Elgin-Portland Pastoral Charge
Thanks to French family and friends for lovely Christmas Day service
New Year’s Day Joint Service @ EUC 10 a.m. led by the Elgin United Church Choir and friends.
May the New Year fill your home with joy, your heart with love, and your life with laughter. May God bless you and yours today and every day. Happy New Year.
Takouhi and Gary celebrate their anniversary on Tuesday January 3, 2023. We wish them an anniversary as special as the love they share. God bless.
EUC & PUC Council
Devotional Thought – December 31, 2022 – New Year’s Eve
I am always a little nervous to write an eloquent devotional for New Year’s Eve. And any attempt I put forward sounds like the rehashing of so many other such devotional; of course, containing tidbits of information you will try to store in your mind and bring out just when you need it. NOT!!!!!
But here is what I can share with you:
In Psalm 27 there is so much insight that you do not have to memorize it. You only have to live it. As I read and reread this Psalm, I come to realize this is the daily mantra that will sustain me. It is not a resolution that I make tomorrow and break within a few days, defeated by my inability to walk consistently. This is the Word of the Lord to each of us and we can claim these promises, no matter what is happening, every day, fresh each morning.
It is so evident as you peruse this psalm that every day in the year to come may not go exactly as you planned. There will be grief and disappointments. Relationships will flourish and wane. You will have great days – days of joy and constant love surrounding you. And you will marvel at the abundance of grace you have received. You will want to shout it from the rooftops.
It has been more evident to me this year that every day is a gift from God and the importance of sharing His love to the world can be seen in all those whom we mingle with. For some, this will come easy and for others it will be a real struggle. But this is my prayer and challenge for each of you:
Take Psalm 27. Paste it on your mirror, on your door, on your fridge, next to your bedside table, in your car, in your coat pocket. Put it anywhere that you know you will see it and read it many times throughout the day.
There is no better resolution and that pray to God. Commit each day to Him, ask for His direction in leading you to share His love. And in return, the promises you read and the direction you will walk will be right in front of you.
Psalm 27 – paraphrase
The LORD is my light and my salvation– whom shall I fear? The LORD is the stronghold of my life– of whom shall I be afraid? When my enemies and my foes attack me, they will stumble and fall.
Though an army besiege me, my heart will not fear; though war break out against me, even then will I be confident.
One thing I ask of the LORD, this is what I seek:
That I may dwell in the house of the LORD all the days of my life, to gaze upon the beauty of the LORD and to seek Him in His temple.
For in the day of trouble He will keep me safe in His dwelling. He will hide me in the shelter of His tabernacle and set me high upon a rock.
I will sing and make music to the LORD.
Hear my voice when I call, O LORD; be merciful to me and answer me.
My heart says of you, “Seek His face!” Your face, LORD, I will seek.
Do not hide Your face from me, do not turn Your servant away in anger. You have been my helper. Do not reject me or forsake me, O God, my Savior.
Teach me your way, O LORD; lead me in a straight path. Do not turn me over to the desire of my foes, for false witnesses rise up against me,
breathing out violence.
I am still confident of this:
I will see the goodness of the LORD in the land of the living.
Wait for the LORD; be strong and take heart and wait for the LORD.
Let this be your year to shine for the Lord. And remember above all else:
Lamentations 3:22-24
“The steadfast love of the Lord never ceases; His mercies never come to an end; they are new every morning; great is Your faithfulness. ‘The Lord is my portion,’ says my soul, ‘therefore I will hope in Him.
Blessing and peace to each of you.
Liz Church -Pastoral Care Director
Elgin/Portland Pastoral Charge