Greetings from the Pastor

     ​Lighted trees, colorful greetings and familiar carols let it be known that Christmas will soon be with us. Let’s be sure that something wonderful is about to happen.
     Christmas is predicated on many promises yet we come at it each year wondering what’s different to the year before. Our world gets darker, even scarier. Life’s perplexities are as confusing. People are just as impatient and self-centered. Where is the Prince of Peace? Where is the One born Savior of the world? Is God really with us?
       As always, we are challenged by God’s gift of freewill. God sets these promises in motion yet we have the freedom to accept them or not. Like Mary, those who choose to do life God’s way discover they have immense capacity to make a world of difference.
     Mary is known as the God-bearer. Those who take up Christ’s way, who allow him to be born in them, also become God-bearers. Do others see Christ in you? Do they come to know God because your life reveals divine love? Does your witness make for a world of difference?        I imagine that Mary had no aspirations of being the God-bearer but her simple yes to the invitation enabled her to make an impact for God. Your yes to God enables you to make a world of difference through your faithfulness, activism for Christ and by serving the cause of peace with justice.
      Let me thank you for your faithfulness to your church community. The pandemic has made it more challenging than most imagine but with your generosity of spirit, we continue to love and serve. Take a chance on us, and come for Christmas. A special music Sunday is planned for December 19 with candlelight services on Christmas Eve. A warm, heartfelt welcome awaits.
       Christmas is also a season of generosity. Thank you for your financial gifts throughout the year. It would be helpful to your church if you reviewed your giving and considered a year-end gift to ensure we come out on the right side. Keep in mind that the pandemic has led to fewer services this year with the significant loss of offerings. Closing the gap would be highly appreciated by your church.

​Christmas blessings, Graham N. West, pastor