From The Pastor's Desk

Dear Friends in Christ,  

Another year has started and already we have been blessed!   In this past month of January we took on new members once again.  This is a nice way to start a year!  They are really great people, so I encourage you to get to know them.  We warmly welcomed into membership Ivy Bartholomew (her son is Blake) and Gina and Kelvy Iturralde, Sr. (their children are Kelvy, Jr., Kaytel, and Britney).  Please look for their information in future “Getting to Know You” sections.

A special thank-you goes out to the Presbyterian Women for their organizational work with the Congregational Meeting.  My deepest and sincere thank-you again to all who served God’s church.  

Believe it or not, Lent is almost upon us!  Beginning on Sunday, February 26^th, we will begin a new adult spiritual time for Lent with a study based upon “Jesus of Nazareth,” led by the pastor with Richard and Melissa.  The class will be held in Fellowship Hall after coffee/fellowship time.  There will also be “slides” from the Holy Land Trip that will compliment the film.  It will serve to be a good way to experience the life of Christ!  

Looking to the near future, we look forward to a baptism on Sunday, March 18^th at worship.  We will be baptizing Charley Elizabeth Breiten.  Later that day, church officers (and others who feel called) are invited to attend the annual DCL at Morris Plains at 1-4:30 on March 18^th.  This year’s theme is “Living as a Christian in a Political Whirlpool.” There will be a keynote speaker, Rick Ufford-Chase, Co-director of Stony Point Center, Director of the Presbyterian Peace Fellowship, and co-founder of the Community of Living Traditions.  This event is great in training new Elders and Deacons, as well as specific seminars that help with our church’s ministry.  I strongly encourage church leaders to attend.

Last year was amazing – even better than the previous six years of growth and development.  We did so many things!  We added and expanded ministries.  We had a seminarian.  We ended in the black, even with a surplus.  Most importantly, we had a great fellowship of warm and caring people.  The past seven years of growth and expansion is now a great foundation to go forward into the future – one that will be of transition as we embrace a new era and paradigm for churches.  Some blessed, long-time members have moved away or retired this past year, leaving open the opportunity for members and new members to step into leadership.  This is the nature of a church’s ministry and the rotation of leadership is a fundamental concept in the PC USA polity (which we have been studying in Session).  In an organization, change and transition will happen whether we welcome it or not. For example, we now have a new Chair for Missions Commission, Sue Meadows.  As we will continue to transition with new leadership as a congregation, may this serve as a successful model for us as our new members rotate into leadership.  

Godspeed!

Pastor Dave