Oh, What a Year...Once Again

I would have lost heart, unless I had believed that I would see the goodness of the Lord in the land of the living. Psalm 27:13 (NKJV)

November 12, 2017. That was the day our church installed me as your Senior Pastor. We were all filled with great anticipation, faith, and expectation for what God would do – in us, with us, for us, and through us. Yet, we could not have imagined the last twenty months: virtual worship, hybrid worship, masks, vaccines, outdoor lunches, no hugs, WebEx, prayer calls, feeling disconnected, a new website and app, small groups, a new worship leader, and blessings upon blessings amid it all. Well, we may have imagined the blessings, but maybe not their magnitude while we are still not “back to normal.” God is good and has been good to us! To summarize this last year of my pastorate all I can say is “Thank you.”

I am thankful to the Lord for choosing me and for keeping me. I am grateful for my family and support system who encourage me, help me, and lift me up. I can understand the sentiments of the psalmist in Psalm 27 quoted above. There have been many times in the past year (and prior to it) when I felt like fainting, losing heart, and giving up. The separation has been unbearable at times and the pressure to keep things afloat and moving has felt heavy. Yet, it was my sincere hope and belief that I would continue to live and to see the goodness of the Lord.

Clarendon family, that goodness has come through your hands, your heart, and your mouths all along the way. Thank you for praying with me and praying for me. Thank you for laughing at my jokes and indulging my quirks. Thank you for trusting me and for following my leadership, even as I seek to follow Christ. Thank you for walking with me as we are Becoming.Better.Together. We have made it four years! And I am still hopeful that the very best is yet to come. I trust that you have this same hope.

Wait on the Lord; be of good courage, and He shall strengthen your heart; wait, I say, on the Lord! Psalm 27:14 (NKJV)

Loving and praying for you,
Pastor Danielle

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