Jeremiah 29:4-14

“There is no place like home.” “Home is the place where, when you have to go there, they have to take you in.” “Take me home, country roads.” “Chewie, we’re home.”

The idea of home is a vital component of what makes up our story. You could argue that home is either the place we launch from—the starting point of our journey—or the thing we long for and the place we seek to return to. Where we come from and where we find comfort often shapes the trajectory of what is possible in our story.

This week, our church’s story begins anew! We are embarking on a different kind of journey as we launch our combine worship service and summer sermon series. Throughout the summer, we will re-examine our church’s story, our values, and how they intersect with our own lives—through the lens of musicals.

Musicals tell stories. They express deep longings through our shared human experience. They sing of hearts awakening to new possibilities and proclaim the journey we all share as people searching for meaning in the world. As Christians, we see this search through the lens of our faith in God. One might say the songs in musicals echo the desires, longings, and hopes that God places in each of our hearts.

The well-known scripture Jeremiah 29:11 — “For surely I know the plans I have for you, says the Lord, plans for your welfare and not for harm, to give you a future with hope” — is often quoted as a reassurance of God’s plan and guidance during times of trial. But I invite you to read the full passage for a deeper understanding. Jeremiah shares these words with the people of Israel while they are in exile. God’s people have been taken from their homeland and now live in Babylon. It would be easy to read verse 11 as simply a promise of eventual return, and while that is part of the message, there is more.

Jeremiah also instructs the exiled Israelites to build houses, plant gardens, and continue to live and invest in their families—even in exile. God's plan is not always instant relief. Sometimes it takes time to find your way home again.

At Flower Mound United Methodist Church, one of our defining characteristics is the sense of home we seek to create—not just for ourselves, but for all whom we encounter. Sometimes we help create a home in times of transition, meeting people exactly where they are and connecting them to God’s love in that very place. May our church continue to embody the best qualities of home: welcome, comfort, belonging, and grace—reflecting the heart of a God who calls us into community.

So, what does all of this have to do with our first musical, The Greatest Showman? Come watch with us on Friday evening and join us for our combined 10 AM worship on Sunday to find out!