Dear JFPC Family and Friends, 

Let me begin this letter with a high note of gratitude. I am truly grateful for the calling to be your pastor for another year. I am profoundly thankful for the amazing work we have done together throughout these past years, which have been tough! I am grateful for the ways you care for one another, for our community, for the world. And I am so appreciative for all the ways you have blessed me and our church staff with your generous gift this Christmas. 

I am deeply humbled, forever grateful, and most of all, I bless God's holy name for calling me to Jonesville First Presbyterian Church almost 7 years ago. Thank you, thank you, thank you for being God's people in a day and age when the world needs Christ's witness more than ever. May we all continue to run with all we have to the finish line where we will be embraced by Christ, and hear those words, "Well done, my good and faithful servant." 

At the beginning of 2023, I pray that we may all enter this New Year with an overwhelming sense of gratitude-- for all the things and people we've been blessed with, (even when we so often take them for granted). Let us be grateful for each other, for health, warmth, silence, beauty, creativity, friendship, family, fellowship, and those who help us through so many difficult times-the list is endless, what would you add? 

I've been thinking about the opportunities that New Years present us with - fresh starts, another chance, motivation to try new things... or try again. Perhaps you are approaching the new year with a resolution. 

Here is the list of the 10 most common New Years' Resolutions: 

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Exercise more 

Lose weight 

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Get organized 

Learn a new skill or hobby 

Live life to the fullest 

Save more money / spend less money 

Quit smoking 

Spend more time with family and friends 

Travel more 

Read more 

Recognize any of them? I know I have tried a few, more than once! Sadly, most of these resolutions will be broken or abandoned within the first weeks of the new year. 

But what if we did things a little differently this year? What if we choose to center all of it by getting into shape spiritually? What if we make our spiritual life a priority-exercise hospitality everyday, immerse ourselves in reading and studying scripture, be intentional about new ways of service personally and communally, blocking off time to pray with and for one another. In addition, purpose to say some uplifting word to someone everyday. Say thank you to those we share our lives with daily. Forgive those who you haven't. Forgive yourself. Re-focus our perspective to try to see God at work in the world every day. 

Some suggest that the best way to do this involves setting spiritual goals for ourselves. Goal setting, according to experts, helps us to change our behavior, guides our focus, helps us sustain momentum, and promotes a sense of self mastery. 

Have you ever thought about setting specific spiritual goals? 

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Read the Bible every day (1 chapter? 15 minutes? What is your goal?) 

Pray every day (10 minutes? 20 minutes? Morning and bedtime? For certain 

people - especially those who challenge you?) 

Give thanks every day (keep a gratitude journal? List your blessings) 

Serve, Give (donate time/energy/resources to charity) 

Connect (reach out to someone who needs encouragement each week) 

In this world where it's easy to give in to cynicism, apathy, or despair, it could be as simple as resolving to make worship a part of our daily lives, to live with hearts overwhelmed by wonder and awe, to wake up every morning dazzled by grace. 

Whatever your spiritual goals (and I hope you make some!) may 2023 be a year of growth and maturity for our faith and our congregation. Let us all be diligent in living out the Good News of the Gospel of Jesus Christ to the world in every way open to us, personally and communally. 

Gratefully Yours, 

Pastor Lynne