A LOOK BACK AT 2023
Looking Back, Looking Forward
“The Lord said to Moses and Aaron in Egypt, ‘This month is to be for you the first month, the first month of your year.’” – Exodus 12:1-2
With our arriving into anno Domini 2024 we are reminded once again that time marches forward as it always has. 2023 for many of us carried joys, heartaches, moments we wish that we could relive, and moments that we wish we could forget about. Children were born, people died, and the return of the Lord grew closer. These are all things that are worth pondering, because they are important, and will link us with those who will come long after we are all with the Lord. It is especially important for us to remember these things while our vision is also cast into the future. To this end I was thinking about the Lord and how he had the Israelites structure their year.
Most of us today if asked “what holiday is the Jewish new year” would answer: “Rosh Hashanah.” Which is true. After all, if you were to google “Jewish new year” you would get lots of results talking about Rosh Hasanah which usually falls around late September or early October. But it isn’t the beginning of the year. To explain why that is the case would distract, so I’ll let you do your own research on that, but the festival that God is talking about in Exodus 12 when he sets their calendar is not Rosh Hashanah, it is the Passover.
Of course, God could have set any day he wanted as the New Year but he chooses the month of the Passover for a reason. The reason being that in the Passover the Israelites looked backwards to what God had done for them in the past and that his promises will remain true in the future. Just a chapter later God instructs them to do this so that the next generations will understand, “On that day tell your son, ‘I do this because of what the Lord did for me when I came out of Egypt.’” (Exodus 13:8)
As we enter a new year we should continue the biblical tradition in our own lives. We should recount our years. Understand where we failed, and how we could do better. But we should also see all the ways that God has been faithful to us. We see it in all our ministries. We see it in the spiritual growth of the church and of course I’m sure we have all seen it in our personal lives. Included in this newsletter are pictures that hopefully will call these things to mind as we remember how God has been faithful .Throughout January we have planned several things that should remind us of God’s faithfulness to CPC in previous generations.
This month is the first month of our year. Let us look back, but also let us look forward and see where the Lord will be calling us in the New Year and how we can be bold for him and help him to build his kingdom here on Earth as we eagerly await his return.
Pastor George
THANK YOU POST OFFICE
The “Letter Carriers’ Stamp Out Hunger® Food Drive” helps us fill our shelves in our food pantry. We are thankful to all who help donate food, the letter carriers who gather the food and our members that pick up and sort the food.
STRAWBERRY FESTIVAL JUNE 2023
Every year we gather together to eat strawberries, shortcake and whipped cream. Along with good food, we share our talents in various ways. We sing, play instruments, share stories, read poems and tell jokes. It is a good time of fellowship for all.
G3 END OF THE YEAR PARTY
We finished up another great year in G3. We had a water party along with ice cream. Not much planning for this party. Kids just seem to know what to do when water is involved.
OUR PASTOR GOT MARRIED!
Pastor George married Bailey Ramsay on July 8, 2023. We had a Hawaiian themed party for them the following week.
TAKE ME OUT TO THE BALLGAME
We went to see the Somerset Patriots play then watched fireworks afterward.
STELLAR VBS
We had a stellar VBS this summer. We averaged 35 children each night. The children learned to Shine Jesus Light everywhere they go and on everyone they meet.
G3 RETURNS
This year we are continuing to go through the New City Catechism. By learning these questions and answers, our children will have a better understanding of what they believe and how to share it with others.
YOUTH ALL NIGHTER
Our youth kicked off their fall program with an all nighter. They started at Dave & Buster’s. Afterward they went back to the church for food, movie and games.
FALL CLEAN UP DAY
As part of our stewardship program, we scheduled a clean up day. Everyone came out to clean the entire church and clean up the leaves outside.
OCTOBER
October brought us Pastor Appreciation Day, CROP Walk, Corn Maze and World Communion Sunday.
We raised $785 for the CROP Walk
We love our pastor!
The tradition of our church on World Communion Sunday is to wear cultural clothes relevant to each of our members, use different types of bread for communion and read scripture in the languages representing our church.
CORN MAZE SEASON
It wouldn’t be fall without a trip to the corn maze. Our youth had a blast. They all found their way out!
THANK YOU YOUTH
Our youth took time out of their busy schedules to help a member who is ill clean up her yard.
It’s Christmas Time
From decorating the sanctuary, Christmas Caroling, Stellar Christmas Pageant, Christmas Sweater Sunday to our Pajama Service, we celebrate the birth of our Savior, Jesus.
We look forward to what 2024 has in store for us!
Happy New Year!
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