Pastor’s Letter January 2019

Dear Brothers and Sisters,

Let me begin this letter with a high note of gratitude for once again blessing me with your generous gift this Christmas.  I am deeply humbled, forever grateful, and most of all, I bless God’s holy name for calling me to the Church of the Mountain over four years ago.  Thank you, thank you, thank you for being God’s people in a day and age when the world continues to walk away from church. May we all continue to run with all we have to the finish line where we will be embraced by Christ, and hear those words, “Well done, my good and faithful servant.”

May we all enter this New Year with an overwhelming sense of gratitude for all the things and people we’ve been blessed with, and have often taken for granted. Let us be grateful for each other, for health, warmth, silence, beauty, creativity, friendship, family, fellowship, and those who help us through so many difficult times—the list is endless.

Let us add to whatever resolutions we have made for 2019 to make worship a part of our daily lives, to live with hearts overwhelmed by wonder and awe, to wake up every morning dazzled by grace.

Here is the list of the 10 most common New Years’ Resolutions:

Exercise more

Lose weight

Get organized

Learn a new skill or hobby 

Live life to the fullest

Save more money / spend less money

Quit smoking

Spend more time with family and friends

Travel more

Read more

Most of these resolutions will be broken or abandoned within the first few weeks of the new year.

But what if we add to our lists, getting into shape spiritually? What if we make our spiritual life a priority—exercise hospitality everyday, immerse ourselves in reading and studying scripture, be intentional about new ways of service personally and communally, blocking off time to pray for one another. In addition, purpose to say some uplifting word to someone everyday.  Say thank you to those we share our lives with daily.  Forgive those who you haven’t.  Forgive yourself.

We could all set up prayer goals for ourselves, and our families, for 2019. 

Setting goals, say the experts, helps us to change our behavior, guides our focus, helps us sustain momentum, and promotes a sense of self mastery—all of which comes down to surrendering more and more of our lives to the Holy Spirit, who leads us into the fullness of life.

May 2019 be a year of growth and maturity for our faith and our congregation. Let us all be diligent to bring the good news of the Gospel of Jesus Christ to the world in every way open to us, personally and communally. May we all follow the Son wherever He leads us, for we will never be disappointed if we remain faithful and true.

In Christ, who is the Living Water,

Pastor Sherry