Kickoff 2022

It was so encouraging to see a good crowd out for our kickoff Sunday yesterday! The young people put together school bags. It’s so important that they learn the importance of serving others at a young age. It’s such a central part of our faith. We also took up our “noisy offering” for God’s Little Acre Preschool, so it was a service full of fun and activity. It was nice to see several staying after for our fellowship time as well. Just a good day all the way around.

The sermon was called The Long View: The Past, with the idea of thinking about those who’ve gone before us at North Danvers. I want to repeat that I, in no way, think I have the definitive picture of North Danvers history. Many of you have been a part of this congregation much longer than myself, and several of you have deep, deep family connections to this congregation that goes back generations. I would never presume to think that I have it all figured out. I do think there are many important lessons for us to think about from our history, especially as we think about the challenges of today and plan for the future of our congregation. I encourage you to continue to pray for God’s wisdom and guidance in everything we do.

I wonder what you consider some of our greatest challenges as a congregation? Next week that’s what I want to think about. I do think it’s important that we take a “broad view” as well, and realize there are several currents in our communities that are having an impact on many congregations just now—not simply our own. I’ll be talking about some of those that I think are important for us to consider.

Seems like one of those seasons when there are many in need of our prayers just now. Let me remind you again that though our health needs are often most obvious, there are others who are struggling in other ways. Let’s try to pray for and support one another. It’s part of what it means for us to “love one another” well.

God bless,

Brian

Scripture readings for next Sunday 1 Peter 1:13-22—What are some ways we live differently if we are followers of Christ?

Psalm 37—What are some of the contrasts made between the righteous and the wicked?

Hebrews 11:8-16—What does it mean to live as “foreigners and strangers on the earth”?

John 13:31-35—How do you understand Jesus’ command to love one another?