By Rick Summy, Senior Pastor
I had something of an epiphany (a sudden revelation or insight) when I read the January 2022 edition of NFTF. I really shouldn’t have been surprised. While I don’t always know everything that is happening at SOTV, I try to keep up.
But there is something about reading about it all in one sitting.
It’s pretty remarkable.
The Call Committee may be finishing up its work. The Equity Task Force is sifting through recommendations. The Reconciling in Christ (RIC) process is underway. Did you know that there are SOTV scholarships available?
Our 10/20/40 anniversary observations continue, featuring an organ recital and a special celebration of our Tanzania partnership at the end of the month.
There are baptisms and more baptisms! Worship in-person and online. Both Baptism and Communion instruction classes are set. And preschool registration opens too!
Look for the feature about small groups and learn opportunities. Be sure to check out the new ones that are available.
If you are retired or even just thinking about retiring, you won’t want to miss “Finding Purpose in Retirement,” presented by our Purposeful Retirement group.
And these are just the highlights!
Now, all of that could represent just a bunch of good stuff. Which wouldn’t be bad, of course.
But there’s more here than that. The plethora of ministries that occasioned my little epiphany have been developed because we follow the one who is revealed in the Epiphany, which we will celebrate this month.
The visit of the Magi (as told in the second chapter of Matthew) represents the manifestation of Christ to the Gentiles. The child whose birth we celebrated at Christmas has not been given for a select few, but for the whole world. As the late Desmond Tutu said, “In God’s family there are no outsiders, no enemies.”
I invite you to take some time to read the January 2022 newsletter. Then prayerfully consider where God is calling you to participate.
Perhaps you will have a bit of an epiphany too!