Already this has been a very long year!  It seems as though 2020 never ended and the misery continues: COVID out of control, when can I get the vaccine? There are people I miss and worry about and long to see… Political gridlock and no signs of cooperation; it is cold and dark; I’ve spent more time in strict isolation than I did last year!  My patience is wearing thin, but I know we need to stay vigilant.

I’ve never been more ready for Lent - to intentionally prepare to turn and focus my life Godwards.  Lent begins on Ash Wednesday (this year 2/17).  So far, I am planning on posting things online because I do not know when we will be able/ready/willing to gather in-person.  I’ve just come back from printing out Lenten Devotionals and hope to have them all delivered in time for us to all participate together in these Lenten Devotions - as we did with our Advent kits.  The structure of these devotions is a modified version of what I found at equippinggodlywomen.com.  We are just a few weeks into the calendar year and a couple months into the church year and already we are presented with a built in opportunity to re-dedicate ourselves, our lives, to a loving and forgiving God.  Remember that with every day, with every breath - we have the opportunity to seek God and to seek to live in harmony with God and one another.  Sometimes this is easier than others - which is why we are given so many opportunities!  Our only requirements: a touch of humility and a true desire to know and live in God’s love.   There is so much disagreement - but most of us can agree that we want to know God and live in God’s grace.  I’m ready for Lent!  Join with me, now and again on Ash Wednesday 2/17.
 
Blessings,
Pastor Kristi

 I wish to extend a heartfelt “Thank You!” to the congregation, for the generous gift and for simply getting through this past year.  It was a tough one - filled with trauma and worries, grief and pain.  We responded as a community of faith to meet needs as we could.  We shuttered our building as needed, remembering that the church is the people, not the building.  When we were closed, we found new ways to communicate and worship.  When we were open, we found new ways to gather safely and discovered that Methodists can gather without the promise of food!  We had a video Annual Conference and an in-person Charge Conference.  Our members sewed masks for friends, family and strangers.  Likewise, we grocery shopped for ourselves, neighbors and other vulnerable persons. The knitting group was prolific and, as usual - generous. We gathered and distributed PPE and cleaning supplies as well as personal needs to many facing economic hardships.   We continued our support of our local missions while adding on regular donations to the Street Soldiers of Schenectady.  We are a small congregation - we were not stopped by the pandemic.  I look forward to the time when we can gather safely and SING! 

2020 is hindsight at last - although troubles didn't just melt away as we put up a new calendar.  We - the faithful of today- have felt deep kinship with those from days of old who longed for God to break into our lives with hope and healing and promise.  As a Gen x-er I have never known such prolonged times of darkness.  I have been encouraged by the commitment many have made to protect each other and their communities.  I am thankful to have an awareness of who is "essential".  I keep in mind: the drivers, the grocery store folks, the postal workers, the gas station attendants, with police, EMS, firefighters and heath care workers in my prayers every day.  Grace does beak through; vaccines will become available; there is light at the end of this tunnel.  But still, we continue to face this pandemic and it seems nearer to our region than ever before.  Stay vigilant!  The daily numbers from Schenectady County reflect that the numbers are still on the rise.  Because of this, the church remains closed to in-person worship until at least 1/17 - we are planning a Zoom meeting on 1/10 - for church Leadership. 

Text versions of the service are found on Facebooks at: "Sunday's Service at Alplaus" and "Alplaus United Methodist Church".  Video messages can be found on the website at alplausumc.org/video-message.html.  Look to e-mail and Facebook for announcements.

Shalom,
Pastor Kristi