Tuesday, January 06, 2009

The Third Christmas

This is the third Christmas I have spent with you here in Absarokee. These past Christmases have all been unique and special to me. I have found Christmas here in Absarokee to be very rich, meaningful and spiritually rewarding. You all are the best Christmas present I could ever receive. You all have been so kind and generous to Susan and me. Your friendship is very much appreciated by me and it is an honor to be your pastor. As a congregation you fill me with pride and joy. Are we perfect? No, we will never be perfect. But we are responsive to God’s call to proclaim the Good News of Jesus Christ both in word and deed. There will always be work for us to do as disciples of Jesus Christ. Yes we live in a good community, but we can strive to make it better. We can work to communicate our ideas towards being a better community. We can continue to give of ourselves and care for each other, both friend and stranger among us. God calls us into relationship with our creator and calls us to be in relationship with each other. The new year opens up to us a new time to strive and work for the Kingdom of God. This is no easy task. God promises to be with us as we carry out our ministry here in Absarokee at Immanuel Lutheran Church.

I would ask you to prayerfully reflect concerning our ministry as a congregation; what do we do well, what can we do better? How can we stretch ourselves and grow strong in our ministry? How can we exercise our faith and reflect the love of God in what we do? What is our mission and ministry as the congregation of Immanuel Lutheran Church? Our mission, carrying out the call to ministry in Jesus Christ, is what will make us a vital and dynamic congregation, one where we excited and engaged in proclaiming the Gospel of Jesus Christ. This is the Good News - as Pastor Richard Hardell says: Christ makes life exciting. Our call to ministry is exciting! Our call to ministry opens to us possibilities, more than we could ever imagine. My challenge to us: lets be active, committed and engaged in our discovery of mission and in carrying out our ministry. Let that be our goal for the upcoming new year.

Thank you for all your kindness and love shared with Susan and me this past year. May God bless you and bestow upon you his gracious love and boundless mercy.

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