Thoughts from the Interim Pastor:   “The One who was seated on the throne said,‘See, I am making all things new.’”Revelation 21:5

Thought #1)  A happy and most blessed New Year to all of you.  We always want the folks we care about to have the best of everything, and I have come to care about all of you very much. So I hope your New Year is filled with as many blessings as God can give you, and I hope you will receiver them with grateful hearts.  I know it’s sometimes difficult to see and know a blessing from God, but this year, let’s resolve to keep our eyes and hearts open, that recognition may be ours.

Thought #2)  Some folks are reluctant to embrace the new that God gives.  As we get older it’s tough to look in the mirror and wish we saw a younger self (40 would look great to me these days).  It’s tough when the world around us is changing so fast, and technology is moving faster than we can or want to keep up with.  And for some of us it’s even more difficult when things in the church begin to change.  We don’t have the pews filled as we once did.  The younger people aren’t worshiping with us anymore.  The hymns aren’t familiar, and why don’t we use the King James Bible these days? (More about that one another time)  But still, there’s something that keeps us coming to church, to the same church where we’ve worshiped for years, in lots of cases.  Let’s spend some time this new year thinking about why we worship where we do.  What keeps us coming back?  And how can we share some of that with folks who might be looking for just what we have?  My guess is 2012 will hold more new than we know.

 Thought #3)  As we face this new year, I hope all of us will put our trust and faith in the One who said, “See, I am making all things new.”  Notice that this making new is an on-going process.  God is doing this in our world all the time, and God has promised to be with us through it all – “I am with you always, to the end of the age.” is what Jesus told his disciples in Matthew’s Gospel.  Let’s remember this particularly as the Pastor Nominating Committee begins its work, and as new officers begin their work with our Parish Council.    When God does a new thing in our midst this year, let’s put our trust in His promises.  That’s how we have a happy and blessed New Year.  Yours in Christ,  Sally