Happy New Year! I sure hope you all had a wonderful Christmas season with family and friends! I want to start off by saying a great big THANK YOU to all who made Advent and Christmas so special this past year! Though many folks had their hands in decorating the church – a big thank you to Kris Dixon for her leadership this year along with Joan Alday & Gale Doyle for the beautiful decorations that filled our sanctuary, narthex and even Fellowship Hall! Gale (and Jane Clark) finalized the decorating with the addition of poinsettias for the 4th Sunday of Advent! The beauty of the coming of the light of our Savior truly shined out this year! The Bronze Ringers did an amazing job with their Christmas Bell Concert – and even brought snow! (a little too much snow!) – and they led us in the most beautiful singing of “Silent Night” at the 8:00 Christmas Eve service – thanks to Dave Engle and his talented group of bell ringers! Our chancel choir’s Cantata, “Jesus: The Advent of the Messiah” was outstanding – and we had many additional voices that shined out this year! Thank you all for sharing the story of the birth of our Savior in a life-changing way – and how blessed are we to have Millie Hollis and Larisa Felt at Summit – they bring the best out of everyone! The 5:30 Christmas Eve Pageant could have never happened without the leadership of Jane Springer, Wendy Roy – and our costume makers – Jane Springer; Elizabeth Attreed; Norma Jean Ogden – and the one who organized it all before the service – Betty Miller! The children and their parents were amazing too! Thanks for telling us the story of Jesus’ birth like only a child can! Thanks to all those behind the scenes too – like our office manager Kellie McCall – who makes sure ALL those bulletins are printed – to those who make sure we have children’s activities, coffee and refreshments, candles to distribute, give out white gifts for the community, take out the trash bags, etc. All the things that happen at Summit have lots of hands involved! Finally, I cannot thank all the SUMMIT CHURCH FAMILY enough for their generous and gracious Christmas gift to myself and my family – you blessed us more than you will ever know – and I am blessed beyond measure to serve as your pastor! THANK YOU – THANK YOU – THANK YOU!
Now – into the New Year! At worship on December 23rd I mentioned several times in the sermon that ‘the real work begins after the baby is born!’ And so, it is with the birth of Jesus – THE REAL WORK BEGINS! Paul reminded the Colossians to make the most of every opportunity that came before them to witness to Jesus – especially to outsiders! I love the words “The goal is to bring the best out of others”. The baby Jesus has arrived, and now we need to spread the news (without being offensive!) and get about the business of serving Jesus when opportunity knocks! I believe when we serve Jesus – well, that is truly when others see, and hear about, the one we love, serve and follow. How will Jesus be seen in you in 2019?
Happy New Year and see you in church!
In Jesus’ Love – Pastor Dan