PASTOR'S PEN
A Day of New Beginnings…
“So if anyone is in Christ, there is a new
creation: everything old has passed away; see, everything is becoming new!” -
II Corinthians 5:17
There is something about ringing in the “New
Year” – something about watching the ‘ball’ fall to the ground in Times Square,
or changing our calendars anew, or for some, clicking to the next page in our
Blackberry screens and seeing ‘2008’ instead of ‘2007’. The new year is
oftentimes an opportunity for us to look back at our lives in the previous
year, and look forward to the coming year. We celebrate and hope to continue
the things that were positive in the past. We also vow to make amends or change
things that were less than positive for the future…for the new year gives us a
sense that it is a time of new beginnings.
As a Christian, I am also reminded
that in Jesus Christ, our lives are constantly given opportunities for ‘new
beginnings’. As in the Bible verse above, God has created us anew in Christ,
and continues to do so – day by day, year by year. I believe that the part we
are asked to do by God, is to ‘let this happen’ as we open ourselves up to God
and to the working of the Holy Spirit.
One of the most famous contemporary
hymn writers of our day, Brian Wren, has put this beautifully in a hymn titled,
“This is a Day of New Beginnings” (1983) – and so I would like to share it with
you…
This is a day of new
beginnings,
Time to remember and
move on,
Time to believe what
love is bringing,
Laying to rest the
pain that’s gone.
For by the life and
death of Jesus,
Love’s mighty Spirit
now as then,
Can make for us a
world of difference,
As faith and hope
are born again.
Then let us, with
the Spirit’s daring,
Step from the past
and leave behind
Our disappointment,
guilt, and grieving,
Seeking new paths,
and sure to find.
Christ is alive and
goes before us
To show and share
what love can do.
This is a day of new
beginnings;
Our God is making
all things new.
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I pray that as we ‘ring in the new year’, it will
be a time of new spiritual beginnings for all of us – as we allow God to
continue the renewing creation within and among us!
Blessing for 2008 and always,
Pastor Grace Kaori Suzuki
DEACONS' REPORT
Happy New Year!! It’s amazing that 2007 has come
and gone by so quickly. The Deacons have been blessed by being able to continue
to do God’s work this past year. We have been able to reach out to members and
friends of CUPC by either home visits, phone calls, or by sending cards. The
Deacons along, with the help of others, provide and oversee the Sunday coffee
fellowship. I think we have the best “goodies” and I want to thank all who have
contributed this past year. Another major event the Deacons were involved in
was the annual Thanksgiving dinner. It was a delicious meal and a good time was
had by all. We were able to donate the proceeds to both the Network Ministries
and the Covenant Presbyterian Church Food Pantry. Our most memorable event this
year was the 2nd annual Deacons-led worship service. Our theme this year was
peace and harmony. We sang and presented a skit around this theme. Our hope was
to provide a fun and meaningful message. Based on our feedback, I think we
succeeded. These are a few of our ministries we were able to fulfill this year.
I want to thank our Moderator for his dedication and leadership. He has
graciously accepted to serve another term as a Deacon. I would also like to
thank our Deacons for their service over the past years and their term comes to
an end. The Deacons would like to welcome 2 new Deacons for accepting God’s
call to serve as Deacons. A Deacons retreat is scheduled for January 6th 2008.
Please be in prayer for the world and those in our community.
If you have any
prayer requests or needs, please contact the church..
COFFEE FELLOWSHIP:
The Deacons would like to thank the following individuals who have
contributed to the coffee fellowship during the month of December. Also a
heartfelt thanks to the people who provided special snacks for our Christmas
Sunday coffee fellowship.
The Deacons are aware that there are others who
contribute but do not sign up on the list. We wish to thank you.
Irene Woo, Vice Moderator
ARTICLE OF INTEREST
Hope for 2008
The New Year, 2008, arrived with the usual hope
for peace and prosperity expressed by people throughout the world. But, along
with this genuine longing, is the feeling of anxiety and fear shared by so many
of us in this country.
People are anxious to end the disastrous war in Iraq
where our soldiers and Iraq civilians are killed and maimed by the
thousands....not to mention the refugees who had to flee to Syria, Jordan, and
other countries to avoid the havoc of war.
The first presidential caucus has
begun today, January 3. This year the primaries are set months earlier than
before. The California primaries are scheduled for February. All of these
changes show our anxiety for a new direction in the years ahead.
It is our
call as a citizen and as a Christian to make our choice for our next leader who
can bring God’ children together to live in peace with justice throughout the
world.
Kathy Reyes
