Happy New year! I pray your new year is off to a great start and I pray for all of us that it will be a time of hope and promise. Some of you know I do a daily video devotion on Facebook that I call First 5. Last week we were in Paul's letters to Timothy. In II Timothy 4 Paul encourages Timothy to be faithful in sharing the Gospel “in season and out of season.” During advent, as we are doing special things and getting ready to celebrate the birth of Christ, it feels like we are “in season,” a time when we think much about sharing the hope of Jesus with others. Then when we get into January, as things become quieter in the dead of winter, it sometimes feels like we are “out of season.”
But what Paul is reminding us here is that the work of sharing Jesus is an everyday work. It is something we do in season and out of season. We do it in the busiest times and in the quiet times. So even though we are coming into a quiet time of the year for the church, particularly with Covid, I want to encourage us to continue to find ways to share the good news of Jesus. God offers us opportunities to do that every day. One tool I would encourage you to use is the new sermon series we have just begun entitled A Journey of a Lifetime. This is going to be a very engaging series. And the start of a new year is a great time to invite people to join us for online worship. I want to invite us to make the most of this opportunity by extending the invitation whenever you can. If you don’t have it handy, the web address for our online service is http://rockchurchnh.online.church.
On a personal note, I want to let you all know that this week Nicole was transitioned to hospice care. Of course only God knows what the future will bring. So we welcome your prayers for the days ahead as we continue this journey.
Love you all.
God bless,
Pastor Steve
One final thing. I know I said this last week, but in case anyone missed it, I want to say again how incredibly grateful Nicole and I have been for the many expressions of love that we have received this Christmas season. We have been flooded with cards, emails, texts, calls, gifts, goodies and more. And on Christmas Eve we received an absolutely incredible monetary gift that I know many of you contributed to. We are blessed beyond words for your generosity, your love and your prayers for us. Thank you all.