Note from Petey
October 2026

Dear CPC,

As the fall is in full swing, I hope you are having a good experience. As so many ministries have started up, I’ve noticed a mixture of busy and beautiful. Things have been full and crazy, but there’s also something beautiful and good happening in the midst of the rush of activity. It’s a good reminder that when everything feels rushed and hectic, we can look around and appreciate that God is at work in the midst of it. Sometimes we don’t have much control over the season or the stretch of activity we’re in, but we can choose how we show up and what we pay attention to. The words of Psalm 46:10, “Be still, and know that I am God,” aren’t just for those with nothing else to do. They speak to us in our daily lives.

In articles and sermons and other places, I’ll continue to share stories from my summer, because many of you continue to ask! One of the things I re-learned over sabbatical was how to sit and read for an extended period of time without fumbling for social media on my phone or feeling guilty about not being productive in other areas. I tried my best to count between physical books, e-books, and audiobooks, but I think I read around 35 books on sabbatical. One of them really stands out — Theo of Golden.

On day 14 of walking the Camino in Spain, I got into a town called Melide around 11:00AM. My hostel wasn’t ready yet, so I had to waste some time. I wandered a few streets over and sat in a square with a fountain, directly across from a beautiful cathedral. I had started reading Theo on my Kindle the day before, and quickly made my way through it.

If you’ve read the book, you’ll understand this, but I found myself sitting in that beautiful town square with tears running down my face as I finished the final chapters. I’ll never forget the odd sensation of sitting on a bench in an idyllic setting, immersed in the ending of this book, as large crowds of locals in this larger town flowed around me, unaware of the emotional rollercoaster I was on. And there it is: in the midst of a busy late morning, I was experiencing something completely different from the normal hustle and bustle of daily life.

I pray you have those moments, especially in the endless activity of daily life, where you are able to be in touch with how God is speaking to you, teaching you, leading you, and offering you grace and peace. Be still and know the presence of God, who is always moving in your life.

Much love,
Petey