January 2011

Greetings,

          Ahhh, January, the time of resolutions and remembrance.  It is during this month that we look back on the previous year and the changes it brought, both positive and negative.  It is also the time that we look forward to all that may lie before us, both positive and negative.

          Over the past year, there have been a great number of changes in Denmark Congregational’s community.  We have celebrated relationships and unions in marriage.  We have witnessed babies being baptized and fussing because of the water.  We have also buried some dear friends and loved ones. 

          A friend of mine lost his grandmother this year after she had a debilitating stroke.  In the week and a half between the stroke and her death, he was trapped in that place of waiting.  He didn’t want to make plans, but he didn’t want to put his life on hold waiting either.  I told him, “Life Occureth.” 

          Everyone knows about the bumper sticker that refers to excrement happening, but I think that my saying comes closer to the real heart of the matter.  Life, with all of its messiness and unexpected joys and concerns, triumphs and trials, occurs.  It’s easy to focus on the negative and see only the poo, but if we look a little closer, we can also see the roses. 

          As of writing this, there are 4 days until Christmas and 11 days until the New Year.  It’s hard to know what to expect in the coming 12 months.  Here’s a short list of things that I think will happen…

Over the next 12 months…

          We will continue to faithfully proclaim the word of our Lord,

          We will preach his message of forgiveness           and love. 

          People will be born and will die.

          Some will come into this church as guests and desire to be members

          We will sing songs that are familiar and some that are new.

Someone will complain about what we are

                   singing.

          New groups will form to better serve the needs of our membership and the                           community.

          New ideas will surface, some to be

                   discarded and some to be

                   implemented.

          A group will be formed to plan the church’s 175^th anniversary celebration.       

          There are dozens more things that are going to start happening in this community.  Why?  Because Denmark Congregational UCC is a living, growing community that is working to be a vital part of the body of Christ we will keep moving forward.  Some of the changes will be hard, and some will have to fight to gain a foothold, but over the course of this year, I expect great things out of all of you.  I hope that you expect great things from yourselves and from me.  Now is the time that all of us should be pulling together to do something great in this community.  Happy New Year!

Sincerely,