Articles
BEGINNING OF A NEW YEAR
I suppose we could sum up the entire year with one word—COVID! But if we do that, we
miss a great deal of good things that have happened to the congregation during this year. We
have had two births and several grandbabies and great-grandbabies born to families. Sadly, we
have also had four deaths in the immediate church family and many have lost family members or
loved ones. We did have one baptism and several families have traveled in to worship with us.
Unfortunately, due to the concerns of COVID, it seems we have been more suspended than
together. We learned to be flexible, using recordings and livestreaming to be sure all members
could participate in worship while homebound. Those efforts will continue even after we begin
to meet again (whenever that may be!). Yes, 2020 will be a year to remember. And hopefully, we
will choose to remember the good things that took place and not the bad. And to remember that
through it all, God is always good, still in control and watching over us.
As we begin a new year, I want to draw our attention to the goals we set for last year:
1) Worshipping the Lord in reverence and in awe.
2) Growing in maturity as children of God.
3) Evangelizing the community of Monticello.
So how did you do? Even though we weren’t together, there was still opportunity to achieve
in each of those areas. In fact, to some extent, you may have even had more opportunity. It can
sure be hard to focus more on worship to the Lord when apart, but the challenge of worshipping
at home may bring us closer to the Lord with a renewed spirit of putting Him first. Worshipping
in smaller groups can bring us closer, not only to the Lord, but with each other.
As we begin a new year, I pray that we may all double our efforts in those areas listed
above. Be sure to reach out to current members. We know that it may take a bit before we are
back together for worship, but we are still linked together through the blood of Jesus Christ. Be
sure to spend time in God’s Word each and every day. Spend time in prayer, seeking the things
of God and being thankful to Him for another day to praise Him! And even though we may be
concerned about the effects of the virus, let us be more concerned for those who are lost in sin
and need to hear the “good news” of salvation through Jesus Christ! ~P. Mowrer
