January 2023
Certainly the faithful love of the Lord hasn’t ended;
certainly God’s compassion isn’t through!
They are renewed every morning. Great is your faithfulness.
– Lamentations 2:22-23
New Year's Eve has always been my favorite holiday. It is a beautiful time to reflect on all that has been (and has not been) in the previous year, and to set some intentions for the year to come. It's a time to grieve whatever we may have lost - be it a person, a dream, or a hope - and to forgive ourselves or others for any wrongs that may have been done.
As 2022 comes to a close, I invite you to prayerfully reflect on these questions:
What am I grieving from this past year?
What gave me hope in 2022?
What do I need to forgive myself (or others) for?
What can I say "no" to in 2023? What do I want to say "yes" to?
What were your favorite moments of 2022?
What do you want to learn or experience in 2023?
To answer some of those questions myself, I'll share with you that I am grieving the loss of my grandfather and Kevin’s grandmother, the last of their generation. In 2022, having a strong sense of community and good friends gave me a lot of hope. When it comes to forgiveness, I know there are some resentments I might still be holding onto. Forgiveness is a daily practice for all of us!
In 2023, I plan to say “no” to too many commitments so that I can say yes to more space in my schedule to do things that fill me up. And, my favorite moment of 2022 was, of course, the moment we found out we were pregnant and seeing the ultrasound of Baby Beebe for the first time. With that, I think there will be a lot of new experiences and learning for us in 2023!
I pray that you spend some time with these questions as well, and that they help you reflect on the year that you have had, and what you hope for in the year to come.
As for our churches, my hope is that we continue to grow and flourish in our faith together. You all continue to amaze me with your commitment to serving your community and the love you have for one another. I am grateful and excited to embark on another year of ministry with you all and give thanks for all the ways God's love shines through each and every one of you.
With love,
Pastor Kelsey
