Happy New Year!
Thursday, December 31, 2020
Dear Faith United,
On this last day of 2020, I am thinking of all of you! 2020 has been a year like no other. I have been truly amazed to see how you have continued to be the church, adjusting as necessary to the challenges brought on by the pandemic. I am grateful you.
I look forward to this new year. Pastor Jake is now well assimilated. We are blessed to have an Associate Pastor with such gifts for preaching, teaching and leading. Our new staff in 2020 - Sarah Phillips, Mike Wiley, Dennis Sarver, Amanda Englehart and Dustin Smith - have all demonstrated their dedication, giftedness, passion and faith. Our veteran staff - Sharyl Syler, Kathy Schmucker, Amy Ferguson, Mike Wadlington, James Ferguson, Sandy Wallace, Kristin Krach, Jody Lindower and Jan Bilek - have been phenomenal in their flexibility, commitment, vision, steadfastness and faith. Our part-time interim custodians, John Hartzel and David Wadlington have also been outstanding in all that they do. Together, we have become a strong team that supports one another in love, grace and accountability. And, our Faith Friends Learning Center teachers and staff, led by our excellent director Jessica Dent have continued to provide exceptional care and Christian teaching for children of essential workers in our community.
For our lay leadership, thank you for your dependable service. The health of a church depends largely on the leadership of the laity.
Together, we are as ready as can be to embrace God's vision for Faith United in this new year. If 2020 has taught us anything, it has taught us that we cannot predict what 2021 will look like. It has also taught us that no matter what happens in this world that is blessed and broken, God is present and will show us a way through the wilderness. Through prayer, study and worship; and with hearts open to receive God's call upon us, we look to the future with great hope, assurance and anticipation for what God has in store. And so, we pray:
O Lord, use us as the Body of Christ at Faith United
to further your kingdom in 2021.
Feed the flame of your Holy Spirit in each of us so that
we will be empowered to live more fully
into our baptismal vows to
resist evil, injustice and oppression
in whatever forms they present themselves;
to profess Jesus Christ as our savior,
to put our whole trust in his grace, and
to serve Christ as Lord.
Expand our mission to make and mature
disciples of Jesus Christ for
the transformation of the world.
Help us reach those in our own community and around the world who are hurting the most.
May we recognize in them your presence, your love, and your grace so that we are able to see and affirm the same
in ourselves.
Amen.
Let us start the year together in worship (online), in prayer (in-person Centering and daily devotions) and in study (join a group studying "The Walk" or other group study opportunities)
