January 2008

From the Desk of Pastor Tom...
When a new year begins I always find myself reminiscing about life. I just can’t seem to help it. Every year I go through this and I can imagine that I am most certainly not alone in this beginning of the year endeavor. I think about the past which I cannot change. I think about the future which I cannot control. And the only thing that keeps me moving forward is knowing that both the past and the future are in God’s compassionate and life-giving hands.

In this New Year, as a church, we will be building upon our past endeavoring to move forward into the future which God has for us. 2008 holds many exciting possibilities for us as a body of Christ. We are growing in many ways – lots of children, an enthusiastic youth program, joy-filled worship, increased focus on mission and everyone discovering and using their gifts.... In 2008 we will also be moving forward with a building program that will bring much needed space for Christian education, choirs and staff.

This is going to be an exciting year! I know I’m looking forward to it. I know I’m also a little fearful of it. Growing as a church, just like growing as a person, is not always easy. The truth is, at times all of this forward movement can be a bit overwhelming. We can long for the way things were and we can be fearful of what might become. Are we on the right path? Is this the way we should go? Is this how we should go about it? How can we both bear our tradition forward and transform it at the same time?

As I was thinking about all of the possibilities and all of those feelings and questions I turned in my Bible to a couple of familiar passages. Sometimes, thank goodness, God brings us back to those passages we think we know so well and as a result have long forgotten the depths of their meaning for our lives. I read from Paul’s letter to the Philippian Christians: Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your request to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. (4:6-7)

The second passage of scripture that I turned to was in the Old Testament book of Jeremiah:
This is what the LORD says: "When seventy years are completed for Babylon, I will come to you and fulfill my gracious promise to bring you back to this place. For I know the plans I have for you," declares the LORD, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future. Then you will call upon me and come and pray to me, and I will listen to you.” (29:10-12)

In 2008 we, as individual Christians and as a church, are going to encounter God in some amazingly meaningful ways and those sensing of truth and beauty will change us if we will allow our faith to take the front seat. God has many blessings for us in 2008. God is going to grow us in many ways. But we must be open to the possibilities that are before us and we must go forward knowing that God is the One leading. Let us have faith that God will lead us in all the ways that will prosper us, for His glory and for His Kingdom!

Keep your hearts open and your faith strong!
Pastor Tom