FROM THE PASTOR
“A New Year, A New Church”
How can you call us a new church when we are 100 years old this year?!
Well, it's not enough to put a new coat of paint on the buildings, although that is definitely needed from time to time. We have made and will continue to make physical improvements and additions to our campus and facilities.
There was not an electronic sign out front until recently. There was not a Columbarium and Gazebo or Centennial Courtyard and Memorial Garden a year ago.
It is not enough to offer new classes, new programming, or new mission projects, although we welcome that and need that! A new small group, like the Fellowship Class or the Upper Room Class or the Wesley groups, not only means more people are getting involved, but more people are growing in the Christian faith and fellowship. We have new children's choirs and a new youth choir in recent years. New leadership and new volunteers make it possible. We have started new ministries over the years like Family Promise of Jacksonville thanks to our dedicated volunteers. We are challenging our congregation to become more involved in mission/service projects as one way of celebrating our 100th anniversary!
It is not even enough to simply receive new members, although we certainly welcome that, and we are seeking to increase the prospects of that happening. Obviously our church is "new" or different from year to year based on an altered membership. Some of our members have moved away, others have gone to their heavenly reward. Some become more actively involved while some seem to fall by the wayside. Babies are born to our church families and are baptized. Children grow up and become confirmed in their faith. New people move into our community and unite with us, while others transfer their membership to our church seeking more opportunities for their children and youth or Gospel preaching or new avenues of fellowship and service. We certainly celebrate those who affirm Jesus as their Lord and Savior as well as those who reaffirm their faith in Christ and fellowship with the Church!
We are grateful for our new members. It keeps us young and makes us new! We celebrate our brothers and sisters in Christ. We are a growing, renewing family of faith, hope and love.
A new church begins with God whose mercies are new everyday!
"Because of the Lord's great love we are not consumed, for His compassions never fail. They are new every morning; great is Your faithfulness!" –Lamentations 3:22-23
A new church begins with God who enables us to worship Him and gives us reason to praise Him!
"He put a new song in my mouth, a hymn of praise to our God. Many will see and stand in awe and put their trust in the Lord." –Psalm 40:3
"Sing a new song, for He has done marvelous things, His right hand and His holy arm have worked salvation for Him." –Psalm 98:1
A new church begins with allowing God to be God and worshiping Him only!
"I am the Lord; that is my name! I will not give my glory to another or my praise to idols. See, the former things have taken place, and the new things I declare; before they spring into being I announce them to you." –Isaiah 42:8-9
A new church begins when the members of that church allow the Lord to give them a new heart, a new mind, a new life!
"Therefore, O house of Israel, I will judge you, each one according to his ways, declares the Sovereign Lord. Repent! Turn away from all your offenses; then sin will not be your downfall. Rid yourselves of all offenses you have committed, and get a new heart and a new spirit. Repent and live!" -Ezekiel 18: 30-31
"Do not be conformed to pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God's will is---His good, pleasing and perfect will." Romans 12:2
"Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has gone, the new has come! All this is from God, who reconciled us to Himself through Christ, and gave us the ministry of reconciliation." -2 Corinthians 5:17-18
It is our prayer that instead of getting older, we are getting newer. We are becoming more like Christ, we are filled with His refreshing, renewing, empowering Holy Spirit in this new year, this our centennial year!
Happy NEW year!
Pastor Dan
Begin your new year in God's House with God's people as we share together The Lord's Supper at all three services on New Year's Day!
The second Sunday in January you will have the opportunity to reaffirm your baptism at all three services.