Dear friends,
It has been a wonderful journey getting to know all of you over my first several months as your Pastor.
I want to share a special thanks to Lisa Paige, Pamela Liddell, Daniel McDill, the Choir, and Mike Wood on piano for the wonderful worship service they led on December 21st when I was unable to be here. You did an amazing job! While at first it seemed I would miss the Christmas Eve service, my surgery is now re-scheduled for the morning of New Year’s Eve, and I am overjoyed that I will get to celebrate our first Christmas together! While I am writing this ahead of surgery, I am confident that the results will be great, and that I will recover quickly and be back up to speed soon for our work together going forward!
My gratitude to all of you continues for how supportive you have been through my time here, including during this health issue. Your Christmas cards, well wishes, and gifts have made me feel so loved and cared for, and I want you to know that the feelings are mutual! This is an amazing congregation, and while you have also had times of struggle and doubts about the future, I want to assure you that God has big plans for us, and all good things are on the horizon!
We continue to work on getting the recreation room in the basement ready for future youth activities, and we are working to bring back a contemporary worship Sunday once per month. I have also started the process of researching how we can update our sanctuary technology, including video, audio, and lighting, and I plan to write grant applications to help us cover the costs.
For the first two Sundays of January you will be hearing messages from two of our Presbytery leaders, Rev. Catherine Neely Burton and Rev. Dr. Christina Berry. They have both been amazingly supportive of myself and our congregation in this time, and I know they will each bring an inspiring message as I heal!
As we start the new year, a time known for resolutions, may we each be open and willing to follow the leading of the Holy Spirit as we grow and bring change to our community.
May the Peace of Christ be with you,
Pastor Amie.