Greetings for 2020!

As we leave the teens behind, we look forward to the decade of the ‘20s.

What has the past given us? Change in almost everything. But one thing remains the same: God is still on His throne! He is still King of Kings, and Lord of Lords. God is our Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. What unfolds in the days, months and years ahead for us all coincides with God’s timing for the Christian. Remember, King Solomon gave us a description of God’s timing in Ecclesiastes 3:1-15. Go check it out.

One of my favorite columns to write is that where I do some reflection through cheers, jeers, and tears and some other words that resemble (back when we had a local paper that was more relevant, the Saturday edition would give us a recap of the past week with these terms.)

Cheers for the choir! Such numbers and voices this year in the choir and the Christmas Cantata, “His Name is Jesus” was powerful and important for all of us on our spiritual journey.

We have so many volunteers and the labors around the church are many. Thank you to all who serve in so many different ways.

Cheers for the results of our Food Trailer over the past year. At Henderson, Princeton and on Franklin Street we had great results. We give thanks.

God’s Kids – what a great pre-school we have. We have the privilege of nurturing children in a safe loving atmosphere. And guess what? We tell them about Jesus. Regular school comes soon enough, it is a privilege to prepare them for kindergarten.

Tears fall as we remember some of our dear loved ones who have gone on to be with Jesus. Dorothy Moffett was a long time member of this church and an instrumental volunteer in the early years of McCutchanville fire department. Curtis, Lanny, and John – such wisdom, humor, gentleness, humility, and best of all, faithfulness is dearly missed by all of us at MCC. Well done good and faithful servants.

While it is unclear where the United Methodist Church will be following the 2020 General Conference in May, it is likely we will remain dysfunctional. Even though our name says we are united, we are not. Pray that God continues to lead us to be faithful to the Gospel of Jesus Christ, which includes the Holy Scriptures. Tears fall as we look more like a political organization than the church.

While there are tears for our two children and their families whom we sponsor in Haiti due to their political unrest and poverty. It is clear we must continue to pray for them and support them.

One thing I don’t look forward to in 2020 is our election. Jeers to all of the negativity and name calling. I fear it will be a long exhausting year ahead of us due to the fighting.

We give thanks for our McCutchanville Volunteer Fire Department. These folks serve us without fear. We’re blessed to have them next door.

I’m going to use a different word – disappear. You have not. You are coming to church! God bless you. We come to church to worship God and many have appeared to be in worship as we have grown in the past year when many have not. And the children! Children’s Moment is clearly a joy for all of us.

In closing, Teresa and I thank you for your love, support, and prayers (and I don’t have a rhyming word to use – couldn’t use reindeer, goodyear, belvedere, hemisphere, but I am sincere in saying this.)

Happy New Year,

Pastor Greg