Trying to remember all that God has done this past year in our lives as individuals and a church family can be a little tricky, because I’ll recall and forget things that you may not. For those errors of omission, I am sorry.
In this past year there were anxious and confident times; sorrowful and rejoicing times; painful and refreshing times. To quote Solomon (and not the Turtles and their popular 60’s hit) to everything...there is a season, and a time for every matter under heaven...Eccl. 3.1-8
We've rejoiced at births and welcomed covenant sons and daughters: Blake, Aaron, Kasi, Caleb, Mayah, David, Faith, Sydney, Arianna, Abby...with a few more due by Christmas!
We’ve celebrated at the marriages of the Swan sisters, Sarah & Rebecca, Kristin Gardner, Donna Thurman, Shirley Jones, Tabitha Higgins, Laura Spalding, Allison Forrester and a blushing 81 year old bride, Suni Choi.
God brought 62 new folks to CPC, adding them to our rolls and quickly endearing them to our hearts. We’ve seen many graduate. Some have entered into military service. In these things we’ve rejoiced.
By God’s enabling grace we’ve been encouraged by ministry expansion across the board. We’ve given more to missions in 2009 than ever before. We’ve seen exemplary lives modeled in our midst. We’ve seen members exercise gifts in countless ways to the glory of God and the good of others, from musical skills to manual labor, and mission teams. We’ve been the beneficiaries of godly leadership and capable teachers. We’ve enjoyed rich times of corporate worship. We’ve witnessed God’s physical healing in many. We’ve seen saints maturing and sinners converted.
Our lives have become intertwined in Christian fellowship. We’ve played, prayed and praised together. And we’ve eaten and eaten and eaten until we have almost perfected it!
Neither, we nor our lives are perfect. We’ve known death, disease and sadness. We’ve been disappointed. We’ve disappointed one another. We’ve sinned against God and toward one another. We’ve fallen short of God’s glorious standard.
We’ve experienced the heartache of separation as we’ve said goodbye to Irene, Waymon Gaither, Sally’s mom (Jill), Jeannie’s brother (Gerald), Gordon & June’s son-in-law (Coleman), Joanna’s sis (Pam), Danny’s mom (Lilian) and Sandy’s mom (Doris). Other dear ones have moved away the Kriegs, Gritters, Davises, Kitts, Gordon Mellencamp and Toombs.
We’ve been saddened by pathology reports. We’ve known pain and surgeries. We’ve grieved at the fracturing of families. Some of us have gone through dark valleys and have struggled to chart our way through murky waters.
We have needs for a greater working of the Spirit in our midst; for growth in our love for one another (...becoming that undeniable apologetic to a watching world [John 13.35]); and for the building of a greater sense of community. And we need to grow in the grace of giving: the giving of our time, our talents and our treasures.
The one thing, in reviewing this past year, that should leap forward in our thinking and should be constant on our lips is Jehovah Jireh! The Lord our Provider. For He indeed has been faithful at every turn and in every way.
And should the Lord tarry and we be given more opportunities to live and labor together in the days ahead, may they be times of great hope and expectancy. May we continue to be united in our calling of advancing Christ’s kingdom in lives, hearts and minds here and around the world.
Pastor Mullinax