Pastor's Notes

"But you, O Lord, are enthroned forever, your name endures to all generations."

Psalm 102:12

Happy New Year!!!!  Can you believe it?  Another whole year in ministry together has flown by and we stand on the brink of a new one!  What in the world does God have in store for us?  What will we do with the gift of life and the call to serve the Lord this year?  May we carve out some  January time to spend sitting in God's presence with a good cup of hot chocolate and a piece of paper and pen and jot down some thoughts about the past year together.  What was life giving or Spirit filled?  What was life draining or  quenched the Spirit?  From there ask God to whisper some ideas, some joys or some concerns to be looking at in the coming year.  Please feel free to share your list with me    or a ruling elder or deacon so the leaders of the church can be informed and look for God's direction through this as well. 

Last year the presbyteries of our denomination voted to amend the Book of Order by replacing the Form Of Government with a new one.  That meant the first section of th e book of Order is totally new.  The intended result is to allow more freedom for being in mission for Christ and less time spent on legalistic  issues.   More responsibility rests  on the local sessions to establish manuals of operation, within set boundaries outlined in the FoG.  Our session is beginning to work on that, many of the requirements we have already completed over the past few years as good practice, so we are ahead on some e of the work.  

Nominating committees are also required to have a procedure policy approved by the congregation to be included in the Manual.   Nominating committee is a committee of the congregation and therefore reports to the congregation not Session.  This year's committee moderated by Ruling Elder Richard Barron, has put in writing the steps they followed to nominate our new ruling elders and deacons for the class of 2014.  This process will be presented  to the congregation for discussion sometime in January or early February and then a congregational meeting will be called to vote on the matter, either to accept, reject or amend this procedure. It has been an exciting  year of expanding our understanding of the work of the Nominating Committee and its importance in the life of the congregation. 

No matter what lies ahead, what challenges we will face, changes we may make, what exciting adventures we  may embark on  as a community of faith, the psalmist reminds us that the one we worship and glorify is enthroned forever...God endures to all generations.  We can hold fast to the goodness of God and joyfully plunge into the new year trusting that God will lead us - or re-direct us when needed - as we seek to be faithful, exuberant bearers  of God's  love to the world through Jesus Christ our Savior!    

     Here we go!! Al-le-lu-ia!  Amen!

Pastor Linda

P.S. Cliff and I would like to say a heartfelt thank you to all of you for your generosity at Christmas as well as throughout the year!  The cards and gifts were wonderful.  We are truly blessed in so many ways to serve Christ here with all of you!  HAPPY NEW YEAR!!!!