​Merry Christmas & Happy New Year! It has begun, the rush to Christmas, and then, flash, it’s over. It’s 2026, and we haven’t taken a breath. As you know, I love Christmas, but I am also glad when it’s all over. Why is that? Because I put so much effort into the decorating and planning that there is barely time to enjoy it before it’s over, and it’s time to take it all down. Lisa often asks me if all the effort is worth it, and I’ve always responded with a resounding yes! Christmas is worth it! It is a time when the world stops and focuses on Christmas, albeit not necessarily for the same reasons, but at its heart is Jesus. It still gives the church, and us individually, opportunities to share Jesus. I can’t change the world, but I can make sure that my actions, efforts, and focus are on the good news of great joy – Christ, our Savior, is born! Just maybe, I can make a difference in someone else’s life. As a church, let’s rejoice and share the good news! As a family, rejoice and share the good news! As an individual, share the good news of great joy with all people! Thank You! Lisa and I once again thank you for your generosity and for your recent gift in appreciation of my service with you, now entering another year. I thank you for the opportunity and trust. May God bless you as you have blessed us. Thank you, Merry Christmas, and Happy New Year!

​This year, I have neglected my garden.  Though it has been a plentiful year with an abundance of cucumbers, tomatoes, and broccoli, I haven’t kept up with harvesting them. This has been because of a lack of time, I have put forth the effort.  It has been hot, but really I’ve had no excuse except laziness. 
 
Tomatoes are rotting on the vines, the beans lost their freshness, and the cucumbers have became behemoths.  I feel bad at all the waste, but I have no one else to blame but myself. Have you been like me?
 
Can this be an analogy for our harvest of souls, too?  Ouch!  That’s convicting, or at least it should be.  There are a lot of factors that affect our evangelizing efforts, just like our gardens.  Sometimes, they are not always right, but there are times when the time is right and we are too busy, too afraid, and even too weary.  Jesus said this about this reality.
 
Matthew 9:26-38: 36 When he saw the crowds, he had compassion on them, because they were harassed and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd. 37 Then he said to his disciples, “The harvest is plentiful, but the workers are few. 38 Ask the Lord of the harvest, therefore, to send out workers into his harvest field.”
 
Evangelism is a daunting task that can paralyzing.   Why? Maybe it’s because we are not taking the first step in the harvest process – PRAYER.  Jesus said to ask the Lord of the Harvest to send us!  Jesus is saying that it is with God’s guidance through His Holy Spirit that we can put forth the effort and find success.  We can’t let our fear of rejection and the feelings of inadequacy keep us from doing the Lord’s work because he has promised to lead us.  
 
The harvest is His, not ours.  We are only to reap what He has readied.  Yes, there will be those who are not ready yet, but they still will require encouragement.  Jesus said the fields are plentiful, meaning that they are ripe for the harvester.  He will show us the fruit, all we have to put forth the effort and bring in the harvest.
 
Don’t be hindered.  Let God empower us and motivate us because the time to harvest is now!  There is much at stake!
 

As we finished our “Let’s Go Fishing!” sermon series, I felt incompleteness because we didn’t specifically discuss how to fish for men. We discussed why we need to fish and how to use our testimony and the Holy Spirit's guiding aid in our fishing.  We even discussed using the truth as bait, and we must not forget that Jesus will bring the miraculous catch.  He just needs us to GO Fishing!  We can’t catch a fish if we never go fishing!
 
 I would like to share a few words encouraging our fishing with a few suggestions that I hope to expand on sometime soon.
 
First, fishing begins with a connection – look for those connections you already have with family members, friends, neighbors, and co-workers.  Pray for God’s guidance in reaching out to those relationships at the right time and the right way.  Sometimes, these relationships can be tenuous, but we must be ready to fish when God gives us the opportunity.
That opportunity may begin with difficulty, hardship, or loss when our faith can be used to encourage even beyond words.  Opportunities may arise as church events, Christian concerts and such, where an invitation can be extended.  If the Spirit leads you to invite, then invite.  If your invitation is declined, don’t give up; wait for the next opportunity. Remember, an invitation is only a start to building trust in your connection, which may lead you to share your faith.  Be willing and let the Holy Spirit use, and work through you.
 
