From the
Pastor – The beginning of a new calendar year is often a time when people look
to the future with hope-filled anticipation. For some there is a New Years
Resolution involved. A bad habit they would like to break, or some healthier
practice they would like to establish. If the year that is ending has been
particularly difficult – with the death of a loved one, or the loss of a job,
or having to relocate – there may be a wish that one’s life will now settle
down and become more stable. When that new calendar goes up on the wall, it can
serve as a symbol of expectancy and optomism for what is yet to come.
In the
church, the new year officially begins a little earlier – with Advent at the
beginning of December. But when January rolls around soon thereafter, it can
still represent “newness” in our life of faith. Some people may decide that
starting in January of 2013, they will set aside some time every day for prayer
and Bible reading. Others may make a commitment to some form of Christain
service, or to more regular worship attendance over the course of the next 12
months. Or perhaps there will be a renewed effort at controlling one’s temper
or being more generous.
“Newness”
of life is one way of describing what it means to be a follower of Jesus. “Therefore,
if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has gone, the new has
come.” (2 Cor 5:17) In an ultimate sense, being saved from the power of sin and
death when we come into relationship with Christ through baptism. And in an
ongoing manner, as we grow and mature in our life of faith. In the latter case,
“newness” may take a variety of forms from one person to the next, and what is
new in the life of each individual may vary in form from one year to the next.
But the overall theme of living in relationship with Jesus, has to do with
ongoing renewal and revitilization.
The same is
true in our life together as a congregation. I hope that you, like me, are
looking forward to a new year of ministry with hope-filled anticipation. It is
exciting to think about what God might have in store for Holy Cross over the
course of the next 12 months. How might we grow in our love for one another,
and in our committmet to share one another’s joys and sorrows? How might we
serve more effectively in our wider community? (The recently completed adult
forum book study of “The Next Christians” generated some very interesting ideas
along these lines!) In what directions might we be inspired to move, by our
recently developed purpose statement and guiding principles? (Purpose: receive, trust, live, share God’s Word with
love and peace, empowered by the Holy Spirit. Principles: pray always,
step out in courage, listen to and empower others, work together, be humble and
generous.)
With an eye
toward the future, the Congregation Council is bringing a resolution forward at
the Annual Congregational Meeting on January 20th. The proposal is to establish
something called a “Program Fund.” All of the details will be included in the
annual report, but the basic idea is to encourage members of Holy Cross to
dream a little. To think and pray about what kind of program/ministry they
would find interesting and meaningful. Maybe an expansion of something that already
exists in our congregation. Or maybe the introduction of something entirely
new. Not a venture to undertake as an individual, but a ministry/program in
which others can also be invited to participate, through the sharing of their
time, talents and energy. The Program Fund would encourage and support such new
approaches by providing money to help with start up costs, such as training,
supplies, publicity, etc.
We have
many blessings for which to give thanks as this new year begins – both as
individuals and as a congregation. And we have good reason to be optomistic
about what the new year will hold for us personally, and for our community of
faith. May we all listen closely to the voice of the Holy Spirit in our lives,
and commit ourselves to following where the Spirit leads.
