Dear Friends,                                                                                        January 2012

We are the people of God. It becomes clear to us, that God loves all of creation very dearly. The gifts of the church help us as individuals to find the peace of Christ that brings us strength and courage, the community we find in the church carries us through the tough times, and together we are able to truly impact the lives of our community for good.

Not every congregation is willing and able to let their sense of mission to their neighbors lead the decision making process in the church, but clearly that is the expectation we see expressed so clearly in the scriptures. By letting our service to the community be the centerpiece of our celebration, we invite the Spirit of Jesus to hold session here in the middle of our hearts, and let his will control the work of our hands. This is truly the way to be church.

            We have an open invitation to the community to join us, in worship, in study, in fellowship and in service. Already plans are afoot for our Vacation Bible School. Our adult study is meeting after worship on Sunday, to think about the marks of a vital church, with good news to share. We are making plans for sharing our Lenten journey with area faith partners.

            If you have never been part of a church, this might be just the right place for your faith to grow and flower. If you have been away from church for awhile, I think you will find our focus on love of God and neighbor to be freshing and encouraging. Please join us.                      

In service with love,