Dear friends, As you may know, I will be out of the office from January 7th- March 1st on medical leave. During my absence the church is well-covered. Director of Family Ministries, Josh Rath, will serve in the day to day pastoral functions. In addition, Sue Meade, a retired UM pastor, is available as well. Stephen Ministers are available to listen and serve. Bev Byram, the church office administrator, is able to handle daily operations. Because we are part of a connectional system as United Methodists, the Iowa City area pastors are open to assisting in whatever ways as needed. Rev. Dr. Jill Sanders will serve as celebrant for communion on February 3. On Sunday mornings, you will see a variety of familiar faces filling new roles in preaching and leading. I am excited to hear what each one has to teach us. I will take advantage of the DVD recordings of the services coming out of our Audio/Visual team! This is not a time to miss. God’s Spirit is moving powerfully among the leadership and the body in the church. This will become more and more evident as the year progresses. One of my favorite quotes comes from Sister Pat Farrell in her address, "Navigating the Shifts":

Nor is there reason to be fearful of the cataclysmic movements of change swirling around us. We only need to recognize the movement, step into the flow, and be carried by it. Indeed, all creation is groaning in one great act of giving birth. The Spirit of God still hovers over the chaos.

In seasons of great change or when I feel afraid, I have found it challenging, as well as comforting to step into the waters of change. There is movement within this church body. The Spirit of God is urging us to follow God in radical ways. In my own life, at times it feels that the waters might overtake me. Each time I come back to God who “still hovers over the chaos.” Changes are coming. Take heart. This is the best place to be. I covet your prayers for my two surgeries. The first one is on January 8th, which is a change from my original date. The longer surgery is on the 24th. I will pray for you during my absence. On the journey, Alecia

Advent -- the preparation for 4 weeks until Christmas -- feels like it is flying by me. I want God to make this story relevant once again, yet this year it reads more like a condensed version by Readers Digest. This is a story I need to hear over and over. I need to see all of the human choices which played into this heavenly plan. I am experiencing the undeniably gracious gift of Emmanuel, God with us through Jesus. I am awed at how much Mary and Joseph sacrificed to be part of this plan playing out. When I stop and reflect on the sacrifices and intentional choices made by so many people at the manger, I am grateful. So what does God call me to do in sacrifice? I am a character in this play as well. It is easier to get caught up in the crush of the Christmas consumerism than it is to be still. Who am I at the manger and what do I bring? Maybe I will just go back to "decking the halls"... or just perhaps I will seek out the role I am to play in this on-going love story. On the journey, Alecia