January 2025 Message from Pastor Mike
In the six months since I have joined all of you as your pastor, it has been my immense joy to get to know you all and to get to see the passion, missional spirit, and love of this community, up close and personally.
As we enter into 2025, I am hopeful that we can continue to grow together and live into our common mission as the Body of Christ.
In order to help with that, I have been thinking up a few prayerful resolutions for New Years. Now, we all know that resolutions are tricky things: leave them too vague or too broad, and they become easy to let slip by the wayside; too specific, and they start to feel like a chore. So, in good Presbyterian fashion, instead of ourselves, let us put our hope in God that God can continue to transform, renew, and restore us all in these months to come.
God, open our hearts to gratitude: No matter where we are in life, no matter how God has blessed us or challenged us, there is so much to be thankful for. I cannot express the depth of my personal feelings of gratefulness from this last year—for your kindness, for the generosity of your welcoming gifts and love offering, for the faithfulness, joy, and steadfastness that I encounter everyday that I am blessed to be here at Parkway. I pray that, no matter what challenges we might face together, that thankfulness might always be the first thought of our prayers and the first words we address to you, O God, in all that we do.
God, open our eyes to see the world as you do: It is so easy, Lord, to fall into the ways of the world and to take the glory of your grace for granted. Open our eyes, God, that we might see all of your creation as you do. Help us to recognize the goodness even in hardship, and to know the peace that transforms even the most turbulent of times.
God, open our ears to hear your call: All of us are called to a vocation, and all of us are called to share the gospel with those in need. Help us, O God, to be discerning and enthusiastic messengers. Help us to live up to the call that you make on all of us. Help us to be ready and able when we encounter your call, to follow you and to serve others.
God, open our souls to your new being: As the Apostle Paul reminds us, the old things are passing away. Help us to behold and rejoice in the new being that is breaking forth!
Wishing you all a blessed New Year, and many blessings in the year to come!
Peace and love,
Pastor Mike
