January 2018

Dear Church Family,

Happy New Year! In 2017, we experienced the joy of having several people join the Kingdom of God through baptism. We also experienced trial and heartache as friends and family members left us to be with our Heavenly Father. There is something about these lessons of time and experience in life that we cannot avoid. These moments, good and bad, move us to become stronger in the Lord and help us to value the gift of genuine relationship and time with those we love.

As I have been reflecting over the events of the past year and looking forward to the progress of the coming year, I am reminded of how precious you are to me. Without your faithfulness, our doors would close. Without your generosity of money, time and spirit, the homeless would have been left hungry, the hurting would not have been wrapped in God’s love with our prayer blankets, shut-ins wouldn’t have received visits, prayers, Christmas carols sung at their bedside or communion, children and parents wouldn’t have had a place to play and build relationships during these cold winter months at Tot Town, and many families with children would not have woken up filled with joy to see presents under their tree this Christmas.

Without your labors of love and sacrificial giving, we would never have been able to fund all of Calvary’s local ministries during our Lenten project. Without your joyful voices singing together each Sunday morning, our worship would be dim and lifeless. Without all our volunteers working on the building and grounds, our property would soon fall apart. Without our volunteers faithfully working with our children each week, the life of our church would never grow and thrive. What I am trying to say is that without all of you, we would not have a church.

I am most thankful for your commitment and faithfulness to our Lord and His Church this year. It has been my highest honor and greatest joy to serve as your pastor this year. I thank you for your patience with me as I discover more each day about what it means to lead a church. I have a lot to learn but I’m confident that God’s Spirit is leading the way! Know that my heart is truly committed to making the decisions that will lead to the greatest good for Calvary and God’s highest glory. I promise an uncompromising faithfulness to the Word of God, proclaiming the Good News of Christ, and living out Christ’s love with you and all whom God places before me.

A theme that has been placed on my heart for 2018 is, “Dream Without Fear and Love Without Limits.” I will be asking all of Calvary, as faithful followers of Christ, to seek God for the answer to “How can we be more effective for Christ in serving His people?” We are looking for dreams to be birthed and God’s plans for Calvary to be futher discerned. I am praying that every member of Christ’s body at Calvary does even more for the glory of Christ than they did last year. I have no doubt that 2018 is going to be a year of great expectation and fulfillment! I look forward to what God has in store for us!

Joyfully in Christ,

Mother Mo+