Lastly, look for the opportunities God leads you through in your everyday lives as you go about your daily schedules.  We all encounter someone who needs Jesus every day.  Ask the Spirit to lead you and take those opportunities to pray, help in a time of need, and witness. 
 

I’ve been fortunate to have made several trips to Europe, and each time, I was amazed by those great houses of worship, such as Notre Dame in Paris, The Basilica of St. Peter in Rome, and the Cathedral of Cologne in Germany.  These are amazing architectural wonders in both structure and adornment.  On my most recent trip to Spain and Portugal, I visited as many churches as possible .  Each was varied in age and style, but they were all built for the glory of God.  After each visit, I often wondered if God was pleased or displeased with these buildings. Yes, the buildings are the meeting places for the followers of Christ and have been for hundreds of years, some for more than a thousand years.  I am sure that in all that time, many have gathered to worship God, and that is a good thing, but I wonder if God intended us to build these opulent structures for Him or if he wanted us to focus our efforts and funds on the people.  Yes, we like having somewhere to worship, but to God, the church   isn’t the building it’s the people.
 
The church is seen in the New Testament as “the body of Christ” and “the Bride of Christ,” both indicating a relationship with Jesus.  First, we are considered “The Body of Christ” because we are in this world to do God’s will, especially in evangelism.  We all have unique gifts, talents, and abilities which God has given us to carry out his will.  When the church works together in service, God can do amazing things to reach people through His Spirit within us.  As Christ’s body, we are all important in carrying out the purpose of the church.  In the second phrase, “The Bride of Christ,” this analogy puts Jesus as the groom and we as his bride.  This means our relationship is one of love, adoration, and completion.  He was sent to us, and we are for Him. 
 
Scriptures also show us how much He loves us and what He did for us.  Throughout Paul’s letters to the first-century church, he stresses how our love for Jesus needs to be expressed in our obedience and service, not out of guilt or obligation, but out of love. 
 
We are the church and more than just bricks and mortar.  The next time we walk into a church building, remember that it isn’t the structure that makes us a church, but Jesus.  He brings us together, united in Him through His blood.  We are HIS! 
 

A couple of weeks ago, I was sent an article about the importance of small-sized churches. The article hit home for me on many levels, especially since the large churches are getting larger and the small churches are getting smaller. I know that there are many reasons for this, but I am not about the excuses, but the benefits. 
 
The article did tout many positive benefits of a small church. One of those is, “Everyone knows your name!”  This fosters the feelings of belonging – as a family. I grew up in a church smaller than Advance in rural Illinois. It was about a mile from a town of about 500 residents. It was indeed in the middle of cornfields along a half gravel-half pavement road. It was a generational church with many families dating back to its founding in 1873, mine included. My great, great, great grandfather was the first minister at that church. I vividly remember that small white building with a bell tower and two outhouses out back. I still remember the people, including those who have gone on to glory. But that sense of belonging still holds me and those people to that place. Even today, when I have the opportunity to visit with one of my long-time friends, it’s like time hasn’t passed at all.
 
I get that sense of belonging here at Advance, too. I know many of you have ties that go back many years. I see a wonderful relationship between the children and youth of our congregation with the adults. This generational relationship is vital to our youth in underscoring the importance of the church in their lives; I can attest to that. I hope you feel the importance of that bond because belonging to Christ’s church is powerful.
 
I am not underestimating that this relationship also exists in the larger churches. The important thing isn’t the size of the church but the power of belonging.
 
