Pastor's Message - January 2014

Dear Friends,

As of the writing of this article for the Newsletter it is 4:39PM Christmas Eve. I am in my office and am   having some quiet time before the 7:00PM Christmas Eve Service, I look forward to that service, it is one  of the most special services of the year. I am still amazed at how quickly the time has flown by. I remember thinking back in late summer that before we know it, it will be Christmas. When you read this article   Christmas will be over. In fact, after we get home from vacation we will be thinking about Easter and what we will be doing, as a Church Family, during the observance of Lent.

There are several things happening with regard to the Trinity Point project. The last several months all the loose ends have been or are being tied up for the start of the facility. As soon as the specs come back from those who are engineering the steel for the structure, the footers will be poured. The manufacturing of the steel is in process and as soon as it is delivered it will be put together. We have really learned patience these last three or four months. It seems as though everything has taken more time than was anticipated. However, we have said all along this is all in God’s hands and it is in His timing, we all need to be obedient and patient. (I think though, that we need to have a party when they put up the first piece of steel)

We will also be giving a report in January to update you all where we are with the New Building Fund  Campaign for 2013 along with a report in the spring regarding the building information and where we are with that.

We will be starting into the process of looking for an Associate/Youth Pastor. We believe that God will lead that person to us or we will be led to that person. There is a lot to think about, most of all, we all want God’s perfect will. Please be praying for this process that we are about to embark upon. We will keep you informed as things progress.

It is an exciting time in the life of our congregation and I hope you will continue to be supportive and pray for one another and the growth we are experiencing.

I want to thank you all and commend you for your generosity. You have gone beyond what anyone ever expected in giving for the Shoe Box Ministry, the Youth Desert Auction back at Thanksgiving, the Christ Birthday Offering and all the other opportunities that you have taken to give. Your faithfulness in giving does not go unnoticed and is not taken for granted.

You’ve blessed our family beyond what we ever expected or imagined for Pastor Appreciation and Christmas. We are grateful and thank you from the bottom of our heart.

Lord willing I’m going to be preaching on the subject of prayer for several weeks starting on the first Sunday of January. The focus will come from a passage in Revelation 8:2-5 and it reads like this:  Revelation 8:2-5 ESV Then I saw the seven angels who stand before God, and seven trumpets were given to them. (3)  And another angel came and stood at the altar with a golden censer, and he was given much incense to offer with the prayers of all the saints on the golden altar before the throne, (4) and the smoke of the incense, with the prayers of the saints, rose before God from the hand of the angel. (5) Then the angel took the censer and filled it with fire from the altar and threw it on the earth, and there were peals of thunder, rumblings, flashes of lightning, and an earthquake.

I hope you will come with a sense of anticipation for what God will do in our lives. Please pray for me also, that I would be able to have the unction of the Holy Spirit, 1 John 2:20 ESV But you have been anointed by the Holy One, and you all have knowledge. And be able to rightly divide the word of truth. 2 Timothy 2:15 ESV  Do your best to present yourself to God as one approved, a worker who has no need to be ashamed, rightly handling the word of truth.

Let us keep focused on the One we serve, and keep concerned about all the Brothers and Sisters in Christ. Galatians 6:10 ESV So then, as we have opportunity, let us do good to everyone, and especially to those who are of the household of faith. Let us plow the fields that are ripe for harvest. John 4:35 ESV Do you not say, 'There are yet four months, then comes the harvest'? Look, I tell you, lift up your eyes, and see that the fields are white for harvest.

God bless you and Happy New Year.

Pastor Bruce