December 1st kicks off a rich and full month around the life of the church!

 

            We met that day for worshipful work!  As the culmination of the hard work of our nominating committee, the Annual Congregational Meeting gave the final affirmation of God’s call upon the lives of our newly nominated leadership.  God has given us Elders, Deacons, Trustees and Board Officers to lead us well.  All of our leaders, known as our Joint Mission Council, met downstairs after worship for the important and holy task of approving our annual budget for 2025.  It, too, was the culmination of hard work from our budget committee.  It is also a joyous celebration of the pledged gifts our membership has made, and a rejoicing of the anticipated gifts the Saints will offer to us through their planned gifts and our good investment of them.  The budget is both science and art in its crafting, and its approval is both hope and commitment. 

 

            Most importantly, we met on the first day of December for worship.  We began our Advent journey together.  We started our journey where the Christmas story begins—in Rome with the emperor’s decree—as we explored the relationship between longing and hope.  The rest of Advent will have us stopping at various places:  

Jerusalem: A Place of Waiting (Peace)

Nazareth: A Place of Simplicity (Joy)

Bethlehem: A Place of Humility (Love)

The Manger: A Place of Care (Christmas Eve)

Persia: A Place of Return (First Sunday in Christmastime)

 

            There are other activities that December will hold in the life of the church.  This newsletter is full of them.  Your lives, no doubt, will also be full of activity.  I do commend you to make worship a priority this Advent and Christmas Season.  The Journey is worth it.  What happens to us “on the way” is just as powerful as the destination.  Come and worship.  Come and see.  Come and Be.  Come, and let us await together the greatest gift of Christ’s coming to us anew. 

​

​