365 Days of Growth

​The beginning of a new year it is a good time to reflect on the year that is ending, and see how we have done growing in our faith. Are we following Jesus Christ more today than we were on January 1, 2015?? If not, what did we do for the last 365 days? If the answer is yes, then what can I do to continue the growth? Jesus has called each one of us to continuously grow closer to him and to one another through the gift of his love.

No matter what has happened to this point, we still have the chance to grow personally and communally stronger than we have been. Jesus is always offering us the ability to start from where we are and draw closer to him. Let us not miss the opportunity that He is offering us this new year- 2016 can be a great year in which we experience our faith in a new way. By letting Jesus be present with us in our daily lives, and in our worship together, our faith will grow stronger each and every day.

Whether you make new year resolutions or not, it is a good time to review this past year and make the changes that we want for next year. We do a wonderful job of worshipping together, and now we need to challenge one another to grow spiritually through our daily experiences. Christ is alive and at work everyday in you and in me. What are we doing to show his love through our words and actions?

I invite you to really do something different this year. Increase something that you are doing. Read the bible on a more consistent basis, come to a wonderful bible study -Tuesday evenings 6:30-7:30. Or just spend 5 quiet minutes with Jesus each morning and night. You will be amazed at the way your spiritual life will grow through any one of these practices as long as you consistently follow through. If you miss a day get back to it the next day. It is not in the big things that we find God working, but rather it is like the prophet Isaiah who found God in the whisper of the wind. We will find Jesus at work in the events of our daily life, in the light of our spiritual eyes being opened to his presence.

I thank God everyday for your faithful dedication and example.

Happy New Year!

I look forward to the ministry we will do together.

Rev. Stephen W. Barch