Community Church
By Johan Dodge
Reverend
It will be New Year’s Eve on the date of this publication. It is the end of what my children describe as a “terrible, horrible, no good, very bad year.”
The world around us is hurting and in deep pain. Maybe you lost a friend, a loved one, or even a family member. Some have suffered the most difficult loss of a child amidst this COVID-19 battle. Even as we continue to grieve those losses, it can be cathartic to let go of 2020.
There is much to be hopeful about for 2021, but that hope won’t come easy, and it won’t come quick. We still will be masked for the foreseable future, which has become our new normal in such a way that it will be strange to return to in-person worship when it is safe. We will be excited to return to the things we loved doing before the pandemic, but any time someone coughs or sneezes, we will likely have a little PTSD left over from this year.
With all of that said, the Christ candle was lit again for Christmas Eve. Jesus has been born into a world that maybe isn’t quite certain what to make of him. And with his birth come new opportunities and blessings. Traditionally in the United Methodist Church, New Year’s Eve is an opportunity to remember our baptism and recommit ourselves to life in Christ.
Learning about Jesus leads to knowing Jesus, which leads to following in the steps of Jesus. In three words: crowd, disciple, apostle. First, we are an interested bystander, then we are called to follow and say yes, and eventually we are sent out to be the light of Christ in the world. This New Years Eve we should stay home and stay safe, but we will still have opportunities to be the light of Christ in the world around us. Have you been the light to someone this Christmas season? Was someone the light for you? Join Community Church for worship on Facebook and contact the church office to join on Zoom for fellowship. I invite you to share your story of the light of Christ.
Join Community Church on Sundays for a live worship service at 9:50 a.m. on Facebook live, @communitychurchleisureworld.
Those who want to join the virtual fellowship will need to call the church office or email leisurewccsue@yahoo.com. If you don’t have a computer or Facebook, you can still call in to the phone system at (562) 431-2503 and listen to the weekly message beginning Sunday evening.
Did you watch the “Christmas Caroling Challenge” on the CW? Two of our own church members were on the show. Another competitor on the show will be a guest on our worship team on Jan. 3.
As always, if you are in need without another way to address it, you may call the office to leave a message at (562) 431-2503.
