Great is thy faithfulness!

God has blessed us with yet another year! Each day of life is an undeserved blessing that is given to each of us by a loving God. So certainly each new year of life is a cause for great thanksgiving.

The year 2020 will surely be a year of adventure for each and all of us. The very number of the year holds promise as we 'close the book' on the past decade and look to the coming year with 20/20 vision. The days and weeks stretch before us holding great surprises and great challenges. We can all watch with eager anticipation to see what the Lord has in store for us in the months and seasons ahead.

We can see the shape of some of the events awaiting us in 2020. We can predict that there will be rain to water the land and sun to warm the heart. Day will follow night with regularity as the earth moves once more in its appointed orbit. We can expect that the sun will continue to give us light and warmth The moon will move through its usual fazes on the regular schedule that has fascinated people from the beginning of time. Spring will come with flowers and fruit. Fall will bring the harvest, and the snows of winter will again settle on the earth.

There will be new babies and new marriages. There will be laughter and tears. Beginnings and endings. New jobs. New homes. There will be quiet moments of blessing and problems that challenge us. There will be opportunities for courage and compassion and service. Perhaps we will dare, as Pastor Kim suggested Sunday, to follow God's call in a new direction.

Yes there will be illness and accidents, disappointments and hurt feelings. There will be those who will complete their life journey and go home to the Lord in the coming year.

Throughout it all God will be faithful to us, will surround us with love and hope, will empower and strengthen us in our lives and our relationships, and will provide us with all that is needed to do the work and ministry that he calls us to both as a congregation and as individuals. The wonderful hymn is a reminder,

"Great is thy faithfulness, O God my Father

....Morning by morning new mercies I see;

all I have needed thy hand hath provided;

great is thy faithfulness, Lord unto me."

May the year 2020 bring both blessings and challenges to each of you. May you grow stronger in your faith and more joyful in your service and in your life. May you come to the end of 2020 deeply grateful for all that God has done for you.

Blessings,

Pastor Nancy

Parish Associate