I am grateful to serve the Lord with you. We have something that people need that we need to share – the power of belonging to a church family that cares for each other on a deep level of love and commitment. Continue to live out these passages from God’s word:

I therefore, a prisoner for the Lord, urge you to walk in a manner worthy of the calling to which you have been called, 2 with all humility and gentleness, with patience, bearing,  with one another in       love, 3 eager to maintain the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace. 
Ephesians 4: 1-3
 
4 And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds, 25 not giving up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but encouraging one another—and all the more as you see the Day approaching. Hebrews 10:24: 
 

​In just a matter of days, our community and other communities from Texas to Ohio, will be inundated with crowds of people coming to experience a total eclipse. Estimates are that more than half a million people will travel to Indiana on this day, bringing the total to more than 10 million people who will be witnessing this event. Authorities are busy preparing for what could be the most significant one-day event in Indiana’s history. The last time Indianapolis experienced a total eclipse was September 14, 1205. That’s 819 years ago. This is a once-in-a-lifetime event. There are watch parties scheduled in every community, including Advance. Though excited to experience it, I am perplexed about all the hype and yet, I am amazed by God’s creation. I am reminded of what the Psalmist wrote in the 8th Psalm: “Lord, our Lord, how majestic your name is all over the earth! You have set your glory in the heavens.2 Through the praise of children and infants, you have established a stronghold against your enemies to silence the foe and the avenger. 3 When I consider your heavens, the work of your fingers, the moon and the stars, which you have set in place…”. It is also written in Psalms 19: 1: “The heavens declare the glory of God; the skies proclaim the work of his hands.” So, as this amazing event transpires, let’s not forget to give God the glory and be reminded that an even more significant cosmic event is drawing near – the second coming of Jesus! I hope we will continue to prepare ourselves and be ready for Him.

​THANK YOU! THANK YOU! THANK YOU! – I have so much to be thankful for and that includes YOU!  I so appreciate the prayers, flowers, cards, words of comfort, and the acts of kindness shown to my family and me during the loss of my mother.  I so appreciated those who came to the visitation and those who provided desserts for the dinner.  I will cherish all that you did.  I have peace of Mom’s eternal reward, but it is still hard.  I would also appreciate your continued prayers as we work through our mourning. 
 
I also want to thank you for your gifts and appreciation during Pastor Appreciation Month in October.  It is hard to believe we just completed our 9th year with you.  You are such a blessing to us.  So, as we continue our journey together, let’s run the race marked out for us and press on toward the prize together!   
 

Reflections on Summer. It sure seemed that summer had only begun, and then it was over. I was told once that time goes faster as you get older, and I am finding this to be true. The school summer break is shorter than it used to be, which condenses activities even more. Our lives are so strictly governed by our calendars, when do we pause, rest, and enjoy?

In the Law of Moses, specifically in the Ten Commandments, God set aside a weekly Sabbath of rest and worship and set strict guidelines of dos and don’ts that every Jewish man, woman, and child had to observe. You couldn’t work, walk over a set distance, cook, or do any activity except rest and worship. This is still practiced by Jews today across the world. When I was in Israel this past May, I experienced the Sabbath.

We were in the city of Tiberias on the shores of the Sea of Galilee, staying in a hotel. The Sabbath began on Friday evening just as the second star appeared in the sky, around 6 pm. We noticed a change in the hotel staff as the Jewish employees went home and Arab employees took their place. There was also a considerable decrease in the number of cars on the road. Many Jewish businesses closed, leaving only a few Arab stores open. It was an eerie feeling as the city came to a halt. We did see families heading to the synagogues for worship. There was also a difference in what we had for meals on Saturday - just the basics and no coffee?????

Why do you think that God set aside the Sabbath for us? In the Genesis account of Creation, it took six days for God to create the world, and on the seventh day, He rested. God needs a rest? Or was he demonstrating for us our need for it. For protestants outside the Jewish faith, we still have our day of worship on Sunday following the 1st-century church practice, but do we use it as rest and worship?

Imagine what it would be like if you didn’t have to leave home for one day each week and had nothing to do but rest – no yard work, no laundry, or any chores whatsoever. Doesn’t that sound awesome? Or does it seem unimaginable? Some of us would be bored, but wouldn’t that be better than overworked and exhausted running from one thing to another?

There is a movement calling Christians to set aside a Sabbath for only one day to try it. If it works, then set another day. Maybe after experiencing it a time or two, it might become something that we long for and plan in our schedules.

