Happy New Year! Recently, I have been thinking about the phrase, “We make plans and God laughs.” Certainly, this was true for many of us for our 2020 plans. Because only God knows the future, we are not able to anticipate how events outside our control will affect our lives. So in light of this reality, how do we approach a new year? Living our lives in a manner that demonstrates our trust in Christ is critical.
This Sunday at Grace, we will recognize the baptism of the Lord, remember our own baptisms, and reflect on how baptism establishes our identities. We will also take a close look at the Wesleyan covenant prayer and ask what it means to offer every aspect of our lives to the One who loves us more than life itself. I will offer a special prayer for all those in leadership positions at Grace for 2021. We will also pray for our country in the wake of the violence this week in Washington, DC.
Our scripture for Sunday comes from Genesis 1:1-5 and Matthew 3:13-17. The message is entitled “Remember Your Baptism: God Loved First.” Please read and pray about the scripture passages prior to worship. All of us leading worship appreciate your prayers.
Remember that starting this week we will offer two in-person services, one at 8am and one at 11am. Both services will require masks and social distancing, and both services will be live-streamed. We are so grateful for the generous contributions that allowed Grace to purchase good camera and sound equipment! It is a real blessing!
Finally, please take the time to call fellow church members and just ask how they are doing. A simple phone call can make such a difference in a lonely person’s day! And by the way, we have received news that our church directories should arrive by early next week! Special thanks to Susan Stead and Pastor Beth for following up on this for the past few months.
As always, I hope you will call or email me with your questions, concerns, and ideas. God bless you and your families.