January 2017

Here we are at the dawn of another year. As exciting as dreaming of what we can accomplish in the coming year may be, it is impossible not to reflect at least a little on what transpired in the outgoing year. As a church body, we have a few new faces as well as had to say goodbye to some loved ones who graduated to their forever celestial home. We got a face lift and a new sign and have the joyful memory of having some church members dancing in the parking lot during our annual car show-n-shine/taste of South Lakeshore event. The daycare/preschool is doing well and God has been blessing their efforts and keeping the doors open. God has blessed our congregation with a healthy fi-nancial picture for the coming year which allows the church leadership to dream and plan. 
As we endeavor to move forward in the coming year to implement some of those dreams and plans, we must be mindful of two scriptures. One I have shared on occasion in other newsletters and it comes from Ecclesiastes 4:9-12, (Two are better than one, be-cause they have a good reward for their toil. For if they fall, one will lift up his fellow. But woe to him who is alone when he falls and has not another to lift him up! Again, if two lie together, they keep warm, but how can one keep warm alone? And though a man might prevail against one who is alone, two will withstand him--a threefold cord is not quickly broken. ) (ESV) The other text comes from the Gospel of John, 15:5 where Jesus said, (I am the vine; you are the branches. Whoever abides in me and I in him, he it is that bears much fruit, for apart from me you can do nothing.) (ESV) These two Scriptural references point out two inalterable truths, for us to successfully move forward as a congregation, we must stay grounded in Christ and we must be mindful of how much we need each other. 
The turmoil we witnessed in the recent election and the wide array of emotions that have accompanied the results, are indicators that this coming year will be an interesting one with, dare I say, some level of uncertainty. Whatever 2017 may bring, we can move forward confidently because as God’s Children, we face it will the indwelling of the Holy Spirit. We also move forward undergirded by the understanding that we are linked to each other as brothers and sisters in Christ. In 2017, we will strive to make our dreams a reality; our plans an accomplished fact; and our uncertainties a faded memory. Such an under-taking is made easier by the knowledge we go forward as a threefold cord standing on the rock of our relationship with Jesus Christ.

I wish my last words in 2016 and my first words in 2017 to be that I cherish this con-gregation and I believe that God has great things in store for us. 
Happy New Year, 
Vic