Life has a rhythm all its own, and that rhythm differs from person to person. For me, the actual start of the year is September. The world makes a big deal out of New Year’s as the start of the year, but many of us realize it is September that marks a new season of beginnings and adjustments.
In the Northern Hemisphere, where we call home, the summer is coming to an end. The growing season continues to yield harvest, but new growth has ended. School-aged children wake up to the harsh reality that summer fun at the pool and late nights watching television or playing video games is over, and the norm becomes earlier bedtimes and early risings to accommodate early buses and the joy (or not) of returning to school for another year.
As we realign our psyches for a return to normal work routines and savor the memories of all our summer adventures, we also adjust to a resumption of our normal church calendar. Meetings resume; we embark upon another cycle of activities and events that mark the progression of our lives together.
On Sept. 13th, we will have our annual all-church cook-out to launch our “new year” of activities here at First Baptist. We look forward to opportunities for worship, fellowship, study, service, fundraising, celebrating, and even grieving together. All these things keep our connections with God and one another healthy and engaged. We can even look forward to seeing if we can discover any new hiding places for the three wise men during their Advent journey!
So, grab your FBC tee shirt and get ready to venture into a new year together! I can hardly wait!
In Christ, Pastor Sharon