​I am not asking you to do it, but I am encouraging you to. I’ve set my own goal and hopefully I can keep to it. Maybe we can conclude that God knows exactly what we need.

As we approach VBS, I just wanted to share a few memories from my VBS days.  Vacation Bible School was always a big part of our summer.  I don’t mean just one week at our church; I mean several weeks going to other community churches.   In those days, there wasn’t as much to do during the day, so our mothers would take turns carting us off to whichever church was hosting a VBS – the Baptist Church, the Church of God, and our own church.  Then, VBS was always from 9:00 am to 12 noon each day of the week with a program at the end.  Sometimes, it would be two weeks.  As I got older, there was a switch to evening times because of the number of volunteers needed to pull VBS off.  It was the largest effort of evangelism in our community. Beyond that, I volunteered and even lead VBS for many years before I became a minister. 
 
After becoming a minister, VBS was again a major effort to evangelize our community requiring many volunteers.  Though tiring, I remained excited about VBS.  In all of my years, I don’t think I have missed more than 2 years of VBS in the last 50 plus years!  I am thankful we still have VBS today!
 
Today, we have had to evolve our VBS effort to meet the busyness of our congregation and community, which isn’t a bad thing.  Days, times and even the VBS structure have had to change to remain effective in reaching the children of our congregation and community. 
 
VBS takes effort.  If we put forth the effort in planning, preparing,, decorating, teaching, inviting, transporting and doing whatever needs to be done to make it happen – the Lord will bless our efforts. 
 
The goal of VBS is to share the love and grace of God through His Son, Jesus.  It is the lessons from God’s word, the efforts of God’s people and the work of the Holy Spirit that will reap the harvest in years to come. 
 
VBS is coming and I am excited!  Are you?  Get involved!
 

Half of the winter is behind us, but as you know, a lot of bad weather can still happen even in March.  It is Indiana!   But February does bring us a little hope with more sun than January and slightly warmer temperatures.  We will have to wait until Punxsutawney Phil peeks out of his burrow looking to his shadow to decide how much winter is left.  But be aware, he is only 39% accurate.  Even a weatherman’s 10-day forecasts are only 50% accurate. 
 
Looking to the future, we don’t see much hope and assurance.  The indicators of the economy aren’t very optimistic.  The upcoming Presidential campaign season leaves us dismayed about picking the right candidate.  And as tensions grow between counties worldwide, we wonder what will happen next.  Our present doesn’t give us much hope for tomorrow. 
 
I am reminded of the song entitled I Don’t Know About Tomorrow written by Ira Stanphill in 1950.  Mr. Stanphill, a minister, wrote this song after a decade of struggles and hardships, which led to the end of his marriage and his falling into a depression. During this time, his former wife lost her life in a tragic car accident. Although Mr. Stanphill’s present was so bleak, that he could not see much hope in the future, he held on in faith.  In time, he would see God’s provision, grow in his faith, and write the beloved words, “I don’t know about tomorrow, but I know who holds my hand.”  Mr. Stanphill found God’s assurance and comfort as he walked hand in hand with God throughout the rest of his life, even through a long battle with cancer.  This song is his testimony of hope in God’s faithful provision. This song shows us that when we are at the bottom of our despair, God is always faithful, which brings us hope.  The hope for tomorrow.   Remember this passage of hope:
 
2 Corinthians 1:10:  10 He has delivered us from such a deadly peril, and he will deliver us again. On him we have set our hope that he will continue to deliver us,
 
The future isn’t ours to know, but we have hope in the one who knows all about it!  This song is an excellent reminder.  We need to sing it more, especially when our present tries to steal our hope.
 

​As the year end approaches and we look into the new year to come, I pray that we can feel peace in the hope that Jesus’ death, burial and resurrection has brought us.  There is so much uncertainty in our world.  Who knows what will come tomorrow, except the only one who knows – God. 
 
In these past few years, we have endured much with the Covid Pandemic and everything that it has caused. We have experienced volatility in our financial markets, supply chains and even in the weather with many natural disasters.   The problems of today sure can cloud our visions of tomorrow.  But, we need to hold and remember that God will provide.  Remember the words of Paul to the church at Philippi:
 
Philippians 4:19:  And my God will meet all your needs according to the riches of his glory in Christ Jesus.
 
