Commitments to Begin the New Year
Dear Calvary Family,
The first week of a new year is always filled with thoughts of new beginnings, resolutions, goals, dreams and hopes for what is possible in the year ahead. Here at Calvary, we have had a new tradition the last few years of starting the year with two key things - love and worship.
First, Love
The first sermon of every year is now entitled “First, Love.” This is a moment where we are reminded that receiving the love of our Heavenly Father is the first and most important thing that we can do in this life. We simply receive His love. We are loved first. Then, out of that love for us, we are to live out the Greatest Commandments to Love God and then love our neighbor. We are loved and then we love. That’s the first and most crucial resolution we can have every year of our lives. So please join us this Sunday as we will hear from Pastor Tim Nellis at our 9:00am service on how God has impacted his life in this way and what God’s Word has to say about it for each one of us.
Seven Nights of Worship
The other priority we have started the year with has been a rich and beautiful time of worship through singing, prayer and listening to the Lord for seven nights in a row. These nights provide a designated moment in time where you can sit, still yourself, and receive the love of God. This foundational week in the life of our church also helps us to set our hearts and minds on the things of the Lord as we start the year. We will have some time of focused prayer as well each evening where you can also bring any personal needs you have to the Lord. The first night was Wednesday, January 3rd and we will continue to meet each night at 7:00pm in Fellowship Hall through Tuesday, January 9th.
So whether you love New Year’s Resolutions or think they are just an additional form of stress, let’s all commit to love and worship as we kick off 2024.
May the Lord bless you and keep you,
Eric