Pastor’s Perspective

I am declaring 2024 as the "Year of Authenticity." 

The shepherds who received the good news of peace and joy and hope from the angels were not relaxing in their clean living rooms, warm and dry. They were probably hungry, grizzly and muddy. They probably stank of body odor and sheep odor and camp fire smoke.  Townspeople generally wanted them to stay out in the fields and that was just fine with the shepherds.

But these were the ones to whom the angels appeared. These were the kind of folks with whom Jesus shared meals. These were the kind of folks who are praised in the Beatitudes. They knew who they were and knew where they stood. They were at least authentic.

Authenticity is the first step to confessionality and that is the first step to repentance and grace empowered transformation. We need to know honestly who we are as people and who we are as a church. Simultaneously, we need to have a realistic vision for the future and that may involve uncomfortable change. Our January prayer breakfast will be all about authenticity and vision. We'll offer an annual report and we'll talk about what and who God is calling us to do and be in 2024.

So mark your calendars and think about your vision for the congregation. Pray and read Bible stories about authentic servants of God. This is our "Year of Authenticity."

 Allen