Happy New Year!! Even though NYC’s NYE ball drop was pretty lame this year due to weather, there are still lots of reasons to be excited about the coming year. Glancing backwards just to get an idea of where we have been this year. From a ministry perspective we have had a year of pretty solid growth with new members, baptisms, marriages, attendance (the things that are easy to count). We started a new schedule and introduced a regular Bible study, I am so pleased with a regular attendance of 15, amazing. Financially, this year has been a roller coaster. We began the year with our previous tenant, went through a time of vacancy and now we have a new tenant. 6 months ago, at our July congregational meeting we shared with you our expectations to end the year with a substantial deficit of $20k. Your amazing donations blew away previous records, we ended the year much stronger than reasonable predictions forecast AND AND AND, we now have a new tenant. Call me crazy but it feels like a surfer just catching a wave. There is excitement in this place. I can’t wait to see where God is taking us.
I’m into a new book and can’t wait to share it with you. “Sailboat Church; Helping Your Church Rethink Its Mission and Practice” by Joan Grey. We are going to put a book club together in February to discuss this work. Using the metaphors of a sailboat vs a rowboat. Both can get from place to place, but one works with the Creator while the other relies on its own strength. There are sailboat churches and rowboat churches, I hope that this discussion can gut us wondering together whether we are working with the wind or against it.
Another reason I am excited…have you heard about our new tenant? The Exploratory Play Center of Yorktown, EPCY (rhymes with Pepsi), will be using our space to bring in loads of kids from Yorktown and the surrounding area to play and learn in our building. Moms and Dads will be hanging out in our space possibly wondering what kind of church is this? It could be awesome for everyone involved; I really think this relationship can be mutually beneficial. It is in our best interests to help EPCY be successful. I will be sharing their news and opportunities with you in hopes that their services not only support some of you, but we can share with others.
My friends these last few years have been strange, which may be a trend. I don’t know what the coming years hold. I only know really know two things. 1. God will be with us. 2. We will not be alone on the journey.
May the peace of God surround us as we take one step in faith after another, Pastor Dave
