“When Jesus spoke again to the people, he said, “I am the light of the world. Whoever follows
me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.”
John 8:12
Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ,
Mike and I both love “Star Trek” and if the TV show is on, we watch it…if a Star Trek movie is on, we watch it! The opening is seared into our brains:
“Space, the final frontier. These are the voyages of the starship
Enterprise. It’s five year mission: to explore strange new worlds,
to seek out new life and new civilizations, to boldly go where
no one has gone before.”
You may be asking the all important question, “Why in the world is Pastor Barb referring to Star Trek? Shouldn’t she be talking about church?” The answer, “Because I feel like we are in the “final frontier” and we need a “five year mission” which is to “explore the strange new world” we are living in. Jesus calls us to “seek out new life” and “seek out new civilizations” and he leads us “to boldly go where no one has gone before.” How does that sound?
I feel like the “final frontier” began in 2020, as we hit the unforeseen. Our world was rocked, which meant the church was rocked. It seemed as though everything changed overnight…it did. We were pushed to redefine ourselves in this “new frontier” and we began that part of our journey. We are continuing to see how we fit in our changed world. Easter? Christmas? Nothing like we had ever experienced before! “Exploring the strange new world” has meant diving into online worship through Facebook and YouTube. It has meant putting together a “new” website (that is stunning) and can link people to the sermons online and have easily updated information. It has meant looking into and preparing for better videoing and streaming. We have had special gifts given for a new video camera, new computer and a new program for Sunday worship. We still need some special gifts for the “sound system” so your worship experience will be better! (Let us know if you can help with this…)
Our “strange new world” has included meetings, Bible Study and Coffee time on ZOOM. We didn’t even know what ZOOM was before March of 2020! Now we have to figure out ways to connect our children up with new ways of learning. (Any former teachers want to step up to the plate and help?)
We are called to follow Jesus who brings light to the world. We help to shine that light to those around us…to “seek out new life and new civilizations” to experience the “good news” of Jesus in a tough new frontier. We are not to do this timidly, but “BOLDLY” as we “go where we have never gone before.”
Ministry is changing and we need to be keeping up so the light of the world can reach the world. We are reaching out as we never have before and need to continue to do so to be faithful in our witness to the gospel.
During this “new frontier” you have been a blessing as many of you have continued to give your tithes and offerings. Without your financial giving we could not survive during these times. Thank you! (More in the annual report.)
In Christ,
Pastor Barb
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