Happy New Year 2022!
Happy new year, everyone!
I read something that invited us to go quietly into the new year, be careful, don’t wind up any excitement or have a lot of partying, etc. I understand what was being said, which is don’t rock the boat; maybe no one will notice that it’s a new year if we sneak up on it. It’s meant to be funny… because maybe if we sneak up on 2022, there won’t be a chance for more chaos or anything that looks like 2021 or 2020 or…
When we think about looking into a new year, we talk about plans, what we are hoping for, what God is hoping for from us. The scripture we so often turn to is Jeremiah 29:11. I found myself at the beginning of Jeremiah looking at how God called Jeremiah in the first place. Some of my favorite words can be found in verses 5 and 6 of Jeremiah 1. The quote below is taken from The Message interpretation of the Bible.
This is what God said:
“Before I shaped you in the womb,
I knew all about you.
Before you saw the light of day,
I had holy plans for you:
A prophet to the nations—
that’s what I had in mind for you.”
Now, this is God’s plan for Jeremiah’s life, not for mine or for yours. How is it any different though? God knew about us before our parents, while we were being formed in our mother’s womb, before we were abruptly brought into the light and chaos of life… God knew us. In fact, God formed us!! And God has holy plans for every single one of us. God’s plans don’t always match up with what we were thinking. That’s true in every aspect of our lives, even in church, maybe especially in church. Why do you suppose that is?
God gives us each an idea about how things should be (each different)?
We each have different experiences and become attached to either how things were or how things could be?
So much in our world is chaotic can we just keep church the way we want?
If only I or someone had the wisdom to bring all these truths together and help them live in perfect harmony. Just as God formed us, God put us in charge of the family of faith, to carry out God’s plan - some as pastors, teachers, leaders, musicians, those who work with children, those who do bulletins and technology... and every other gift required, gifts that God gave you and me, likely before we were born.
As another new year unfolds - my prayer, my hope, my desire is that we will hold out our gifts and giftedness, next to all the other gifts and giftedness and use them together to change this world we’re in, for the better; to be about healing and holding, guiding and learning… and a fierce connection to God and to one another. May it be so if it is according to your will O God, our rock and redeemer.
Pastor Cathy
