As I approach the end of my Sabbatical as well as the end of the year, stepping through the Christmas season, I am very grateful to you, The Chapel, to our elders and staff for this time away from my pastoral routine. I will be finishing up my writing project on Marriage, Divorce and Remarriage, as well as doing some projections on our growth, how to manage growth until we have the next wing completed.

For me, as I would enter November, I would normally be thinking about Christmas, how to rework the birth narratives for December. Then I would be thinking about how to make Christmas Eve special. That is all a normal pressure that every preaching pastor feels. So being on sabbatical this Christmas season, I am so thankful for Pastor Blair as he took on this responsibility to plan out the Christmas series and take on the Christmas Eve Service.

As I look back in my years of ministry, this will be my first Christmas Eve off since 1978, which means I can enjoy the service with Lisa and our daughter Rachel and her husband Joe. (Dan and Allison and grandsons will join us on Christmas day.)

Looking back over the last number of months with our solid staff, it has been tremendous not to have any worries that ministry elements would slip through the cracks. I am greatly thankful for each one who serves this church family. So I want to express my thanks:

To Pastor Blair for his planning and preaching most of the weeks of my sabbatical, for watching over many details.

To Pastor Paul, who with his many years of senior pastorate experience, he is that solid rock for our staff.

To Kent as he has continued to faithfully lead and direct our Sunday morning worship, taking care of our tec needs.

 To Pastor Dan as he uses his gifts in ministry to teens, leaders and parents.

To Cindy and Jan who are great overseers of our Children’s Ministries, which is a huge responsibility.

To Sara Steinke who works behind the scene on our website and e-news letter and helps us in idea development.

To Shirley Hackney and Beth Clark, our administrative assistants, who have continued to keep the flow of the office running smoothly.

As we remember the birth of our Savior and look at a new year, may we stay focused on God’s call in each of our lives, to live for Him, to be committed followers as God directs our steps. Have a wonderful celebration of the Lord’s Birth.

Merry Christmas,