A Whole New Year

Don’t you just love a New Year? It’s such an open book. It seems like we can make what we want of it so we make resolutions to lose ten or eighty pounds, quit smoking, read the Bible every day, come to church more often, get more exercise, visit our loved ones more . . . In January it seems like we can make our lives better and more productive. And why not? We make fun of New Year’s resolutions but anything that makes us try to do better for ourselves and for others is OK with me. Try it—the worst that can happen is you fail and end up the same as you are now. That’s not much of a risk is it? It’s true we can resolve to any of those things on our list at any time of the year but the New Year is such a suggestive time.

I’m thinking about offering some resolutions for Calvary in 2012 but maybe it would help to first look at 2011. We took in six new members with several more about to be received early this year. I mentioned in an earlier Horizons that I was sure that our average worship attendance would increase this year. It did—from 85 in 2010 to 86 in 2011; a small increase to be sure, but the first increase of any kind in a decade. Our Church Council worked with our District Superintendent to finish a planning process begun in the fall of 2010 and arrived at a new vision statement which has seemingly revitalized our work together in ministry. We conducted a confirmation class jointly with Shiloh where one of those new members learned about the faith. We conducted a Calvary Vacation Bible School for the first time in several years. We held a very successful talent show to benefit Japan after that devastating earthquake and between the offering and the talent show/auction raised over $1500. There was the Trunk or Treat/Food Drive for Halloween which offered a safe, fun way for between 70 and 80 children in the community to trick or treat in the church parking lot as well as received 300 + pounds of food for the Food Pantry. We distributed New Testaments and invitations to our Advent/Christmas services to two communities nearby. We held an Advent Study this year based on Adam Hamilton’s “The Journey” in which 22 people participated. The Calvary Food Pantry continued to offer food to hungry families twice a month. All this in addition to worship, choir, children’s choir, Sunday School, Cub Scouts, Bible studies and more. There are plenty of other events and ministries large and small and I might have left out one you value highly but I think I’ve made my point. Things are looking up at Calvary. Some might say we have turned a corner. Now that’s exciting. So for those resolutions:

1. Each of us invite a friend, neighbor, relative to church this year;

2. Increase our welcoming energy when someone visits;

3. Once again pay our apportionments to the conference, in full;

4. Continue and increase our outreach into the community. I’d love to see Calvary become

     known as the church which makes a difference in Waldorf; and

5. Have another Bible Study this winter/spring and one next fall.

These are just some ideas I had. Maybe you have your own—go for it!

Happy New Year and God Bless!

Pastor Rob