Though we may not get everything we want, we will have everything we need.  That truth goes well beyond our finances.  When we face tomorrow, we need to hold on and look to the future with peace knowing it will all be okay. As King David wrote:
 
Proverbs 29:25:  Fear of man will prove to be a snare, but whoever trusts in the LORD is kept safe.
 
So, as we face a new year and new uncertainties, may we stand firm and hold on to God’s hope in peace as is written in the book of Hebrews:
 
Hebrews 10:23:  23 Let us hold unswervingly to the hope we profess, for he who promised is faithful.
 
As 2023 approaches, let’s remember that God has been faithful in the past.  He is faithful to us now, and He will remain faithful tomorrow.  His faithfulness is for certain!
 

​One morning, as I was taking Spencer to school, we began singing kid’s worship songs from my phone. Evidently, I had gotten lost in my thoughts and quit singing.  I don’t know how long I was silent, but I heard Spencer saying, “Up! Pappy! Up!” I looked in the review mirror and saw him raising his left arm in the air, singing, “What a mighty God we serve!” In a flash, I went from pondering my day to praising in the moment with Spencer in spite of what would come that day.
 
Do you ever get lost in what you have to do next? Or do you ever get so lost in what happened that you can’t see what is going on?  Or, do you get lost in what is going on that you can’t see tomorrow? I do.  In each instance, we can lose our focus that steals our moments of peace, joy, hope, and faith away from us.  
 
Much of what I do involves the future – tomorrow, next Sunday, next month, and beyond. I also spend a lot of time thinking about what happened. So, how can we learn to move on from the past, or forget what is before us, and find a moment of peace?
 
There are two passages of scriptures that help me:  First, 2 Corinthians 4:7-9, “7 But we have this treasure in jars of clay to show that this all-surpassing power is from God and not from us. 8 We are hard pressed on every side, but not crushed; perplexed, but not in despair; 9 persecuted, but not abandoned; struck down, but not destroyed.”  This says to me, “no matter what has happened or is happening, I am not overcome by this world!” 
 
Second, I thought of Romans 8:37-39, “37 No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. 38 For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons,[k] neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, 39 neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.”
 
Spencer reminded me and scripture shows me what God has promised me for my here and now, so let’s get our arms up and praise HIM for who we are – HIS and LOVED! AND WHERE HE IS! WITH US

“In the sweet O’ Summertime” After such a long, cool, wet spring, we are all looking forward to the warm, dryer weather of summer, which officially begins on June 21st and ends on September 22nd. Summertime in Indiana is a time of extremes, especially extreme weather. Unfortunately, we only have to wait a few hours for it all to change without warning. But one thing is for sure, summertime means a change in our regular routines, which can be a good thing.

George Gershwin’s “Summertime” song contains the lyrics, “Summertime And the livin' is easy; Fish are jumpin' ”. These words invoke the thought of sitting on the creek bank with a pole in the water, watching the water pass by without the care of catching a fish. But, summer is all about the weather and leisure.

God gave us a season for a reason, and for those of us in the northern climates, we definitely appreciate the change of seasons. Seasonal change is hope, isn’t it? It gives us something for which to look forward with anticipation of better weather and better times.

God wants us to enjoy this world and to have times of leisure. Remember that his plan for us was to have an entire day every week devoted to rest and worship. Though season also signals to work – planting, tending, and harvesting. God knows what we need – rest and enjoyment.

As you go about your activities, praise God that you can do and go this summer. And don’t forget to take him with you! Find a church at your destination and experience God’s family there. Take communion and devotional items for you and your families, especially kids. Have your service of praise on the creek bank or the mountain top and experience what awaits us.

​Enjoy your summer and give God the glory! 

​Steve’s Desk
 
Springtime is an exciting time for me, especially after a long and cold winter.  I can’t wait to hear the first flock of migrating birds fly over or see the first red-bellied robin perched in a tree.  These were all signs of a great memory for me, sucker fishing.
 
