Saturday Worship - 7:00 pm
Sunday Worship - 9:00 am
Sunday School & Bible Class - 10:15 am
If you or someone you know is having surgery, had a death in the family, or is experiencing some other tragedy, we have people willing to bring meals to others.
Please contact Pam Baillie at 387-2463 to have meals delivered for one week.
Some years back, I noticed a person showing up in church regularly who had never been regular in worship in the past. I knew that this person was a member of the congregation. However, her involvement in the church didn't extend beyond an occasional appearance at Christmas and Easter. I wondered what had caused the sudden change in her church attendance. There hadn't been any deaths in the family or any traumatic experience that I was aware of. Finally, I asked her one morning why she had suddenly started attending church so faithfully. She responded by telling me that it was her New Year's resolution. She said that she knew that it was something in her life that she needed to change and she decided that the New Year would be the motivation that she needed.
It was the first time that I had ever heard of anyone come up with a worthwhile New Year's resolution. It was also the first time that I had ever seen anyone actually keep a New Year's resolution for more than just a few hours or days. The beginning of a New Year had caused her to stop and take stock of her life, particularly in regard to her relationship with God.
While the New Year is not a liturgical holiday by any means, it is still a time of reflection. It is a time when people stop and consider where they have been in the past year and look ahead to where they would like to be in the coming year. It is also an opportunity for us as, God's people, to consider our lives this past year. What things are there in your life that you would like to see changed?
We are told in our Scripture passage from Romans that we have been made new. It was in the waters of Holy Baptism that you were given a new spiritual nature. It was there that you were marked as God's own dear child. That means that you have the privilege of living a new life in Jesus Christ.
I would encourage you as we enter into the New Year to take stock of your life and consider where you are in your relationship to Jesus Christ and His church. What new things would you like to see? God comes to you in His Word and makes you new. He gives you the forgiveness of sins that Jesus won for you through His death on the cross. He washes you and makes you new. He also gives you power for the new life in Jesus Christ. Indeed, He makes all things new.
In His service,
Pastor Olson