Loading...Dear Friends in Christ,
This month we are in a period of transition and a new beginning. We say a fond farewell to Bishop Powell, my friend and Bishop. We wish him and Dorothy all the best in their retirement and wonderful times with their grandchildren. I thank him for his love and support of my ministry and the ministry of the Cluster. I will miss him. We wish him a fond farewell and a "well done, good and faithful servant."
In thinking and contemplating about our new beginnings with Bishop Mark, I came across the following poem. It reminded me that our time together with Bishop Powell that there were good times and not so good times, and that will probably be the case in this new era we are entering now. We always need to be thankful for the good and to learn from the bad.
I hope this poem has meaning for you as it does for me.
New Beginnings
by Belinda van Rensburg
Another year has come to an end: A new one's awaiting around the bend
It's time to recall memories painful or dear; Some now quite faded; some crystal clear.
How did we fare? Did we stay at our posts; Was knowing the Father our only boast;
Did we see hardships as stepping-stones or did we face trials with pitiful groans?
How did we fare? Can we honestly say we did God's will for us today?
When we were weak, did we kneel down and ask God for strength to complete ev'ry task?
How did we fare when trying times came; Did we call on our Father in Jesus' name?
Did we fully rely on God for protection; Did we trust in Him; follow his direction?
How did we love our neighbors and brothers? Did we live for ourselves or consider others?
Did we live lives free or self-love and greed? These are hard questions to answer indeed.
After everything's been said and done, we'll find we have all fallen short some,
Yet we needn't feel hopeless or fret or waste valuable time on useless regret.
Our God is a God of new beginnings; Able to change failings into winnings.
We should repent and declare anew God's will is what we desire to do.
Let us resolve that the coming year will be the year that we'll persevere;
Not growing tired of doing good but to live and love as God's children should.
In Christ's Love
Father Russ
