Greeting Siblings in Christ,
We are now officially in the new year. The season of Christmas is now coming to an end, and we are now entering into ordinary time. As is common around this time, I have been reflecting on this past year, and I have to say that it was a good year! A lot of things have happened, and we have only grown deeper into our relationship with each other. At Faith, we have tried to do new things and have reintroduced old traditions. At Jerusalem, we have gathered in fellowship, and I have continued to learn more about who Jerusalem is. I have had so much fun getting to know both congregations. I thank you all for letting me walk with you in discipleship, and I thank you for walking with me. You all have been so kind and supportive, and you have shown Luca so much love. It has been a joyous time. We have smiled together, laughed together, and danced together. I am so grateful to have you all in my life.
There has been a quote I have been thinking about a lot lately. The quote comes from the Emmy award winning TV comedy The Office. In the last episode of the series, Andy Bernard, an employee of the Dunder Mifflin Paper Company, in an interview says to the camera, “I wish there was a way to know you're in the good old days before you've actually left them.” Andy makes this comment because he is reflecting on his time with his colleagues at Dunder Mifflin, and he looks at his time there very fondly. In fact, he considers them to be the good old days. I think many of us, similar to Andy, like to look back at the past, and remember it fondly. There is nothing wrong with doing this. The past can bring many fond memories. There is also a lot that one can learn from the past. However, I think this quote from Andy is also a reminder for us to live in the present. It is a reminder for us to see how lucky we are and how great we have it now. Perhaps, we are called to take a look around and appreciate everything that we have going on right now. Perhaps, we are currently in the good old days and we are called to enjoy them now.
So, it has been a great year and I wish we could stay in that time forever. However, what is God calling us to do today and in the future? How will we continue to be in fellowship together with the rest of the world? How will we live in the good old days?
In Isaiah 43, God says to Israel:
18 Do not remember the former things
or consider the things of old.
19 I am about to do a new thing;
now it springs forth; do you not perceive it?
I will make a way in the wilderness
and rivers in the desert.
So, what new thing is God calling us to do? This is a question that we are all called to think about. However, no matter what it is, let us continue enthusiastically and may we give God thanks for all the fun we are going to have. Thank you for this past year. I am glad to be able to spend the good old days with you.
Peace and Blessings,
Pastor Ethan Doan
We are now officially in the new year. The season of Christmas is now coming to an end, and we are now entering into ordinary time. As is common around this time, I have been reflecting on this past year, and I have to say that it was a good year! A lot of things have happened, and we have only grown deeper into our relationship with each other. At Faith, we have tried to do new things and have reintroduced old traditions. At Jerusalem, we have gathered in fellowship, and I have continued to learn more about who Jerusalem is. I have had so much fun getting to know both congregations. I thank you all for letting me walk with you in discipleship, and I thank you for walking with me. You all have been so kind and supportive, and you have shown Luca so much love. It has been a joyous time. We have smiled together, laughed together, and danced together. I am so grateful to have you all in my life.
There has been a quote I have been thinking about a lot lately. The quote comes from the Emmy award winning TV comedy The Office. In the last episode of the series, Andy Bernard, an employee of the Dunder Mifflin Paper Company, in an interview says to the camera, “I wish there was a way to know you're in the good old days before you've actually left them.” Andy makes this comment because he is reflecting on his time with his colleagues at Dunder Mifflin, and he looks at his time there very fondly. In fact, he considers them to be the good old days. I think many of us, similar to Andy, like to look back at the past, and remember it fondly. There is nothing wrong with doing this. The past can bring many fond memories. There is also a lot that one can learn from the past. However, I think this quote from Andy is also a reminder for us to live in the present. It is a reminder for us to see how lucky we are and how great we have it now. Perhaps, we are called to take a look around and appreciate everything that we have going on right now. Perhaps, we are currently in the good old days and we are called to enjoy them now.
So, it has been a great year and I wish we could stay in that time forever. However, what is God calling us to do today and in the future? How will we continue to be in fellowship together with the rest of the world? How will we live in the good old days?
In Isaiah 43, God says to Israel:
18 Do not remember the former things
or consider the things of old.
19 I am about to do a new thing;
now it springs forth; do you not perceive it?
I will make a way in the wilderness
and rivers in the desert.
So, what new thing is God calling us to do? This is a question that we are all called to think about. However, no matter what it is, let us continue enthusiastically and may we give God thanks for all the fun we are going to have. Thank you for this past year. I am glad to be able to spend the good old days with you.
Peace and Blessings,
Pastor Ethan Doan
