Happy New Year!

Dear Friends,

I wish you all a Happy New Year!

What a year 2021 has been! We made it through the second year of the pandemic. Many of us faced challenges in one way or other, but we all have learned to adapt. And, we kept pressing forward. More than ever, I feel our faith matters. We do not face storms alone because our God journeys with us.

Children of God have faced challenges throughout history. The biblical stories remind us of that. It’s important to know that we are not alone. We learn from our past experiences and have them guide us through the new year.

With the arrival of a new year, we are open to new possibilities and new challenges. What will 2022 bring? We don’t know that because we’ve not yet travelled through the new year, but we believe in a God who is fully aware of our future. God is faithful. When we lean in, trust, and surrender our lives, God will guide us. That’s who God is. That’s what faith is all about! We hold on to God’s promise, follow God’s vision, and walk by faith.

After Moses freed God’s people from their torturous slavery in Egypt, they faced the problems of wilderness. Stuck in an endless, barren area, they asked “Are we there yet?” It took them 40 years to make it through. They often recalled the old days in Egypt and wished they were back there. They were starving and running out of water in the desert. But God was faithful and came through, sustaining them by providing manna, quails, and water.

The vision of God’s promised land had kept them going, along with their faith, trusting that God was with them, guiding and providing for them.

Some of us have lost family and friends during the past 22 months. It’s been hard, and now we simply seek God’s grace to continue our journey. We look forward to seeing how the coming year will unfold for us. We all wish to emerge from this pandemic sooner rather than later. However, let us be patient.

Jeremiah 29:11 says, “I know the plans I have for you, plans to prosper you, not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.” It is this promise that sustains us through the trying times and makes us strong enough to go forward with confidence.

Covid-19 will not overcome us because God has overcome all that threatens to destroy us. While we believe in God’s promises and protection, we also need to follow the mandates and guidelines offered to us by those who are involved in scientific research.

May this new year be a year of blessings; a year of faith in the midst of challenges; a year of love in and through the storms.

Peace and Blessings,

Pastor Chris