Suckers are a species of freshwater fish found across North America.  They spend most of the year in rivers, but in early spring, they, like Salmon, begin an annual run to their places of birth in the smaller creeks and tributaries of the river.  The swollen streams of late winter and early spring make these areas accessible to the fish for a short time each year.  These fish were a vital food source to the native indigenous people.  Fishing for these harbingers of spring was our family’s thing.  For about a month each spring, all three generations of my family would gather on the bank of a local creek, cast lines in the water, and wait for a bite. Of course, you waited in hopes of catching the biggest fish of the day, which could be a species called “Buffalo” that could top the scales at over 50 pounds.  Landing one of those was a workout and gave you bragging rights. 
 
This past week, my brother sent me pictures of he and my father standing on the bank with a few of their catches.  It made me long to be with them and return to my childhood days, even though I never liked to fish.
 
Sucker fishing was a reassurance that winter was over and spring had arrived.  It was the realization of our hopes over the long winter.  Don’t we need these hopes of what is to come to keep us going?  I know I do.
 
The Apostle Paul wrote about this hope in Hebrews 10:
 
22 Let’s approach God with a [a]sincere heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled clean from an evil conscience and our bodies washed with pure water. 23 Let’s hold firmly to the confession of our hope without wavering, for He who promised is faithful; 24 and let’s consider how to [b]encourage one another in love and good deeds, Hebrews 10:22-24
 
Let us hold on to the hope that Jesus’ Resurrection gives us.  The hope of our resurrection!  It is drawing near, have hope!
 

​I recently learned of the passing of a dear friend, Phyllis VanEse.  Lisa and I first met Phyllis in Haiti around 2008 or so. We would share several missionary trips, including the 2010 trip interrupted by a devastating earthquake. Phyllis was one of the 4 of us who could not be immediately evacuated following the quake. We would spend the next 12 or 13 days doing what we could to prepare the medical areas of the mission for use as U.S. Doctors and Nurses were expected as soon as travel resumed to the Island nation.
 
Phyllis had one of those personalities that you enjoyed being around. She was so positive, encouraging, and filled with the Holy Spirit. She kept our spirits up during this time. She was a joy, and she had every reason not to be. Over time, she shared her life struggles with us. Her husband of 30 plus years died suddenly, leaving her to run a business alone. She would soon sell her business and follow the Lord. First, she headed off to the far-east to work in an orphanage in a place she had never been to help people she couldn’t communicate with, but that didn’t stop Phyllis. She and her infectious zeal went where the Lord led. She and her husband could never have children, but she found others to share her love. Then when her parents needed her, she came home to care for them in their final years, she devoted herself to them.
 
After they passed, she journeyed to Haiti, looking for God’s will in her life. This is when we first met her. After several trips to Haiti, she found herself moving there full-time to run a hotel of sorts for missionaries passing in and out of Haiti. Here she found her place for ministry. She not only served and encouraged missionaries, but also reached out to her Haitian community, helping and befriending them. She taught them English and encouraged their relationship with Jesus. She even self-adopted a couple of young men, who she helped attain medical degrees and with their personal and family needs as well. 
 
Lisa and I stayed with her during our last trip to Haiti in 2017. While with her, we were not only encouraged and uplifted by her, we witnessed her love and ministry. God truly had Phyllis where He needed her. God had exceptionally gifted Phyllis, and she let her gifts be used by him, even amid danger. She remained in Haiti during the difficult times following the eruptions of gang violence, the murder of the Haitian President, and with the increased threats of kidnapping. She told us that she was staying as long as possible and lying low.
 
This past December, we learned that Phyllis was diagnosed with cancer. However, she remained optimistic and committed to staying in Haiti as long as possible. Unfortunately, she did return to the USA and died in Hospice care on January 6th, her 70th birthday. 
 
I chose to honor Phyllis in this way because I think that God needs more of us to be like Phyllis – willing and able to follow his lead and let him use our gifts and talents despite the hardships and difficulties in our lives. 
 
