From your pastor… The fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, generosity, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. If we live by the Spirit, let us also be guided by the Spirit. So then, whenever we have an opportunity, let us work for the good of all, and especially for those of the family of faith. (Galatians 5: 22, 25; 6:10, NRSV)
What if we begin this new year with these Scriptures being our compass? If we can pray each morning that God would lead us by the Holy Spirit, and that our hearts and minds would be willing to yield to God’s will, and not just our own selfish desires. We know that no one is perfect, that no year will be a perfect year, but as we go about living, we can choose to live for the Lord, one day at a time. The month of December was filled to overflowing with so many blessings from sharing with others at nursing homes, in our community, in the prisons, with our church family, and through the Algiers Food Bank. The Algiers pastors have been meeting regularly together at the Monday building on Newton Street in Algiers. One day in December, we came into the room and saw tables filled with gifts for Christmas for children. They also did a gift drive to help families in Algiers. Everywhere I went in December, I saw the witness of God’s love being poured out through the generosity of the faithful.
As I begin the journey of 2018, I carry in my heart the images of our Advent and Christmas season with me. We are so blessed to be a part of a loving church family. The Live Nativity was the best attendance we have seen in many years in Algiers. It is such fun to share our faith and tell the story of Jesus at the same time! As your pastor, I want to say thank you for your faithfulness in stewardship. We paid our Conference and District apportionments 100% again this year. We have paid over $11,000. for the parsonage foundation project, and only owe about $2,000. more on that debt. We are struggling to make our budget, but by the grace of God and your faithfulness, we are making it one step at a time. God is amazing, and we rejoice that we have the opportunity to continue to serve God this new year of 2018. Please pray with our church council as we meet in January to plan ministry for the new year.
Grace and peace,
Rev. Becky