In some ways, our congregation retreat was exactly what you would expect... s'mores and songs around the fire, bible studies, kids running free, and a late night game of Catan that may have created arch rivals from friends. It was a blast!

But there was also something more. Something deeper. Something that jumpstarted our collective imagination for the future. We learned by listening to one another that this community is braver than we may have realized, that we are beautifully aligned in our hopes for Hot Metal, and perhaps most importantly, that we are ready to take the next faithful steps after a season of catching our breath.

Hot Metallers long for a church that feels alive and grounded. A place where curiosity and honesty replace our daily heaviness with joy and meaning. A community marked by strong relationships, shared purpose, spiritual depth, and true belonging. 

And here's the biggest surprise: That energy didn’t end when the weekend ended. It’s still moving. The only thing missing? The people in our community who couldn't make it for a weekend away. We are made better by including the voice of every person who calls this community home. 

That’s why our next step is the Retreat Redux (details below). The future taking shape at Hot Metal needs the wisdom, experiences, and creativity of the people who weren’t in the room that weekend. Gathering online, we will build a shared foundation for the road ahead by going through the same discernment activities as we had at the retreat. And of course we'll have our own fun adapted for an online gathering. (Brainstorm: A bracket of the hymns we love to hate? Winner gets banned from Hot Metal for life?)

Then as one unified community, we'll move on to Porches, Pints & Possibilities. It will be a summer of trying on ideas, discovering what gives us life, and noticing where energy and imagination begin to spark. The road ahead for Hot Metal won’t appear all at once; it will take shape through conversation, courage, curiosity, and the faithful practice of showing up for one another. And honestly? That sounds a lot like what we do best.