Sing to the Lord/A Final Word on Wednesday
Good Wednesday to you,
How was your Christmas? I hope it was filled with laughter and love. While disappointment, stress, and sadness often accompany the holidays, let us not forget the joy that comes as well. Personally, my Christmas was bittersweet. The sweetness was abundant. Andrew came home from South Korea and Heidi and Louis came down from Seattle. Our family was together to celebrate Christmas. The sweetness continued as we gathered with loved ones to worship together on Christmas Eve and Christmas morning. Sweet were the themes of Advent – hope, peace, joy, and love. Sweet are the memories of lighting the Christ candle with my family, and looking out on the sanctuary filled with faces reflecting the light of candles held in their hands. Sweet were the sounds of Christmas hymns being sung by the congregation. (Illness prevented Jody from joining us Christmas Eve and Christmas morning; she’s much better now, but we did not let that diminish our joy at being together.) The bitterness came from knowing that this is our last Christmas together as a family in the Kirk House, our home for almost 30 years. The bitterness continued in realizing we celebrated our last Christmas season with all of you.
What a privilege it has been to be the under shepherd of Graham Memorial Presbyterian Church all these years. There have been tremendous blessings, a few disappointments, and even some regrets. But I do not regret investing in your lives for the kingdom of God. There will be changes in the days ahead for Graham Memorial, but one thing will not change – God's love for you and this community. I believe God has great plans for you all. Continue growing spiritually as a body of believers, remembering that Christ, alone, is the head of the Church.
We will be spending the month of January moving out of the Kirk House, then catching our breath for a few weeks before heading out on our "gap year." The year 2023 will find us on the road, visiting friends and family across the nation, while introducing TryPraying.org to the nation. Our plan is to send out a monthly email to anyone interested in following our progress. My new email address is davidmcelrath@trypraying.org. If you would like to be included in our monthly missive, send me an email at that address, and I will add your name to the list.
This next Sunday will be my last Sunday as the pastor of Graham Memorial Presbyterian Church. We will gather to worship at 10:00am for one service, with a viewing of the “One on One“ video prepared for my retirement party showing at 9:15am in the sanctuary (in case you were unable to attend the party). I anticipate it being a joyfully difficult morning, but one I will remember for the rest of my life. You have helped me grow spiritually and blessed me and my family abundantly. With all my heart, I say, "Thank you."
May God bless you and keep you always,
Pastor David
If you missed this Sunday’s sermon, click here to listen now!
