December at First OPC
Dear congregation and friends,
December is upon us! It is time to wrap up another year of life and ministry in service to Christ our king.
Many people have been very kindly inquiring about my health (just to be clear, this is Pastor Calvin writing). My medical team is currently developing a treatment plan. Right now, we know that the plan will involve chemotherapy and surgery, but we do not know exactly when or in what sequence. As of December 1, I have taken leave from most of my ministry duties. This is a combination of study leave, vacation, and medical leave, in anticipation of my treatment starting some time soon.
As I step back for a time, Pastor Nathaniel is stepping up to handle more of the preaching work. He has begun preaching through Matthew's Gospel, which tells us so much about Christ our king. Matthew was a "scribe well trained" (Matthew 13:52) who carefully shows that Jesus fulfills the promises and patterns of the Old Testament.
The Church has some fun plans for December. During the Sunday School time (9:45am) on December 17, I will continue the tradition of reading a Bible story to the kids (the "kids at heart" usually enjoy this too). We will also have some books for the kids, and some rewards for those who have completed their memory work.
We are also preparing to go caroling in the neighborhood on Christmas Eve, after the evening service. Feel free to join us! There are a couple practice sessions on December 10 and 17 at 4pm, but even unpracticed singers will be welcome.
God has been good to us this year. He has blessed us with a happy church life, and provided wonderful opportunities for us to serve him. We have welcomed several new members, just in the past week, with several more that we expect to welcome soon. Many individuals and families in our congregation have experienced his faithfulness in trouble. We have seen God's sanctifying work unfolding in each other's lives. Our service is small and weak, but since we offer it to God by faith in Christ, we believe these are "spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ" (1 Peter 2:5).
We have some big ideas for our ministry work next year, but for now the main thing on my mind as your pastor and friend is the sheer importance of personally enjoying God's grace to us through Christ. He forgives all our sins! We can live in genuine peace and fellowship with him, and with each other, and in our families. Only the death and resurrection of Christ could provide such grace to sinners.
In Christian love,
Pastor Calvin