In September 2025, Austin Presbyterian Theological Seminary’s Houses of Hope initiative came to the First Congregational Church of Woodstock to film a documentary about our journey — how we have been learning to listen differently, show up differently, dream differently, and practice gratitude as a pathway into hope.

The film is made entirely of first‑hand, unscripted stories from members of our congregation. It captures the quiet courage, honesty, and transformation that have been unfolding among us. Or as Christina says:

“Gratitude is the way God is remembered… and when we’re living in that place of gratitude, God is there.”

When we premiered the film on April 19, congregants were deeply moved by the Spirit’s unmistakable presence in the stories we told, the practices we explored, and the ways we have been growing together. It was a reminder that hope is not an idea; it is something we learn to embody — one conversation, one practice, one act of courage at a time.

We know that many were unable to attend worship on April 19. We have now been granted permission to share the film publicly, and we want to make sure everyone in our congregation has the opportunity to experience it. 

This film is not about perfection. It is about possibility — about what happens when ordinary people in a small‑town church dare to listen deeply, tend to their souls, and trust that God is still planting seeds of hope in unexpected places.

We invite you to watch, to share, and to let these stories encourage your own.

Please contact me or a member of our Houses of Hope Core Team (Aimee, Christina, Ginny, Jennifer, Karen, Paula, or Susan) if you would like to learn more about an upcoming gratitude group or go deeper in a five‑part exploration in listening, sharing, showing up, and dreaming differently.

May it spark gratitude. May it stir imagination. May it remind us that hope is not something we wait for — it is something we practice, together.