January 1, 2021
Dear Prairie Avenue Family,
Happy New Year!
It will be mere hours into a new year, a new month, and a new day. A time for resolutions, putting away, stopping, or quitting some habit. Or a time to begin planning, starting, or learning a new one. Honestly, we do not have to wait for a new calendar up on the wall to stop or to begin. But there is a special experience when the calendar year turns to another January.
In this 97th year of our community, we will gather again, love again, pray again, and share the two hallmarks of our faith life: love of God and love of neighbor. It may yet be a few months before we can share our full community experiences, but we can carry with confidence that the day is closer than we can even perceive it.
And it will probably be a little different, even when it is "back to normal." In 2020, we experienced a shift from in-person to online gatherings. These online gatherings will not cease in 2021, and some who have found it easier to join us online rather than in person will continue to be part of our expanded digital presence family. Plans are underway to increase our presence with classes, small groups, and more gathering on this platform.
We have had to say a few goodbyes in the year. A few more will come to pass.
I recently checked out our 2020 vision presented in the days before COVID-19 was even first reported in our country. Since I expect that many of you cannot recall its four goals, I reshare in 2021:
- To formally hold our first Stephen Ministry classes and training to establish the transforming agents of one-to-one caring ministry for those in crisis.
- To establish an effective and present prayer ministry to seek God's direction
- To transform our underused facility into a center for neighborhood revitalization and crisis response, including dealing with addiction, through partnerships and relationships, rather than transactional or impersonal means and efforts.
- To listen to our neighbors and respond to needs as if they were already members/participants in our faith community.
Certainly, we did not anticipate the disruption of a global pandemic when we declared to work whole-heartedly, unreservedly, and entirely toward these achievements.
Yet some work came to pass, others were put on hold. I still feel these merit our consideration and serve as our objectives in 2021.
A few changes made during the pandemic will become permanent. There are probably a few more changes on the way as we adapt and transition to the opportunities God is calling us to do to respond, to think, and to speak as part of God living among and with us.
As you enter this new year, I hope you will examine and consider your commitment to the five spiritual disciplines that draw us closer to God.
- Weekly worship and daily prayer
- Study (listening, paying attention, and Bible study)
- Serving by extending five acts of kindness each week
- Giving through five generous actions each month
- sharing by inviting 5 people to church this year.
My thought and prayers are with you, as I hope your thoughts and prayers include me.
Blessings to you and yours, this day, and always.
