From the Pastor’s Desk – December – Cloudcroft United Methodist Church

webmaster December 17, 2018

From the Pastor’s Desk – December

Christmas provides a unique opportunity each year for us all to re-focus. Not only are we reminded of the life-changing gift that is Jesus; but we are also reminded of our need for Jesus to heal us in our brokenness. That is indeed why he came, wasn’t it? To bring peace between God and man. This is why the angels declared triumphantly “Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace among those with whom he is pleased!” (Luke 2:14).

As we celebrate Advent let us remember it is a time of preparation for Christmas. This Christmas let’s focus in the understanding that the greatest gift we receive is the love of Jesus. And the greatest gift we can give is Jesus’ love to our neighbor.

As a new year approaches, I want to challenge us, the church, to impact this world for good. People are in great

need, and more than ever, we need to come alive! We need to be people of prayer, faith, righteousness, and kindness. We need to love each other and love God above all else. We simply need to focus, in 2019, to do everything we can for a closer relationship with God.

This year brought some changes. I became your pastor, (an honor) and we said good-bye to spouses, to loved ones, to our precious summer family, friends who move to new places or to their eternal home. We said hello to new faces, welcoming new neighbors, new births, and new members to the church. God our provider, creator of all, is with us always.

May the time we have spent together with Christ in months past be a good foundation for us to build upon as we worship and serve him together in the year to come.

I like to close with a benediction I read recently:

“May you be filled with the wonder of Mary, the obedience of Joseph, the joy of the angels, the eagerness of the shepherds, the determination of the magi, and the peace of the Christ Child. God bless you now and forever.”

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year to you all.

Pastor Frances

bhowell

From the Pastor’s Desk – December

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