Godspell has some memorable songs for me, the best of which is “Day by Day.” It expresses a full life of discipleship through clear insight, deep love, and faithful travel.
Day by day
Day by day
Oh Dear Lord
Three things I pray
To see thee more clearly
Love thee more dearly
Follow thee more nearly
Day by day
How will we show up for active ministry in 2026? How will you live out your faith this year? My spiritual renewal leave in November was another grace-filled occasion to rest and reflect on the sources of power and beauty and peace in my life and ministry. One fruitful insight of that time is that I want to show up with compassion, inspiration, and encouragement for us to gain clarity in these three relationships:
- Our relationship with Christ. Do you know the peace of Jesus Christ? Are you at peace with God? Do you accept God’s acceptance of you in Christ? What ways of caring for your soul, also known as the “means of grace,” are you practicing?
- Our individual relationship with the congregation. Through our prayers, presence, gifts, service, and witness we activate our faith. As members of the congregation, we are “bound in sacred covenant to shoulder the burdens, share the risks, and celebrate the joys of our fellow members” (2020/2024 Book of Discipline). How are you an active member of our congregation? How would you like to grow in your ministry this year?
- Our congregation’s relationship with the community. I like the idea that the Church exists for those who are not here yet (nor may ever be). My late father-in-law’s observation was that the Church has a center, Jesus Christ, but no circumference. We are meant to be expanding the ministry of loving our neighbors. Great ideas abound here in our fish pond and the commitments we are encouraged to make on 3×5 cards.
To build on these three things I will be offering a membership preparation/exploration class in January. And as a Church we will be intentionally moving along transitional paths with my retirement at the end of June, the payoff of the mortgage, and the celebration of 175 years of ministry. I am excited about the ways God is moving through our congregation. And I look forward to what we will see more clearly, how we will love more dearly, and where we will follow more nearly in 2026.