A True Blessing

I want take this opportunity to thank YOU for your support and trust. As I celebrated the Christmas Eve service, I was under the weather, and throughout it I really saw how and why Union Church is so vibrant. You really stepped up and showed how caring and loving you are. I could see God at work in the way that you treated me as well as the guests and visitors that were in attendance that evening. I have heard from some of them about how welcome they felt. Our visitors, each and every time they worship at Union Church, tell me how welcome they feel. It got me thinking and praying a prayer of thanksgiving- God has truly blessed us and continues to work in and through us to accomplish His wonderful plans. God is working in Brimfield Illinois through Union Church, because of you and your faith. 

I count it among one of my many blessings to be part of your wonderful faith community. I thank God for leading me to Union Church and for allowing us to grow together over the last six years and (for however long he has planned for us in the future). I honestly believe that my faith would not be the same without this experience. What an awesome experience to walk in faith alongside you, experiencing life together and all of the ways that God is part of it, and being able to reach out in faith to the surrounding community, to the larger church and to the world.I believe that as we faithfully try to follow God’s will in our lives and in the life of Union Church, God will continue to smile and bless us. 

I have to thank each one of you for the very thoughtful and very useful gift that you gave me at Christmas. The monetary gift was perfect timing as we had some unexpected expenses and they needed to be covered and we did not know how they were going to be taken care of. Thank you from the bottom of my heart. You really are a blessing from above. My family thanks you!! 

As we end another calendar year and begin a new one, may we continue to look to our almighty Savior Jesus Christ and ask what He wants us to do and accomplish for him in the next year. Were does he need us to make a difference, and what is it that will bring him the most glory? 

Looking forward to ministering together in 2015
Rev. Stephen W. Barch