Breath of New Life
Alicia Reese
September 5, 2023

“The Spirit of God has made me, and the breath of the Almighty gives me new life.”
~Job 33:4

It is Tuesday, September 5, which means there are only five days until Gathering Day!

Personally, I am a whirlwind of chaos. My ADD brain is struggling to finish one task before beginning another. I keep jumping from emails to worship planning to preparing for one program and then another, all while trying to wrap my mind around everything that is coming up and what needs to be done first.

I will say, at least it’s an exciting kind of chaos! The kind that is accompanied by joy and celebration because Gathering Day means the start of a new program year:

Sunday mornings will be busy with kids returning for church school, the choir rehearsing to lead worship, and adult education opportunities. Our building will no longer be empty on Sunday evenings either as our youth groups return to meeting weekly.

The quiet, sabbath time of summer is coming to a close and to me, Gathering Day is a breath of new life breathed into the life of our church community every year. But it is difficult to appreciate that breath of new life when we are overwhelmed or find ourselves in a whirlwind of chaos.

So, I invite you to join me in taking a moment to take a deep breath, reflect, prepare, and begin again…
  • What is something that has stuck with you about this past program year?
  • What is something you are looking forward to in the coming program year?
  • What will help you feel prepared?

We are kicking off this year with the theme of “Call All Superheroes!” to accompany this theme, our fall sermon series will focus on Heroes of the Faith. We will even have guest preachers including Caden Eckert, Rev. Beth Dickerson, and Rev. Dirk Labuschagne.
We hope to see you on Gathering Day! And in the weeks that follow.

Spirit God, breathe into us again Your breath of life. Center us in our own breath and in Your presence so that we may be renewed for the coming program year and all the celebrations and challenges it will hold.
Amen.