Yesterday we began our stewardship campaign with a beautiful word from our finance chair, Beth Bostwick. In her words, “God was faithful in 2023 and will be in 2024.” I ended the service by asking the congregation to believe in what we are up to and I said, “I believe in us because I believe Christ dwells in us.” I cannot wait to see what God does with our little church with big dreams. This Sunday, we will continue our Epiphany Stewardship Series talking about the Light of our Presence and the gift that our togetherness is for one another.

Read Pastor Steve’s Sermon
Yesterday I preached on how the gift of the Magi put our three wise men on a different path home. Click here to read my sermon: The Light of Gifts.

New Member Service
At the end of our stewardship campaign we will be welcoming new members into the fold. If you have been visiting with us and have been considering becoming a new member, transferring your membership, or getting baptized for the first time, please don’t hesitate to connect with me. Our New Member Service is February 4th, don’t delay!

Save the Dates
January 28th (Morning) – Fuel Bag Packing after church
January 28th (Evening) – Kids Club/Family Workshops 
February 4th – New Member Service and Potluck
February 11th – Super Bowl Party at the Parsonage
February 14th – Ash Wednesday
February 21 – April 24th – Journey to Freedom Small Groups

Happy New Year! I want to thank you all for the time away last week. I am back this week but will be working from home since school is still out. If you need anything from me, please don’t hesitate to call or come by the parsonage. I sincerely appreciate Joe and Brenda for stepping in to lead our Wesleyan Covenant Service on New Year’s Eve. I hear several of our members have Covid this week. Please be vigilant, get tested and wear a mask if you have symptoms, and please stay home if you are sick. My prayers for recovery and healing are with you.

Becoming the People of God: The Light of the World
This Sunday, we will begin our Epiphany Series: Becoming the People of God: The Light of the World. We will focus on our stewardship and our commitments of Gifts, Service, Presence, and Prayer as members of the United Methodist Church. We will hear testimony from church members, contemplate our personal commitments to the church, and welcome new church members into our fold. There is a bevy of spiritually enriching activity happening around here, you won’t want to miss it!

This Sunday Evening: Epiphany Open House at the Parsonage
Drop by the parsonage anytime after 5pm for our Epiphany Open House. There will be food and drinks and we will end the evening (around 7pm) with a Christmas tree bonfire. Feel free to bring your used Christmas tree by the parsonage anytime this week!

Children’s Ministry Volunteers Needed
Please consider signing up to volunteer in our children’s ministry. I have recently added dates for 2024. We also have openings for December as well. We’ve been getting visitors lately and this is one of the best ways to offer hospitality and ministry to young families. If all of us volunteer to sign up once a month to watch the nursery and children’s church, then we should have no problem getting coverage. Click here to sign up.

Save the Dates
January 7th – Epiphany Open House at the Paronage (5pm)
January 28th (Morning) – Fuel Bag Packing after church
January 28th (Evening) – Kids Club/Family Workshops 
February 4th – New Member Service and Potluck
February 11th – Super Bowl Party at the Parsonage
February 14th – Ash Wednesday
February 21 – April 24th – Journey to Freedom Small Groups

Merry Christmas! What a wonderful and blessed Christmas Eve we all had together. At midnight on Christmas Eve, I rang the church bells for over a minute and was struck by the place in Pleasant View’s history our church has. I pray, we continue to be a place of sanctuary, hope, and healing for another 150 years.

The office is closed this week and I am on vacation until January 2. Anne Culver, unfortunately has tested positive for Covid. Please be mindful of close contact and take a Covid test if you are having symptoms. Anne was going to be my contact for pastoral emergencies this week, however, for obvious reasons she will be unavailable. If you have a pastoral emergency, please don’t hesitate to call me on my cell phone.

Read Pastor Steve’s Christmas Sermon
On Christmas Eve, I preached on how the manger points to the Eucharist and how that ultimately points to the hope of Christ dwelling in our hearts. Read it here.

This Sunday, December 31st
This Sunday on the Seventh Day of Christmas, we will be gathering for a Wesleyan Covenant Service. A Wesleyan Covenant is a Methodist Tradition on New Years that goes back to the 18th Century. It includes reading scripture and singing Christmas carols. I hope you find it a great way to start the New Year with intentionality.

Service is at 10am, Sunday School at 9am
There will be no nursery care or children’s church this Sunday.

Children’s Ministry Volunteers Needed
Please consider signing up to volunteer in our children’s ministry. I have recently added dates for 2024. We also have openings for December as well. We’ve been getting visitors lately and this is one of the best ways to offer hospitality and ministry to young families. If all of us volunteer to sign up once a month to watch the nursery and children’s church, then we should have no problem getting coverage. Click here to sign up.

Save the Dates
January 7th – Epiphany Open House and Christmas Tree Bonfire at the Parsonage (5pm)
January 28th – Kids Club/Family Workshops
February 14th – Ash Wednesday