from the desk of Walter Cantwell

A couple of weeks ago, Christiana and I went hiking in Blowing Rock at one of our favorite places, Moses Cone Manor. We are creatures of habit, deciding beforehand to take the familiar path to the fire tower. But on this day, the wind was whipping when we made it to the base of the trail, forcing us to rethink our hike. We shrugged our shoulders and said, "Why not?" And off we headed to Trout Lake, abandoning our original destination.

It is fitting to think about new paths, different directions, and changing destinations during the month of January. The newness of the new year has yet to fade away, and the possibilities of what can be still surround us. As a church, we are at an intersection. The future is before us, and out of necessity, there is a new path we need to take.

Many of you received your Transform Journals in worship this past Sunday. Journals will be available this Sunday for anyone who has yet to receive one. Please remember to bring your journal with you on Sunday . There are plans to use them interactively in worship during the next four weeks.

The Transform Project is an opportunity for all of us, for our church, and for our community to experience transformation. Please join us on Sunday afternoon at 4 PM in The Harbor for our Transform Town Hall. At this gathering, the Building Team will describe in detail how our campus will be changed, and we will discuss the next steps. There will be plenty of time for questions and answers.

You might have noticed several locked doors around our campus, and thought, "This doesn't make sense!" A group of leaders and staff members have met with law enforcement agents trained in preparing facilities for active shooters . Certain doors are locked on Sunday morning and throughout the week to ensure the safety of our community. These decisions were not made arbitrarily or hastily. Please do not prop open doors! Your safety is of utmost importance to us.

During the four-week sermon series, Forever Changed , I invite you to use your Transform Journal for your devotional time. If you do not have a regular prayer practice or scripture reading guide, the journal provides a great start to this healthy practice. In the Transform Journal, you will find weekly devotions and questions, and you will also see that there are daily scripture readings and prayer starters. The practice of engaging God each day leads to transformation. Join me in journaling through this series.

As we made our way down the path towards Trout Lake, we were amazed at the view. It was unlike the climb through the meadows to the fire tower, but it was quite pleasant. We initially thought that this trail would not challenge us. Our preconceived ideas about this new trail almost immediately faded away as we made a sharp decline toward the lake through the lush, green forest.

Many times in life, we head out on a new adventure after coming to an intersection. Our church is embarking on a new chapter of our life together. I know that there will be unforeseen challenges, but I am confident that the journey will be well worth our time.

At the end of Revelation, we hear God speak: See, I am making all things new. May God make all things new in our life, in our church, and in our community.

Be forever changed!