Grace Weekly – Happy New Year

Happy New Year! No, I’m not getting an early start or jumping beyond Christmas. As Christians, we have more than one calendar. We will enter into a new year on Jan. 1, 2010 with the rest of the world, but the calendar that is giving shape to our journey with Jesus tells us that a new year began yesterday with the first Sunday of Advent. The week before, we ended the Christian year the same way all time will end – with Christ as King. Yesterday Pastor Dwayne preached “New Hope for a New Year.” Once again we begin together the start of a new year that will be ordered by the birth, life, death, resurrection, and ascension of Jesus, the coming of the Holy Spirit, the birth and early life of the church, and anticipation of Jesus’ coming again. With each new season the colors will change and we will once again walk together through the whole scope of the story of redemption. As this new year begins, I pray that it is the best year you have ever had in your relationship with God and your relationships with others.

Grace Received: Saving grace. Sanctifying grace. Keeping grace. Empowering grace. I am reminded today that God’s grace comes in many forms (the Word, the voice of His Spirit, the words/acts of others, the sacraments, prayer, etc.) and accomplishes many things in and through us. Every day His grace is needed, and the promise is that every day, His grace will be enough. If you haven’t already done so, I want to encourage you to stop for a few minutes, put yourself in a position to receive from God all that you need, to be all that He wants you to be. Tis grace has brought us safe thus far, and grace will lead us home….

Grace Shared: I received word today that one of our 2:42 groups is multiplying. A new leader is ready to start another group – praise the Lord! During this hectic time of holiday hustle and bustle, may we all continue to invest in the things that matter most – which aren’t things.

 Grace Extended: With all the media attention we received last week connected with the Nativity, I feel a sense of urgency that we seize this window of opportunity to make this year’s Christmas on the Cumberland and Drive Thru Nativity the best one yet. If that is going to happen, we need your help. Please plan to participate one or both weekends. We can use people of all ages. Sign-up sheets are in the foyer. At the beginning of the school many of you took a card with the name/information of a NEHS football player. Others the next week took a card with the name of one of the kids from Grace nursery and committed to pray for them. Keep praying! Have a blessed week. I look forward to being together again on Sunday!