Good afternoon!

A Few Office Notes: 

 

New Schedules for Greeters/Ushers, Acolytes, and Liturgists are posted outside the Church office. These are also posted on our website at www.wesleychurch-hampstead.org under "Volunteer Schedules" (you can find this tab at the top of the site or to the left side under "What's Going on at Wesley"). They are also attached below this issue of "This Week at Wesley."  A reminder of the schedule for the upcoming month should always appear on the back of the Journal. 

 

I (Jess Sichel) am back at the office. MANY thanks to my subs!! Hours have changed a bit from last year. Most weeks, office hours should be Monday 11 to 5, Friday 9:30 to 2:30.

 

Journal Submissions for the February Journal are due January 15th. January's Journal is going out late but should be available on the Web by this evening or tomorrow at the latest. I'll send out email notification.

Welcome to the New Year!

Traditionally, the new year is a time to reflect on the past, examine the present, and hope and plan for the future. There really doesn't seem to be anything particularly special about moving from one year to the next - except for the fact that most of us may mess up the date on paperwork at least once a week for the first month…

Even though moving to the new year is just a difference of one day, what makes it special is our reflection, the time we take to get a grip on where we stand. I will be frank and confess that 2011 was NOT my year. From just before its start to almost the moment of its completion, there were times when I dodged one thing after another. And not all of these were your usual "oh, the car broke down", "oh, I locked my keys in the house", "oh, I had a very bad cold" (although these things are difficult enough on their own). Some of these things were deep - deeper than I've had to go in a very long time. Some I couldn't dodge.

You may have experienced the same - whether it be this year or one before. It's the kind of year that you don't mind seeing go the way of the Dodo. I must make at least one exception - my son Isaac was born. Right before things really got tough, my son entered the world. For that reason, I allow 2011 not to be stricken from the record.

What 2011 taught me was that I can't do things on my own. It also taught me that I can't predict the future - that things can change in almost an instant. The good news for me was that I didn't have to do it on my own. I often had friends and family and Church family and professionals who helped and I am certain that they were given to me by God - but I had to accept their help. Things didn't go well all the time but there were some moments where I could be so thankful, moments where I was so overwhelmed, moments where I was enlightened - even moments of joy.

The good news for you is the same: you don't have to do it on your own, either.

Hear these words from the song "Strong Enough" by Matthew West:

You must, You must think I’m strong / To give me what I’m going through

Well forgive me, forgive me if I’m wrong / But this looks like more than I can do

On my own

 

I know I’m not strong enough to be / Everything that I’m supposed to be

I give up, I’m not strong enough

Hands of mercy won’t You cover me? / Lord, right now I’m asking You to be

Strong enough, strong enough / For the both of us

 

Well maybe, maybe that’s the point / To reach the point of giving up

‘Cause when I’m finally, finally at rock bottom / That’s when I start looking up

And reaching out

 

I know I’m not strong enough to be / Everything that I’m supposed to be

I give up, I’m not strong enough

Hands of mercy won’t You cover me? / Lord, right now I’m asking You to be

Strong enough, strong enough

 

‘Cause I’m broken / Down to nothing / But I’m still holding on to the one thing

You are God / And You are strong when I am weak

 

I can do all things / through Christ who gives me strength

And I don’t have to be strong enough

Monday, 1/2- Office Open until 5 PM

Tuesday, 1/3 - Little Feet Preschool Reopens

Wednesday, 1/4 - Trustees Meeting at 7:30 PM; Boy Scouts at 7:30 PM

Thursday, 1/5 - Handbells at 6:30 PM, Adult Choir at 7:30 PM

Friday, 1/6 - Office Open 9:30 AM to 2:30 PM; Prayer and Meditation 10:15 - 11:15 AM

 

Monday, 1/9 - Office Open 11 AM to 5 PM; Finance Committee Meeting 7 PM

Tuesday, 1/10 - Winter Bible Study Begins - 7 PM; Girl Scouts 7 PM

Wednesday, 1/11 - Outreach Meeting 6 PM; Ad. Council Meeting 7:30 PM; Boy Scouts 7:30 PM

Upcoming Events…

• Confirmation Class meets on January 15th at 5 PM with STIX at 6 PM and UMYF following until 8:30 PM
• Pastor Curtis will be on Retreat from January 17th through the 19th. 
• Rock 2012 is January 20th through 22nd.

God bless!!