Pastor Angie's In-Spire-ations January 2018


 It is the day after Christmas and I have been sitting here in my quiet house for the past four hours praying and studying my quiet time materials.  The fire and my candle are burning, the tree lights are on, my tea is hot, our pets are snoozing around me and I have watched the dawn break. At 5:15 this morning, we watched our daughter and her family drive away as they began their journey back to Colorado.  I wish I could just climb into bed and go back to sleep once I’m up, but that’s not in my DNA.  So I have been here in my quiet time praying, reading and listening.  This has been a mini-retreat for me after the busy-ness of the festivities.
Pastor Chris talked about possibilities on Sunday and I am excited about the possibilities 2018 will bring.  Each one of you bring gifts, skills, talents and abilities that have the possibility to transform our church into an even more missional church. The ideas bubbling up are so much fun to hear.  Our study of what it means to be a “Church Heaven Applauds” opened up many discussions about what we can do and it is a joy to watch you take these possibilities to heart and put them into action plans.
Personally, 2018 has the possibility of being a very big year for me.  My Board of Ordained Ministry ordination interview will be March 5th or 6th. If that goes well, ordination will follow June 9th, just two days shy of the seventh anniversary of my call to ordained ministry. 
I want to begin the year by thanking Pastor Chris and YOU for being such a big part of that journey.  You have all allowed me to live into the role of the deacon in so many ways.  You have allowed me space to shape my ministry, hone my leadership skills, stretch myself through preaching, and learn what it means to balance work, life and ministry.  You have prayed for me and for Chris, welcomed us and encouraged us to become a part of who you are as a church.  It was not easy to leave our home church of 28 years, but you gave us a new home in which to thrive and grow spiritually and professionally. Many of you are instrumental in our work at Common Grace Ministries and I cannot thank you enough for that support, as well.
While my residency in ministry has been very good, I look forward to being free of its demands so I can lead and participate in small groups, explore new information through participation in and presentation of workshops and retreats with you, lead you into the international mission field and just rest and enjoy life with you as friends.  YOU are such a blessing to us and we look forward to the possibilities the New Year will bring for us as the church and in our neighborhood.
I challenge you to think about one NEW thing you will bring to the table this year.  What will you do that is just a little outside of your box or maybe A LOT outside of your box?  With whom will you share the story of God at work in YOUR life?  Let’s see what we can do for our church, our neighborhood, Kendallville and beyond!  God Bless You!
Pastor Angie


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