In "The Blessed Before," Rev. Dr. Scott Hagan reflects on Jesus' baptism to remind the church that belovedness comes before achievement—before Jesus did anything, he was already named God's beloved. Preaching at the chartering service of Mosaic UMC, he invites the congregation to move beyond the "easy" beginning by grounding its life not in busyness or performance, but in identity rooted in God's love. From that place of belovedness, the church is called to practice faithful discernment: clearly saying yes to what gives life and courageously saying no to what distracts from God's mission.