Happy New Year!
As I write, we still haven’t started the twelve days of Christmas, much less rung in 2023. Closing the office the week between Christmas and New Year’s is thus not only such a wonderful gift to me (and the rest of the staff!) but also the occasion to write to our future selves. Pre-Christmas Bromleigh is focused on telling the ancient story of that long-ago night in Bethlehem, but 2023 Bromleigh? She’s looking forward to so much in our life together here at UCG.
2022 was the first full year since my arrival that we worshiped in person (except for that one week Hurricane Ian sent us back online) and it has been so marvelous to get to know you better, to live and grow into the rhythms of the community’s life together, and to dream up new avenues for our ministry. January will bring attendance at a conference of ministers at other large UCC congregations for me, as well as the second Vinery retreat. Our January congregational meeting will invite reflection on our bylaws and budget, and in the weeks of preparation before that, I’ll be working with various folks to further flush out ideas about our financial sustainability, and to explore an opportunity to apply for a sizable grant through the Lilly Endowment. We’ll hopefully get a date on the calendar for our women’s retreat, and start planning for Lent! The calendar years begin and end, but there is no real pause on life in the church.
Someone mentioned recently that another local church closed between December 21 and December 31st, to give staff time with their families, and how nice that was. I always appreciate time off, and am more than grateful for the week I’ll spend with my family in Chicago after Christmas, but I cannot imagine not being with my church family for this holy night, this celebration!
It’s good for us to have boundaries and vacation and sabbath and rest, but going into the new year, excited about all that is to come, I am reminded of how vital the life of the community is to me. UCG isn’t just somewhere I spend time; it’s a part of who I am. My prayer in the new year is that you will find both rest and cause for celebration and that you will continue to feel this community as a vital part of your life and identity. Happy New Year. I’ll see you at church!