2026: Year of Beloved Community
2026 at Capitol Hill UMC

Year of
Beloved Community

We love the pockets of community we have at Capitol Hill UMC. But God calls us to be more than just a collection of safe "pods." God calls us to be One Body. We are moving from the safety of our groups to the abundance of a shared Banquet Table.

The Gospel Imperative

God created us for relationship. We were never meant to be alone. In a fractured world, true community saves us from the isolation of despair and opens us to the transformative gifts of joy and hope.
Why Beloved?

Because God loves us so profoundly, we are called to ensure everyone knows it. We are tasked with manifesting that love so boldly that no one who walks through our doors could possibly think they are unloved or unwanted. Ensuring that people know they are loved is the first essential phase of our mission as Christ’s disciples.

The Invitation

Jan - Feb

The Purpose

You cannot belong to a community that doesn't know your name. To start our year, we are focusing on the simple, radical act of being seen.

The Activities

  • The Name Tag Challenge We are retiring sticky labels. Every person is invited to claim a permanent "I AM BELOVED" name tag to wear every Sunday.
  • The Language Shift Words create worlds. We are trading "Volunteer" for "Builder" and "Coffee Hour" for "Front Porch."
Who is Cooking?
The Speaking Beloved Squad Using "holy mischief" to help us learn our new shared language through signs and play.
Practice Promoters Ensuring the videos and challenges (like the Name Tag Challenge) happen in real life.

The Feast

Lent - Easter

The Purpose

A banquet table isn't quiet; it is full of stories. During Lent, we move from "study" to "listening" to prove we are not alone.

The Activities

  • The Living Wall Throughout Lent, we will gather stories of joy, grief, and milestones to unveil a massive display on Easter.
  • Table Talks The LEAD Board will host listening sessions to hear your heart on how we love, serve, and lead.
Who is Cooking?
The Story Weavers Acting as "Roving Listeners" to gather stories and curate the Living Wall.
Table Talk Hosts Facilitating conversations so every voice is heard in our vision process.

The Open Chair

Eastertide - Fall

The Purpose

A good table always has room for one more. We are building the infrastructure to ensure that a seat was saved for guests all along.

The Activities

  • Welcome Circles Launching a new, clear path for newcomers to find friends and navigate the church.
  • The Calendar Creating a 2026-2027 year designed for connection, not just programming.
  • Vision Celebration Unveiling our shared "Vision Story" on Kick-Off Sunday (Sept 13).
Who is Cooking?
The Circle Builders Designing the "Open Chair" system and launching Welcome Circles.
Calendar Architects Deciding what goes on the menu for 2027 to reflect our values.
Event Engineers Building playbooks for our Fall events.

What Happens in the Fall?

Living the Vision

The Harvest

For the first eight months, we are cultivators. In the Fall, we enjoy the harvest. We will inhabit the culture we grew, ensuring every event on our calendar is fruitful and full of life.

The Feasts

We aren't filling the calendar with busy work; we are setting a table. Every gathering—from Homecoming to Advent—will be shaped by the new rhythms of hospitality we practiced.

The Seeds

A harvest always contains seeds for the next season. As we live into these practices, we will keep listening: "Now that we have been fed, where is God calling us to plant next?"

"We are moving from the safety of our pockets and corners to the abundance of a shared Banquet Table."
Capitol Hill United Methodist Church | 2026 Year of Beloved Community

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