From Disney to Lent- February 2015

Dear Church Family,

      I believe that 2015 is off to a great start. In addition to starting a new year, I have also started serving as the director of Young Spirits.  It has been an exciting time to work with them each week.  There are about 80 7th-12th graders registered this year.  Please continue to keep this vital ministry in your prayers. 

      Of course, the highlight of January at my house was the birth of our new little boy.  We named him Walter Randall Williams.  He arrived on Sunday, January 11 at 3:19 PM.  Chanda and I left church that day and headed straight for the hospital. Walter, Chanda, Wesley, and I are doing great.  We are thoroughly enjoying welcoming Walter into our home.  We want to thank everyone for the cards, gifts, and meals during this time.  It has been greatly appreciated.

      Following Walter's birth, I took some time off to spend with my family.  It was great being able to spend some time with Chanda, Wesley and Walter. I appreciate Chris Miller and Tim Benkert for graciously filling in and keeping our series going during this time. 

      Speaking of our series, The Gospel According to Disney has been a great hit.  It has been creative and fun, but most of all, it has been convicting.  The series has challenged us to become the people God has created us to be.  The series will continue into the month of February.  I hope that you will continue to come and invite your friends and family as well.  On February 4th at 6:30, we will be showing the movie Cars in the Activity Center.  I hope that you will join us for this family movie night.  Refreshments will be available.  

      As the Disney series comes to an end, we enter into the season of Lent.  Lent is a season where we prepare ourselves to celebrate the death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus Christ.  It is a time of spiritual growth and reflection.  During Lent, we are often challenged to "give something up" in an attitude of fasting.  I invite you to consider what you might fast from during Lent.  As you subtract something from your daily life, I invite you to consider what you might add to draw you closer to God this season.  For example, you might give up television, Facebook, a particular food, a computer game, etc.  You might add reading your Bible, spending time in prayer, reading an inspirational book , etc.  The possibilities are endless.  Make this Lent one where you focus on your relationship with God.  

      Our end of the year figures are completed.  Since 2010, we have had a steady an increase in giving every year.  Also, our Sunday School attendance is the highest it has been in the past 5 years.  That being said, 2014 was the first year since then that our average worship attendance has declined.  I am confident that 2015 will be a year where we can have our highest attendance to date.  We can do that by doing three key things:

1. Make church a weekly priority in your own life.

2. Invite at least 1 person each month to join you at Hoffman.  

3. Pray that God will send us people who need to experience his love and grace.  

      We commissioned our new Church Board on January 11th during worship.  Their first meeting was Thursday, January 29.  We are excited to live into this new structure.  Establishing the Church Board was the first phase of this project.  Now, we are prepared to move into the second phase where we will be developing some new ministry teams.  If you are interested in serving on a ministry team, please let me know.  You can also talk to the members of our Lay Leadership Team (Carol Carter, Julia Circle, Nancy Curry, Ben Garrett, Kathy Kinsey, Denise Sanderson, and Les Trittschuh). They have already met this year to begin the process of starting new teams.  

     Yours in Christ’s Service,

         Pastor Justin