Isaiah 26:12-- Lord, you establish peace for us; all that we have accomplished you have done for us. 

As we end 2022 tomorrow and begin 2023 on Sunday, I want to thank our great God and King for another year of grace, love, kindness and sustaining presence towards us. 

Every year has unforeseen surprises—some surprisingly blessed, others surprisingly painful.  But the wonderful thing for us as children of God is that He is present with us in all of them.  The measure of a year must not be in the absence or presence of evident blessings or burdens; it is in the presence of God himself.  Whether His presence was palpable or not, whether the darkness of life hid Him from our view or not, nothing this past year could separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus (Romans 8:38, 39).  And nothing can in the year to come. 

While the culture around us may celebrate the end of one year and the beginning of the next with a round of parties, games, drinks and more, we get to celebrate with the God of time himself in singing, fellowship, reflection, worship, praise, joy and hope.  We live in the same world, but we do not celebrate in the same way.

So, as we journey through this important transitional weekend, let me encourage you to wring from it all the divine blessing God wants you to have.  Keep pursuing the presence of God.  Let these hours be filled with Spirit-led reflection on the past year and Spirit-filled resolutions about the next.   

Here are a couple of opportunities that may help you do just that.

• New Year’s Eve Prayer Vigil: starting at noon Saturday and running 24-hours to noon Sunday, a whole bunch of God’s people from all over Spokane will be coming together for hours of prayer, repentance, praise, worship and intercession at The Gathering House (733 W. Garland Ave.).  Whether you are able to come for just a few minutes, several hours or all day, I know that God is anxious to meet with those who are eager to meet with Him.  Every hour will have a unique focus and be led by different spiritual leaders in our community.  What a great time and way to bid the old “farewell” and the new “welcome” with the great family of God in Spokane!
• New Year’s Day Worship: Sunday we will be worshiping our amazing God at both 8:30 and 10:15 a.m. NOTE:  the New Year ushers in a scheduled time change for our 2^nd service—15 minutes later in 2023.  (We’re trying to facilitate a better transition between the two services and crowds.)  Taking advantage of this unique New Year’s Day Sunday, we will be looking at what God has to say about resolutions, plans and rhythms for our next year of life.  Designed to be highly interactive and deeply personal, I’m hopeful that all of us will go away better equipped to make this next year one of our best with God and people. 

One final note.  Many of you have been praying about and giving generously to make up for what was a $40,000 gap between our giving and spending in 2022.  I’m delighted to tell you that the gap is down to around $10,000 at present.  If you haven’t yet been part of God’s amazing answer, there is still time.  What better way to begin the New Year than with a “thank-offering” ending the Old? 

Ending and beginning with you,

Pastor John