Dear Church Family,
Happy New Year!!! 2012 is upon us. But didn’t 2011 go quickly! What will you remember 2011 for? 2011 was the year:
• That the Japanese government ordered the evacuation of residents near the Fukushima Nuclear Plant after the 2011 earthquake badly damaged several nuclear reactors.
• That the iPad 2 took the world by storm when 500,000 units were sold on their debut weekend. The iPad 2 sold out across virtually all channels in its first week.
• Steve Jobs who had inspired millions of people around the world with his passion and creativity died. The technological visionary revolutionized the way people live and work with the aid of Mac computers, iPods, iPhones, and iPads.
• William, Prince of Wales married Kate Middleton and was watched by over 2 Billion people.
• US troops pulled out of Iraq after 8 years of sacrifice and nation building.
It has also been the year Lancaster Adventist Church:
• Served the poor and needy in our community by giving away hundreds of man hours and resources in help.
• Said goodbye to longstanding church family members until the resurrection.
• Made the decision to be more family friendly by voting to establish a nursery (ages 1-4) during our 2nd service for parents with young children and to appoint a children’s ministry director to further develop our ministry to the children and families of our church.
• Grew in weekly Sabbath attendance by approximately 25%.
• Saw it’s pastors get repeatedly dunked by church members in a dunk tank.
• Finished the year financially strong well within budget (2010 we were in deficit).
• Saw tithe go up by 25.1% (as of Oct. 2011).
• Has been blessed beyond words by a Faithful Gracious God.
How is 2012 going to be for us? This being the season for making New Year’s resolutions, I thought we might be inspired in our own commitments by a few of the 70 resolutions made by a young man when he was about 20. His powerful resolves helped shape not only his own destiny, but also that of a nation.
• Resolved, that I will do whatsoever I think to be most to God’s glory, and my own good, profit and pleasure…
• Resolved, to live with all my might while I do live.
• Resolved, never to do anything which I should be afraid to do if it were the last hour of my life.
• Resolved, always to do that, which I shall wish I had done when I see others do it.
• Let there be something of benevolence in all that I speak.
These resolutions were written by Jonathan Edwards (1703 – 1758) who entered Yale University just shy of his 13th birthday and graduated at 17. One of the leading intellectual figures in Colonial America, his sermons in the 1730’s and 1740’s led to a series of revival movements later known as the Great Awaking.
May 2012 be a year of blessing for you and our church family.
Pastor Ed
