President's Message -
It's hard to believe that another year is drawing to a close. I must admit that it has certainly been a year of change. Change isn't easy. Change isn't fun.
It was difficult to say goodbye to Pastor Lars and his family. They had been an integral part of the Lord of Grace family for 15 years! Pastor Lars was our friend. He was our shepherd. However, this flock hasn't gone astray. We are well into the procedural steps necessary to formally interview and call a new pastor.
Have we experienced bumps along the way? Of course. Air conditioner replacement during the summer and new telephone system craziness. Oh yes, we cannot forget the flooding in the Fellowship Hall. Yes, it's been bumpy. But we continued. Each and every one of you continue to enjoy worship here on Sunday mornings. We have been spiritually fed and nourished. We hold each other up when one requires assistance and celebrate the joys of new birth and continued aging.
Soon we will start a new year. We should begin 2026 with no mortgage! We will be well into the Ministry Site Profile and the procedures necessary to formally call a new pastor. It will be a time of diligence for all of us as we move forward, discerning as best we can what God's plan is for Lord of Grace. Do we increase our focus on the preschool? Should we be focusing more on our aging community? What about our youth? How can we best serve their needs? These questions and more will be key as we move forward. It is more important than ever for you and me to “step up” and give of our time, talents and treasures.
But for now, we enter the season of Advent. Advent is the season of preparation, preparation for God's son's arrival. Here at Lord of Grace, we are in our own season of advent; preparation for the arrival of our new self. Of course, our “new self” may be just like our current self, or it may be changed. In any instance, the Lord of Grace family has the opportunity to take a good, long look at ourselves in a mirror.
As you prepare for Christmas, remember to stop and take a breath. Remember that the stable didn't have Christmas lights or dozens of Christmas cookies. The only thing wrapped was the baby. I saw a post on FaceBook, “According to my wine Advent calendar, Christmas is tomorrow.” Remember the true joy of Christmas. That is my wish for each of us.
Betsy Boorse