Phyllis was and is a marvelous example of Jesus. Well done, Phyllis – Great is your reward!
 

​Thank YOU! Well, it is hard to believe, but Lisa and I have just completed our 7th year serving God at Advance.  Time has sure flown by, and yet so much has happened in that time.  We feel grateful and  feel blessed to be here.  Thank you for your continued love, support, and encouragement. 
 
Recently, I’ve been thinking about all of those who have gone before us here at Advance.  Several have passed on to their eternal reward since I have been here, but you all will remember many more.   The many men and women who served Christ and His Church here at Advance, The North Church, and The East Church have left us with a wonderful facility and a great example to follow. But that is the past.  We need to keep focusing on the here and now with an eye toward the sky, waiting for Christ’s return. 
 
We can spend a lot of time recounting all that has been done, but we also need to look around and see all that there is still to do.  God has,  and will continue to call his people to put their love in action to carry out his will.  It is good to look back and see how far we have come, but we must keep looking around to see what still needs to be done.
 
Jesus to His apostles, “The fields are ripe for the harvest, but my workers are few.  Ask the Lord of the harvest, therefore, to send out workers into his harvest fields.”  Matthew 9:37-38.  This passage is looking around in the moment and calls for action now.
 
We can’t keep looking back; we must keep looking around and doing what God calls us to do.  The fields are ready.  The workers are few.  Let’s follow the workers of the past and reach out now.  God has readied the harvest; we just need to bring it in!
 

These past 18 months seem like a blur. I would never have dreamed that we would experience all that we did when our world stopped. I remember having such an eerie feeling as stores and restaurants closed, non essential workers were sent home, activities stopped, and so much was canceled. The news reports of the sick and dying were unbelievable. We didn’t know what to believe. As the weeks turned into months and then a year, I wondered if we would ever return to normal. Yet, through it all, there was still hope! 

        Hope that our precautionary actions would help slow the spread of the virus.
        Hope that our families and friends would remain healthy.
        Hope that it would soon be all over. Hope that a vaccine would be developed.
        Hope that God would see us through.

Well, even though this ordeal is not over, some of our hopes have been realized. Though we may never agree on policies, procedures, and outcomes, I hope we can all agree that God has seen us through thus far and will see us through what is to come. We still have hope!

God did provide for our congregation. We only had to cancel one Sunday serve because we were able to stay connected via the internet. We returned to in-person services earlier than most because we had our pavilion allowing us to meet outside. We were able to move inside while practicing social distancing and wearing masks.

God continues to provide. Our in-person attendance has fluctuated between 75% and 85% of what we were pre-Covid and our online attendance has been tracking an average of 110 weekly. So, all in all, we are reaching more people now than before Covid.

We have also been able to stay financially stable. Monthly giving remained strong allowing us to meet our expenses and more. Even though we have had to put in new furnaces and are resurfacing the parking lot, we have still been able to meet those increased budget needs. We have also been able to meet our mission’s budget and to give over and above to help meet some of the unexpected needs of our missions, both locally and abroad.

Covid continues to affect us. The threat is not over, but we can still hold on to the hope that God is near and He will see us through it.

Thank you for all that you have done. Keep the hope! The threat of this virus is still very much real, and it is not over. So let’s continue our efforts and follow God’s lead to help those around us.

I reiterate Paul’s sentiments from 1 Thessalonians 1:2-3, “We always thank God for all of you and continually mention you in our prayers. We remember before our God and Father your work produced by faith, your labor prompted by love, and your endurance inspired by hope in our Lord Jesus Christ.”
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We have a hope that will endure in a God who is faithful!

I’M BLESSED, SO I BLESS
This year we will be hosting events to reach our community’s needs through our Mission Advance efforts with the theme, “I’m Blessed, so I Bless!” Our challenge is rooted in the last portion of Matthew 10:8, where Jesus said, “Freely you have received, freely give.” In this passage, he talks to his 12 Apostles and prepares them to go out evangelizing without him. He gave them detailed instructions on what to do and what not to do. He also told them what to take and what not to take with them. He told them these things so they could see how God would provide for them. Then he blessed them with the power to heal the sick, raise the dead, and cleanse those with leprosy. Wow! Now that is a gift! But these gifts came with responsibilities – they couldn’t just keep them for themselves – they had to use them for God’s glory and the people’s good.

