Welcome to 2020! It's great when the calendar hands you a perfect theme. I’ve been kicking around the whole 20/20 concept in my mind and can't help but focus on themes of Vision and Clarity. I've reflected on the year past with 20/20 hindsight and I see where we have come from. I've reflected on how we will move forward together in 2020. We look to the future knowing that our foresight - our vision and clarity - comes from our faith, from our continued focus on Jesus and His Word. I want to be able to share all these thoughts with you.
And so, with great personal anticipation and excitement, on behalf of the vestry and staff of Christ-St. Paul's, I invite you and your entire family to attend a very special celebration, a banquet feast, lovingly prepared by your clergy, your vestry, and your church staff to be held next Friday, January 17th. The evening begins with an offering of
hors d'oeuvres, followed by a sit-down dinner, a guest speaker, and a preview look ahead at 2020 as we give testimony to our ministry in 2019. Consider it a foretaste of a 'heavenly banquet,' not an annual meeting filled with reports, budgets, stats, and figures, but a witness to the furthering of the kingdom and to the transformation of lives. Indeed, this is a reason to dress up and celebrate! And fittingly, we will hold our celebration in the sacred space of the church building, the place that has housed the true church - the people of Christ-St. Paul's - where we have worshiped and communed together for 12 years.
Our guest speaker is The Rev. Greg Kronz of St. Luke's Hilton Head. His presence with us reminds us that we are not alone. We are not an island. We stand with our brothers and sisters in our parish and in our Diocese, together spreading God's kingdom on earth and making disciples for Jesus Christ. The ministry team from Church of the Cross (Bluffton) is coming to care for our children (5th grade and below), providing them with their own meal and special activities. What a gift to all our own ministry volunteers - the ability to celebrate with the whole church.
Entering 2020 is even more exciting given the unified and collaborative ministry team we currently have in place. I am so grateful for Lynn, Tapley, Andrew, and Tim, for who they are, for their love of the Lord, for the ministry they lead, and the way they work together as a team. What hope they bring to this new year! And I am grateful for the discernment of the vestry, identifying the new 2020 vestry nominees: Kyle Bollmann, Cameron Dixon, and Gerry Graves. We will welcome them into their roles of service, along with the delegates to the diocesan convention.
I believe it's going to be a very special evening filled with blessings for all. I hope and pray you will make this an event not to be missed! And all you have to do is click the button below to RSVP and tell us you are coming!
Praying for the Lord’s clear 2020 vision for this new year...