A Word From the Pastor (January 2008)

Dear Friends in Christ,

I am clearing the way for a fresh start in the new year by cleaning up and reorganizing my office. Some folks have mentioned that they find my office cluttered. I, too, sometimes find it a bit overstuffed. So far I have thrown out two overloaded trash bags of papers and outdated materials. I have also filed away many things that seem worth preserving. Still, anyone walking by my office might not notice much of a difference.

My office is indeed full. Myriad books and magazines stand ready as valuable ministry resources. Such things as coloring books, art supplies, games, teddy bears, and a hula hoop abound, all helpful tools in ministry with children. There are educational kits and materials for teaching Sunday School, Confirmation, Adult Bible Study, VBS … There’s a shelf reserved for paper products (cups, bowls, plates, napkins, cutlery) ready for use in entertaining youth groups, adult gatherings, and committee meetings. My globe is a cherished possession, valuable in teaching about missions and the global nature of the church. Seasonal decorations and worship resources (angels for Christmas, ashes for Lent, resurrection eggs for Easter) are all used at least annually. And of course there are files (some necessary, some just helpful). There are files in cabinets, files in boxes, files on shelves, files on my desk, files everywhere. Finally, certain equipment is available. Recently my clock and phone and CD player welcomed a computer with all the needed accouterments. Yes, my office is very full.

Now, we’ve all heard it said that one person’s trash is another person’s treasure. I think the same can be said of clutter. What one person sees as a useless accumulation of junk may represent to another person a diverse treasure chest of resources or a fount of opportunities. My guess is that many people look at my office and see useless clutter, while from my vantage point I see tools at my fingertips and boundless opportunities for ministry.

The New Year is a good time to make a fresh start. It’s a wonderful occasion to look at ourselves and our stuff with a critical eye. Is there a lot of useless clutter impeding our progress, distracting us from our purposes, holding us back from seeking our hopes and dreams? Or do we have valuable resources that have perhaps been neglected? Do we have opportunities all around us that simply need to be identified and embraced? It’s a new year, and our God is a God of New Beginnings. May you make a fresh start by weeding away the useless clutter and discovering anew the gifts and opportunities that abound all around us.

God bless you in 2008.

Yours in Christ,
Peggy Ann Sauerhoff