​I think the word “freely” is important to this passage. They didn’t pay anything for this gift – it was free! So, they could only give it freely. That means they couldn’t charge for the healings or require the people to do anything to get it. It was given free and was to be given free.

I think this passage has much for us to consider. What has God given to you freely. Are you giving it freely to others for His glory and their good?

We have to all agree that we each have been blessed and not all in the same ways. So with what God has blessed us, we need to bless others with it, thus, I’m blessed, so I bless!

Look and see God’s blessings to you and bless someone else in turn! Look for the ways you can bless! They are there! God has put them there. More information will be announced about upcoming projects and activities at a later date...

These past weeks, we have been preparing for Easter. The events and services have been planned; the church has been decorated; and we have journeyed with Jesus these past 40-days to prepare us spiritually. Are we ready for Easter? It’s here!

Easter is a celebration for the Christian. We celebrate it as a church and as families, but do we celebrate it as an individual?

The earliest recorded celebrations of Easter occurred in the 2nd century A.D. This was within the first one hundred years of Jesus’ death, burial, resurrection, and ascension. By this time, the followers of Jesus had been scattered throughout the Roman world after the destruction of Jerusalem. It wasn’t until the Roman Emperor Constantine was convert to Christianity that the church began to organize and officially celebrate Easter. In 325 A.D., Constantine called the bishops from across church to gather in Nicaea, an ancient city what is now Greece. It was at this convention that the date of Easter was set to be the first full moon after the spring equinox. Thus, the date of Easter fluctuates between March 22 and April 25th under our modern calendar. This also follows the Jewish calendar for Passover. It is believed that Easter has been celebrated on the same date for over 1700 years. Though scholars believed that Jesus’ resurrection happened sometime between the years of 26 A.D and 36 A.D, many hold to the year 33 A.D. The truth will never be known, but the fact that it is still celebrated is remarkable.

If you are like my family, Easter was the day that everyone went to church and gathered for a family dinner afterwards. We also celebrated with new Easter clothing, egg coloring and hunting, and of course, candy! We celebrated Easter both as a holiday and a holy day.

What should Easter be? Well, simply put, a celebration – a time to rejoice in our salvation that Jesus bought with his life. It is time to celebrate as an individual, a family and as His church. It is the single most important day in history and all of eternity. Without Easter, we would have nothing to celebrate.

Easter is much more than a family dinner, but reason for a family to gather and celebrate together. Easter is more than just a special service in the wee hours of the morning. Easter is more than just one day a year, it is a life to live! Let’s live it!

​Merry Christmas and Happy New Year from my crazy crew. Even though 2020 was a challenging year for everyone I can say I have felt truly blessed! As we enter this new year with possible fear and trepidation of the unknown, let us not forget that we are not alone. I have to say there are things that have come up in my little family that cause me to get worked up and stressed. I have a hard time leaving my burdens at the altar. I have a tendency to pray, leave them, then pick them right back up and try and solve the problems on my own. This only causes more stress and anxiety. If this year has taught me anything it is that life is too short and has too much stress and anxiety, so I need to seek help from God, family and friends. Then be willing to accept the help when it is given. I am so thankful and blessed God placed Advance Community Christian Church in our lives to help me remember that I can get through whatever life has with the support and strength of God and those He allows to be in our life to help. May 2021 bring you much Happiness and Many Blessings. Love from the Wagners.

​“I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me. “ Philippians 4:13

​What a year it has been! It has been a rough one, but God has seen us through and we have to remember that He will continue to see us through. Jesus gives us a hope for the future…a hope in our eternity that gives us strength in our temporary. Thank you for walking with us this year and let’s continue to walk this road into 2021 together. Thank you so much for the opportunity to serve with you here at Advance Community Christian Church. We wish you the merriest of Christmases and a joyous New Year!