Dear First Pres,
I was so pleased to have so many of you join us for last night’s Ash Wednesday service. I understand about 80 were with us for the Live Steam and currently 160 have viewed it. As I said last night, I’ve grown to really love this entry into Lent with the liturgy and the more somber, reflective, and repentant tone.
Dear First Pres,
What a joy it was on Sunday to see so many faces at our online Annual Congregational Meeting. Although, I must say when the Samuelians sent me the photo of my face on their screen I was horrified. I hope that didn’t frighten anyone. 
Dear First Pres,
Super Sunday is here! One of the things your leaders have worked at for the last several years is to make our Annual Congregational Meeting something you don’t want to miss. Our desire has been to make the meeting as much inspirational as informational. I think we’ve succeeded.
This year’s meeting is a bit different because we aren’t going to be all together physically in the same room. However, we’re still working hard to make it a “can’t miss” meeting. Let me just tease a few things to be revealed at the meeting:
Dear First Pres, Here are two important invitations:
Dear First Pres,
I know the following words have been overused, but still, 2020 was an unprecedented year, at least for our generation. It was an extremely tumultuous year, and the beginning of 2021 hasn’t been much different. Nevertheless, we know that the Lord has been at work.
Dear First Pres,
This past Sunday morning we started our worship services with the reading of Psalm 46. I pray that this psalm has been on your mind this week. If it hasn’t, I hope this letter puts it there again.
The psalm starts this way:
God is our refuge and strength, an ever-present help in trouble. Therefore we will not fear, though the earth give way and the mountains fall into the heart of the sea, though the waters roar and foam and the mountains quake with their surging
Dear First Pres,
Dear First Pres,
I can’t help myself. Whenever it comes to the end of anything, especially a year, I think about how it went. I wonder what I could have done differently. And I think about the next iteration of whatever it is I’m considering. So, now you know what I’m doing this week. Yes, I’m thinking about 2020. And, I’m thinking about 2021.
One of the things I’m planning to do in 2021 is to read through the Bible, and I’d love for our congregation to do it together.
Dear First Pres,
It’s Christmas Eve eve! I hope you’re ready to worship and celebrate. Yes, our celebration is different, and it’s hard to miss some of those beloved traditions, but the truth of what we celebrate hasn’t changed one bit. “Joy to the world, the Lord is come. Let earth receive her King!” Christ has come, Immanuel, and He is coming again. So, even if your celebration looks different this year, ask the Lord to help you truly rejoice in the truth of that first Noel and receive your King.
Dear First Pres,
“Be joyful always; pray continually; give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus” (1 Thess. 5:16-18). I imagine that living into the fullness of these words from Paul’s first letter to the Thessalonians has been a challenge for you in 2020. It certainly has been for me. Particularly, I haven’t always been joyful, and I haven’t given thanks in all circumstances.
