Dear First Pres,
I know it is already eight days old, but still I must say, “Happy New Year!” I love the beginning of each new year, and it’s not just because of all the great football games. I love it because it causes me to reflect on the year past and the year ahead. I reflect on the important events, changes, and relationships of the last twelve months. And I consider the potential of the year ahead. In the areas that I have fallen short, the new year gives me reason to pursue them afresh. In the areas of success, the new year gives me reason to celebrate and give thanks to God. I know that not everyone is keen on New Year’s Resolutions, but for me it is helpful to resolve to grow (or shrink) in particular ways. The old adage that if you aim for nothing you’ll hit it every time proves true for me. So, the new year is good reason for me to consider with intentionality the way I’m living, growing, and loving.
This Sunday I’ll launch a new sermon series called Gospel Resolutions: Living Everyday Life with Gospel Intentionality. My hope and prayer is that it helps each of us consider how we’ll live this coming year for the sake of Christ and the mission He has given His people. Following Christ and living as His ambassadors to the world doesn’t mean that we add a long list of new activities to our already full schedule; it means that we change the way we live as the Spirit empowers us in our everyday lives. Thus, I hope that you will resolve to be part of our worship in the coming weeks so that we might grow in the grace of the Gospel together.
This is also the season in which the Session calls for the Annual Congregational Meeting. This year’s meeting has been called for Sunday, January 25 at 9:30 a.m. in the Sanctuary. We’ll be doing something quite different this year; we are integrating our church business into our worship. At times it will feel like a traditional congregational meeting and at other times it will feel like a regular Sunday worship service. I can’t remember who came up with the idea, but I love it because it frames our business in the context of worship.
One of the important and unusual items on the agenda will be an update to our corporate by-laws. These by-laws, first submitted to the Secretary of State of California in 1889, don’t get changed very often. However, ours haven’t been updated to reflect the denominational change we made in 2009. Therefore, the Session has decided it’s time to get these and other updates in front of the congregation as any changes to the by-laws require congregational approval. Copies of the proposed by-laws will be available on Sunday. And, on January 18, the Session will be hosting a First Pres Forum during the education hour to review and discuss the updates.
If you’ve read all the way to this point, I commend you! Thanks for your attention to these important church matters. May the Lord use it all for the advancement of His Gospel.
Blessings,
Posted by
