January 2012 is unseen territory and provides opportunities; or at least that is the way I am approaching our future. Instead of anticipating more of the same, and while I struggle with being a realistic pessimist: I am choosing a new attitude for 2012. It is and shall be a blank slate on which the Lord and we can do great things.
We have finally gotten the plans completed and are now securing bids for the phase one of our capital improvements; the construction of our multi-purpose building and office complex. By mid January, we should know what it will cost and then we will vote on the construction and financing. During December and January, we will have the opportunities to hear about our capital campaign, as we seek second-mile giving and pledges toward the expansion. We will also be developing plans for the renovation of our current Sanctuary soon after the construction of a new building. We will also have the opportunity to establish an endowment program for the future maintenance and preservation of our facilities. Look forward to learning how we will grow and expand our facilities with your help during 2012.
In January, we will be birthing additional opportunities for study. During Wednesday night, Ardie Sudduth and I will team-teach a section on Death, Dying, and Issues with Aging. Then in February, I will teach several weeks on “Faith Sharing”, helping us all learn how we can share our Christian beliefs as Jesus asked us to. On Sunday mornings, Les Stratton will begin another Adult Class, and we are hoping some of our younger married couples will gather for study and fellowship. If you are not attending any of our small groups to grow in the knowledge of God's Word, commit to doing so in 2012.
There will be opportunities as we find new and exciting ministries to our community. We have several ways to
GET FIT, and will be looking for other opportunities to not only learn about taking care of our Bodies and Souls, but other ways to exercise and take better care of these bodies as the Temple of the Holy Spirit. We have partnered with Lourdes Community Health Foundation to provide material, seminars, and health screening during 2012.
Staffing for the continued ministries in youth and children will provide us other opportunities. With the sudden death of Gretchen Cheshire, we have asked Sherry Hester and Becca Wharton to assume that leadership with our youth, and they are doing great job. We also have experienced the resignation of Kim Goodman from our Children's Ministries, so we will soon be examining our needs and making plans for our future growth. There are opportunities for many more to be involved in these ministries during 2012.
New for 2012, I am being lead to spend a little time in evaluating our church ministry, and will be issuing my own “State of the Union of Covenant Church” letter by the end of January. I believe that as the senior pastor, I need to catch a new vision for where the Lord may be leading this wonderful congregation in 2012 and beyond, and then I can identify how best as your pastor to help. My prayer is that it will be the start of new conversations and new dreams. So here we are, looking towards the new year, and I just can't wait to see what the Lord will do in us, with us, and through us. Pray that we be in tune with Jesus.
See You at your place of worship,
