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Pastor Amy’s Thoughts….

12/29/2020

Greetings - and Merry Christmas!
Change is in the air. The days are finally getting longer. The Season of Christmas will soon be over. And at the end of January I will end my time as Pastor of the congregation. It is indeed a time of change. It has been over ten years since I began a temporary pastoral ministry with you, which turned into an installed pastorate several years later. Ten years of joys and sorrows, laughter and tears. I have been blessed beyond measure by your love and faithfulness to God. I know that God has amazing and wonderful things in store for you as a congregation, as well as for me & Mark, and I look forward to how our futures will unfold. We are both embarking on a season of change.
Change is nothing new to God’s people. We come from a long line of faithful servants who not only experienced change – but embraced it. Change can bring new insight and new ideas. Change can bring new opportunities. Change can bring new energy – something I witnessed as I began my ministry with you in 2010. This congregation was ready and willing to embrace and step into a new season of their life together.
And we traditionally mark changes with celebrations, prayerful thanks-giving to God, and lots of cake. My Pastoral transition will include all three – and I invite you to join me for either or both of the two socially-distanced celebrations planned for the weekend of January 30th & 31st. Or feel free to contact me to set up a time for us to talk by phone, or Zoom before I leave. I would like that!
Transitions are marked by both endings and beginnings. As I end my pastorate, you will soon welcome a new part-time pastor to share the ministry of this congregation with you. When you do – do so in the same loving and caring way you welcomed me in 2010! Be yourself. Tell stories. Turn to him/her for pastoral care, for prayer, and for rejoicing together. Serve the community in compassion alongside your new pastor.
Northwest Coast Presbytery has a very clear policy for former pastors and the congregation they are leaving. Simply put, while we can stay in touch on Facebook, through Christmas cards, or when we meet by chance in the grocery store - we do not talk church. That part of our life together will end on January 31st. You will soon have a new pastor, and that will be their role. This is a familiar transition for most of you, and you navigated it well when Pastor Kevin left and I arrived. Please know that you will always be in my prayers, and I will look upon this time with you as one of the highlights of my ministry.
Change is in the air. And we have a choice – do we embrace the good gifts change will bring? I pray that we will, with joy and thanksgiving in Christ.
Pastor Amy

SESSION NEWS

12/29/2020

What has your Session been up to?

It is an active time to be on the Session! We
· Created a job description for the next part-time pastor. Once this is approved by the Presbytery, we will post it on our website and send it out by email. Please feel free to share with pastors who may be interested in serving our church. Because this is a part-time position, the session will be the hiring body.
· Called an ONLINE annual congregational meeting for 1 PM on Sunday, January 24th. Fellowship and prayers will follow this short but essential meeting.
· Continue to support our mission causes.
· Continue to faithfully monitor the financial situation of the congregation. Thank-you for your pledges of support for 2021!
· Continue to offer worship, bible study, fellowship, and Women’s Association via Zoom.
· Prepared a “live” online service for Sunday 12/20 and for Christmas Eve, including lots of specially recorded solos from our choir! We hope were able to join us.
· Continue to reach out to every member and friend in the church directory, with the assistance of the deacons and staff members, – online or by phone – to offer our prayers and support.

Please continue to keep your session elders and their work on your behalf in your prayers.

WOMENS ASSOCIATION NEWS

12/29/2020

Our Christmas party held on December 9th, was a huge success and a lot of fun. Again, Pastor Amy hosted the Zoom meeting, handled the program and gave communion which was attended by 11 women.
After a reading of the birth of Jesus and the story of the shepherds and wise men coming to pay homage to Jesus, we again heard of the family’s flight to Egypt to protect the baby Jesus from the wrath of King Herod.
We were then treated to Christmas music, some recorded so we could sing along, and special video music provided by Sarah M and another song by Brian and Betsy H while holding precious baby A. Many thanks to Kathy M who helped plan the program and all who took part in a great presentation.
The next meeting will be on Wednesday, January 13th, at 11 AM. For program we have invited a speaker to tell of the latest news from Mary’s Place. All women are invited to attend and feel free to invite friends.
Wishing everyone a happy, healthy New Year in 2021.

MISSION NEWS

12/29/2020

Special thank you to all of the congregation who helped us raise $435 for our Christmas Family, a mother and two children. This was enough to give each child a $50 gift card, along with a $135 grocery card, and 2 $100 cards for the mother to use. Ruth R picked up the cards and delivered them to Pathways in early December.

Several thank-you notes were received from our mission fund recipients, including Support 7, Operation Nightwatch, Opening Blind Eyes (Monroe Prison Ministry), World Concern, and the Salvation Army.

Annual Congregational Meeting

12/29/2020

Please join us online via Zoom on Sunday January 24th at 1 PM for our annual congregational meeting. We will need a quorum, so your participation is appreciated. At the meeting we will formally dissolve our relationship with Pastor Amy, receive the church budget for 2021, receive the annual reports from the church organizations, and elect officers.

