Pastoral Message

   2023!  Happy New Year!  Another month, another new year.  With the season of Advent, we started a new Church Year; of course, January starts the beginning of the Calendar year.  Let’s appreciate every opportunity to start fresh.  Let’s resolve to let go; the mistakes of the past, our own, and those of others as well.  Let’s do our best to enter the new year with optimism and hopeful expectation of God’s presence with us and guiding us.  Let’s remember that we may momentarily forget this “resolution” but with every day and every breath we have the opportunity to once again turn our hearts and minds Godward, to seek forgiveness, and to engage in another fresh start.

Eagle eyed and detail-oriented people may have noticed a change in the lectionary this month.  We are swapping the readings for New Year’s Day and Epiphany.  The info in the included table is correct.  This way, we are reading in order the second chapter of Matthew.  We are continuing to bold the focal readings for the Sunday service and still including the expected hymns to coordinate with the service as well.  Hopefully this additional information will be a resource for our Worship assistants and provide a preview for any and all who want to more closely connect with the Sunday morning service. 

Blessings!
Pastor Kristi