By Pastor Devlyn Brooks
I started this column for the newsletter by naming the document “January 2022 newsletter” … And that is when it really began to sink in that in a few short days we’ll be flipping the calendar to an entire new calendar year. Where has the year gone, I wondered as I stared out at the fresh new snow outside our living room picture window!
There are many things I will lament about this very difficult year that we lived together. And I need not cover them here, as I’m sure it’s all seared into your memories as well. But there are also many blessings from this year for which I am also grateful. And I think the end of year is a good time to remind ourselves of that.
For instance, I am grateful to be back into in-person services. While it seems normal again that we are gathering to worship weekly in our beautiful sanctuary, it was only about three-quarters of a year ago that we couldn’t be together each week. That pandemic experience has taught me never to take our weekly services together for granted!
I am also grateful for a council and a congregation that were willing to try a new experiment this past summer by holding services on Wednesday nights. Doing a comparison from summer 2020 to summer 2018, we averaged more attendance each week with Wednesday night services. And I was both pleased and surprised by that outcome! Yes, it took some getting used to, but I think it was another positive development for our church.
I am also grateful to see our Sunday school and confirmation classes resume on a regular basis. There is no better way to start a Sunday morning at the church than to get to see those smiling faces come bounding into the church because they love their class so much. Generally, each Sunday, one or more of the kids will sneak down the upstairs hall and peer into my office to see if I’m busy. And once they catch my eye, they come rushing in to say hello! What a joy that is! … And the confirmation crew this year -- all six of them -- are growing and maturing in their faith. What an awesome age to be discussing God and living in faith with! How lucky am I!
Lastly, given the week of family life we got to enjoy this Christmas, I can’t help but feel that 2021 is ending on a blessed note. Having all of our kids back under our roof for several days of food, games and fun will never get old. I’m sure all you parents out there can understand that! … The kids groan each year when they ask what I want for Christmas and I say, “All I want is all of us together.” But truly, the older I get, and the more of them that fly our nest, it’s the only present I long for.
So, while it was a tough year, I will not look back poorly on 2021. There were many blessings that came with the many difficulties, and I thank God that we had the opportunity to experience the ups and downs together, Faith Family! … Here’s to remembering the blessings of this year, and looking forward to the blessings to come in the new year! Cheers!
Special Remembrance Worship Service
Speaking of 2022: If you’ve looked ahead to January, you may have noticed that it is one of those peculiar months that contains five Sundays.
A while back a few of us got to talking about the fact that during the pandemic there were a couple of saints from our Faith Family who had passed and didn’t receive the typical celebration of life they normally would have from our congregation. Both Elaine Johnson and Jacky Kragerud, and we weren’t able to have the normal coming together as a community to celebrate them.
And so, being we have five Sundays in January, we decided to take that fifth Sunday -- Jan. 30 -- and make it a special remembrance service for not only Elaine and Jacky. We will be inviting both Elaine’s and Jacky’s families to come celebrate with us, and there will be time for sharing memories and exchanging stories about both of these saints that meant so much to our church.
But we also don’t have to stop there. We’re also encouraging anyone else who would like to come to celebrate the life of any other saint to worship with us as well. Losing a loved one is difficult, and we know it’s easier when we mourn and celebrate together. So please, if you would like to celebrate the life of another saint that day, that is welcomed too!
See you at service on Sunday, Faith Family! … Hard to believe that we’ll already be into the new year when we meet next! Blessings to you in this new year!
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