Home Communion

12/29/2020

You’re invited to join Pastor Amy for Home Communion While we cannot gather in person, we will gather over the internet to share the Lord’s Supper together. On Sunday, January 3rd, at 2 PM (following our usual 1 PM check-in) we will gather via Zoom for home communion together. We will have a special solo by Jerry G as part of our service. Please have your own bread (simple is best), and grape juice / wine or other beverage common to your home. You may “Zoom in” in from your phone, smartphone, or computer.

21 Day Racial Justice Challenge

12/29/2020

Our next “next steps” meeting will be Wednesday, January 13th at 7 PM via zoom. Join us to hear about our project to purchase books for Westgate Elementary library, as requested by their librarian, that portray all the diversity that is present in their student body.

Bible Study

12/29/2020

Our Zoom bible studies are starting a new series, “Christian Virtues.” This study will use passages from both testaments to reflect on the virtues of faith, hope, love, wisdom, justice, courage, moderation, integrity, and perseverance. We will meet on Tuesdays at 10 AM, and Wednesdays at 3 PM, with the same study each day, beginning January 5th/ 6th. Please contact Kim in the office if you would like a study guide for the series. There is also an ebook available. Leadership will rotate among the participants of the group. You are welcome to join us whenever it works in your schedule.

Fond Farewell

12/29/2020

It’s time to say a fond farewell to Pastor Amy, and give thanks for her over 10 years of ministry with us. There are two planned opportunities. You may also schedule a conversation with her at another time by phone or Zoom.
· Saturday, January 30th, from 1-3 PM there will be a drive-up open house at the church. Pastor Amy will be outside the church under the overhang by the front doors, and you can drive by or park and walk over to say share good-byes. We’ll even have a treat for you!
· Sunday, January 31st at 1 PM on Zoom, our prayers and fellowship time will include prayers of gratitude and farewell.

Pastor Amy’s Thoughts….

12/1/2020

Greetings –
Once again, 2020 is a gift that keeps on giving. I had hoped when we first went into lockdown in March that by Thanksgiving we would be back to normal. But, alas, our Thanksgiving feast will be for the three of us, and Christmas celebrations will probably be similar.
Rather than being discouraged by all the changes COVID-19 has wrought, I would like to encourage you to consider how you might celebrate Advent in a new and meaningful way this year. Advent begins on November 29th. Included with this newsletter is a four-week Advent devotional prepared just for 2020.
In our worship series for Advent we will continue to use the traditional themes of Hope, Peace, Joy and Love. Here is a start on those reflections in both scripture and song:

First, we practice Hope. Paul closes the letter to the Romans with these words:
“May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, so that you may abound in hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.” Romans 15:13
Hope is an expectation that God values us so much that God will one day lead us into a future that is worth the wait. In hope we sing,
O come, O come, Emmanuel, and ransom captive Israel,
That mourns in lonely exile here until the Son of God appear. Rejoice! Rejoice! Emmanuel shall come to thee, O Israel.

Second, we practice Peace. Being cooped up with only our immediate family for company has given many of us unique opportunities to practice peace in our relationships
For a child has been born for us, a son given to us; authority rests upon his shoulders; and he is named Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. -Isaiah 9:6
Let us turn to Jesus, the Prince of Peace, for strength when we need to practice peacemaking and reconciliation.
Hark! The herald angels sing, "Glory to the newborn King.
Peace on earth, and mercy mild, God and sinners reconciled!"

Third, practice Joy. The wise men who brought the first gifts to the child Jesus followed a star to find where Jesus had been born. We read in Matthew’s gospel,
2:10 When they saw that the star had stopped, they were overwhelmed with joy.
If you are like me and the wise men, you may also find joy at Christmas in giving gifts to others – whether finding just the right present, or offering a gift of your time or service to another.
Joy to the world, the Lord is come: Let earth receive her King;
Let every heart prepare Him room, And heaven and nature sing,
And heaven and nature sing, And heaven, and heaven, and nature sing.

And fourth, we practice Love. As 1 John 4 reminds us,
7 Beloved, let us love one another, because love is from God; everyone who loves is born of God and knows God. 8 Whoever does not love does not know God, for God is love.
As we share the love we have received with others, we are sharing God’s love with them. This is the message of Christmas, that God loved us so much that he gave his only Son so that we may have eternal life (John 3:16-17).
Down in a lowly manger the humble Christ was born,
And God sent us salvation that blessed Christmas morn.
Go tell it on the mountain, over the hills and everywhere;
Go tell it on the mountain that Jesus Christ is born!

Hope, Peace, Joy and Love are the themes for our Advent worship this year. I hope you will join me in taking a long loving look at each during this very different Advent season.

Have a blessed Advent and Christmas,
Pastor Amy