6 January 2022 Good Day Church Yorkshire!
It’s 2022. I saw a meme that said that the only problem with 2022, is that it is pronounced, twenty-twenty, too.
Well, I don’t have any concerns that we will experience anything like what we have seen in the near past. I believe we will see new things. As a church that seeks the Lord, we can count on new opportunities that will challenge us both internally and externally. Growth requires transformation and transformation is a synonym for change. And, of course, change can be difficult. Some people might be heard to say things like, “I hate change.” But, in the church and in our growth as Christians, change is not only anticipated, it is desired. If we don’t change, then we will be the same. I don’t know about you, but I definitely don’t want to be a repeat of any previous year. I want to live in 2022, not 2020, too. And this is how I see my life. This year, I want to be where I was a year ago–plus all that I have gained. I do not want this to be a year where my faith life and my relationship with God is just another year with a “too” designation. I want it to be a new year with new opportunities and I want to reap the benefits of all that last year and the year before taught me.
In regards to the church, I look to see the benefits that 2022 brings. Most of our leadership team will remain in place for this next year. Our leadership team consists of the following individuals:
Administrative Council Chair: Jim Valentine
Lay Leader: Frank Herron
Trustees Chair: Josh Strange
Staff Parish Relations Chair: Joe Blackwood
Finance Chair: Doug Berman
Treasurer: Justin Mann
Education Team Chair: Rick Focht
Missions/Outreach Chair: Susan Workinger
We have come a long way as a leadership team in the past twelve months and it is
go over the next twelve months. Each team now has experience that they will use
brings. Each of these leaders is supported by team members that now also have experience. For some it is not new experience, but it is more experience, and with more experience can come more ideas which result in new change, new directions, new growth which guarantees that 2022 will be different than 2021, a “2” and not a “too.”
This year, I am praying that God will lift up an individual to lead our Worship Team who would oversee our music processes, ushers, greeters, and media center procedures while working with Pastor Megan and me as we constantly evaluate our worship and worship events. And this is an important area that we must pray is not a “too” this year. We continue to have a need for folks who are willing to spend some extra time a few Sundays a month greeting those that choose to worship at our church. We are seeing many new folks and we must ensure that they feel welcome from the time they are greeted at the door. We have come a long way in 2021, but we must continue to improve in 2022. If you would like to check out this great opportunity and find out more information about the blessings that it provides, we are having a Hospitality meeting (Greeters and Ushers) on Tuesday, January 11th at 6:30PM. The meeting will be held in the Sanctuary Lobby. It will be a great time of fellowship as we discuss our experiences over this past year, and identify opportunities for improvement for 2022.
Another area that we are seeking God’s provision is in the Media Center. A few folks currently provide sound system and media presentation support each week. I am deeply appreciative of their commitment. But it is an area where we need more hands-on deck. Maybe you have an interest but not experience. That is great. Many of our media center volunteers are also supporting other areas of our ministry needs such as ushering, teaching, and participation in our praise team. We have worked hard this past year to streamline many of the process and we are looking to make some technology investments to make our sound management more intuitive and improve the quality of what is being streamed to those who worship on-line. None of these things will be of any benefit if we do not have folks who will operate it. I am planning a gathering of our media team and anyone that would like to find out more information about the media center on Tuesday, January 25, at 6:30PM. This time of fellowship will occur in the Sanctuary Lobby, as well.
I am looking forward to the next few weeks of Biblical Study during our worship. I have been spending time in the Book of Isaiah these past few weeks and have been deeply moved by what God is revealing to me. Isaiah is a book that was written to the nation of Judah and the city of Jerusalem. It addressed things that were happening there at the time of its writing. The idea we will be considering is that Isaiah is not about us, but it is a book that was written as much for us as it was the original audience. As I considered how to approach this book in a message series, I continued to hear Pastor Megan’s voice from Christmas Eve. She introduced the element of “response” to the Christmas story. God sent His Son to live among us. Jesus became Emmanuel, God with Us. And this resulted in a response. The angels responded, the shepherds responded, Elizabeth responded as well did her unborn son John. Mary responded, and last week we saw that the Magi, Gentiles from other parts of the middle east, responded. We often say that Christmas is about the arrival of the baby Jesus in a manger, but maybe another consideration about Christmas is that it also tells about the world’s response.
When I read Isaiah and consider the events of the author’s concern, I think about the response, or lack of response, of the Jewish people. I have approached the scriptures with the idea that these scriptures are not about us, but are rather an example for us. If I am to learn from these texts, what is it that I am to take away? Is it merely a history lesson about some Jewish folks in Jerusalem and Judah? Does God simply want me to learn about events in history? Or, is God showing us something that we should be cognizant of, and can we see similarities in ourselves with the audience to whom Isaiah writes? And what if we do see some similarities? So, with all of this said,
we will encapsulate our messages over the next few weeks under a heading, “Response Required.”
I am looking forward to this study and I think it will be a rewarding one. I know that as Yorkshire Church, we are seeking God’s revelation of Himself to us. We are seeking to grow in our faith. These things will require our response. I believe our response will result in change. This change will ensure that we will grow throughout 2022 and eliminate any chances of simply experiencing a “too.”
Have a great week! Blessings! -pastor dave.
dkominsky@susumc.org
125 Edgewood Road, York, PA 17402 • (717)755-4952 • www.yorkshirechurch.org
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