed "I've started praying again." Read it twice. Then you erased it and sent "Hope you're doing okay." Sunday we open John 4 and follow a woman who left her water jar at the well and ran to tell her town about Jesus before she had everything figured out. Your story doesn't have to be finished to point somebody toward Him.

Sunday, November 15, 10:30 AM Central. In person at Crystal Sky Banquets, 7941 W. 47th St., McCook, IL 60525.

Can't be in the room? 👉 Watch live on YouTube

Thank you for holding this house up

This is a hybrid church with two campuses: the room in McCook and the campus that is wherever you are reading this. Your prayers and your provision keep both of them open, so nobody has to carry what they're carrying alone.

Give at marshillchicago.org/giving, or text MHGIVE to 33777.

👉 Give here

Here's where I'll leave you. Somewhere in your phone there's a message you cared about and never answered. This week, finish the sentence: "I can go Thursday. Would that help?" You cared when you read it. Now let them hear from you. See you Sunday at 10:30, in person.

Pastor Clarence E. Stowers, Jr.

P.S. Before you close this email, scroll back to that unanswered message and send one question: "What would actually help?" Then wait for the answer.

---

A word from this week's sponsor

This week's sponsor is Kit, the platform Mars Hill Anywhere uses to send this newsletter every week.