Consolidation Update Through These Dark Days
Dear Friends of Unity Lutheran Church,
Winter Greetings! I hope that you are staying warm and feeling God’s presence. As we have turned the corner on a new year, we do so still waiting on our legal consolidation to become Unity Lutheran Church. Our attorney has been gathering all the necessary documentation to send this request to the NYS Supreme Court. Most recently, we had a hiccup as we could not find documentation of our legal name changes throughout the years. A quick stop to the Albany County Hall of Records was able to produce what we were missing. With our churches pushing 200 years old some things are bound to have gone missing. It is our hope that this will be filed and approved in the coming weeks. Please pray for this to go smoothly and with little push-back from the state.
Unrelated but interesting, I recently had someone make a comment which has stayed with me and even changed my outlook on each day. The months of January and February have always been my least favorite months. They come right after the hype of Christmas season and the expectation of the New Year. The cold can be oppressive at times and the still dark days don’t seem to feel very hopeful. This is also a time that many people experience seasonal depression for various reasons. To me, it just feels like a long wait till the Spring buds begin to show. In sharing my sentiment for these months, I was greeted with a response that took me by surprise. This person looked shocked and said, “this is the most hopeful time of the year”! They went on to explain that from the winter solstice on December 21st, every day has begun to get a little longer. The sun shines just a few minutes more each day. This person’s perspective was unlike mine. It was one of hope and anticipation! After thinking more on this, my attitude towards January and February has not been very “Christian”.
As people of God we are called to imitate Christ in all things. We do so when we love God and love our neighbors. It is more difficult to love when my focus and attitude are the opposite of hope and anticipation. Consequently, I would like to invite you into a new winter perspective with me. Hold onto the promises of God in Jesus. Do not focus on all that is wrong around us, but rather focus on all that has been done for us and will be done for us through Jesus. Here and now, your sins are forgiven!!! Your future home is guaranteed in heaven!!! These alone are reasons for hope and anticipation. May these be what you feel and experience this winter season.
God’s Peace Be With You
Your Brother in Christ
Pastor Jim Dorner
