Our Home: Encountering God's Grace in the Landscapes of North Idaho

One of the gifts of living in Coeur d’Alene is that we are constantly surrounded by beauty. The waters of the lake catch the morning light. Pines stand tall along our hillsides. Trails wind through forests and along shorelines. Mountains frame the horizon. For many of us, these landscapes have become so familiar that we hardly notice them anymore.
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McLane Stone

The natural world is one of God's gifts—a place where we encounter the Creator's goodness, beauty, and grace. As Psalm 19 reflects:

​The heavens are telling the glory of God;
and the firmament proclaims his handiwork.
Day to day pours forth speech,
and night to night declares knowledge.
There is no speech, nor are there words;
their voice is not heard;
yet their voice goes out through all the earth,
and their words to the end of the world.

​This summer, I invite you to join us for a new sermon series titled Our Home. Together, we will explore the natural landscape of North Idaho and ask what it reveals about God and God's work among us. From mountains and lakes to forests and valleys, we will consider how the places we inhabit can become windows into the life of faith.

The Bible is filled with stories rooted in particular places. God meets Moses in the wilderness. Elijah hears God's voice on a mountain. Jesus teaches beside the sea, withdraws to lonely places to pray, and uses seeds, vineyards, birds, and storms to reveal the kingdom of God. Again and again, God's grace is encountered not apart from creation but within it.

As Presbyterians, we affirm that all of life belongs to God. The world around us is not simply a backdrop for our faith—it is an arena in which God is active. The landscapes we love can teach us about trust, patience, belonging, beauty, and hope. They can remind us that we are creatures, dependent upon God's provision and invited into God's care for the world.

This series also invites us to deepen our appreciation for the place we call home. In Love1st, we seek to love God, love one another, and love our neighbors. Part of loving our neighbors is learning to see our community with gratitude and wonder. The forests, waters, wildlife, and changing seasons of North Idaho are not accidental features of our lives. They are gifts entrusted to us—places where God's grace continues to meet us.

I hope that throughout this summer, we will not only hear God's Word on Sunday mornings but also learn to notice God's presence throughout the week. Perhaps while sitting beside the lake, hiking a familiar trail, tending a garden, or simply watching the sunset, we might discover that God has been speaking through this place all along.

I hope you'll join us as we explore Our Home and learn together how the beauty of God's creation points us toward the beauty of God's grace.

In grace and gratitude,
McLane