Hello Unity!
I feel like it has been awhile since I have been able to send out one of these notes. The holiday season was a busy one! I bet you felt that in your household as well.
The church was buzzing with activity over the past month. I am extremely grateful for all of the ways this church worked to celebrate Jesus’ birth over the month of December. Thank you.
We had a lot of visitors join us throughout Advent. In fact, we had the highest Christmas Eve attendance that this church has ever had. That is a reason to celebrate. I believe that this was a reflection of the ways this church has been inviting and welcoming the community into its midst. Numbers never tell the whole story, so we should hold them lightly. Still, this is a reason to pause and celebrate the good work of the church.
Now we have entered into a new year. I find myself wondering, “What is God up to next?!”
Here are two exciting things occurring this week at Unity:
First, we will share with you the results of the “Celebrate and Dream” forms in worship on Sunday. The session has come up with some concrete goals for 2019 based on your feedback.
Second, the session will be discussing a long term staffing plan at their all-day retreat on Saturday. Please pray for wisdom and discernment in this process.
Unity Member Carleen Prue shared with me a fun poem about trusting God with the new year. I found it encouraging, and I hope you do too:
“Hello All! Welcome to Flight #2019. We are prepared to take off into a brand new year. Please make sure your attitude and blessings are secured and locked in an upright position. All self-destructive devices should be turned off at this time. All negativity, hurt, and discouragement should be put away. Should we lose altitude under pressure, during the flight, reach up and pull down a prayer. Prayers will automatically be activated by faith. Once your faith is activated you can assist other passengers. There will be NO BAGGAGE allowed on this flight. The Captain (GOD) has cleared us for takeoff.”
“See, I am doing a new thing! Now it springs up; do you not perceive it? I am making a way in the wilderness and streams in the wasteland.”
-Isaiah 43:19
Let us partner with God as God does a new thing in 2019!
See you on Sunday!
-Pastor David
