November 12, 2026 - "The Word Among Us" - A Weekly Note from Pastor Michael

The Word Among Us 

A Weekly Note from Pastor Michael 

Unburying Eden 

Thursday, November 12, 2026 

The Federated Church of Chagrin Falls 

What does it mean to be faithful with what we’ve been given? 

It’s a question we’ve been exploring together throughout this year. This summer, we followed Jesus into the fields and gardens of Matthew’s Gospel. We watched seeds take root, learned to tend what was growing, and wondered what kind of fruit God was bringing forth among us. 

Now, as we approach the end of the church year, Jesus brings us back to a familiar question. 

This Sunday’s Gospel is the Parable of the Talents (Matthew 25:14–30). A wealthy man entrusts his possessions to three servants before leaving on a journey. Two put what they’ve received to work and multiply it. The third, afraid of losing what has been entrusted to him, buries it in the ground. 

When the master returns, the third servant gives back exactly what he received. 

Nothing lost. Nothing gained. 

At first glance, it sounds like a story about money, investment, and responsibility. But I wonder if Jesus is inviting us to consider something much larger. 

What does it mean to receive something precious and preserve it so carefully that it never becomes anything more? 

Think about the gifts we’ve inherited at Federated. Generations before us have entrusted us with buildings, resources, traditions, relationships, and a remarkable community of faith. Their generosity has made our life together possible. 

But what are these gifts for? 

Are we called simply to preserve what we’ve inherited? Or have we been entrusted with something that is meant to grow, multiply, and become a blessing beyond ourselves?

These questions seem especially important as we begin exploring what it means to become a sanctuary people. We are not simply trying to protect an institution or preserve a place for those of us already here. We are learning to cultivate a community where others can find belonging, discover their gifts, and flourish. 

And perhaps the measure of our faithfulness is not simply what we manage to keep, but what becomes possible because we were here. 

This Sunday, we’ll explore these questions in a sermon I’m calling Unburying Eden in honor of my dear friend and theologian of Good Places, Scott Myers. As we approach the final Sunday of the church year, I hope you’ll join us in considering not only what we’ve inherited, but what we are preparing to leave for generations yet to come. 

After all, the seeds we plant today may become the orchards where our grandchildren's grandchildren will someday gather. 

For the Generations Yet to Come, 
—Pastor Michael 

Preparing for Sunday 

Scripture: Matthew 25:14–30 

As you read the passage this week, consider these questions: 

• What do you notice about the relationship between the master and the servants? How does fear shape the choices they make? 
• What gifts have you inherited from the people and communities who came before you? How have those gifts multiplied in your life? 
• If we imagined Federated Church seven generations from now, what would we hope our faithfulness today had made possible?