January 15, 2021

Dear Immanuel Family,

Grace and peace to all of you! You have been in my prayers for good health and peace in the midst of the many things going on in our country and world these days! This Sunday we begin our new series “Together for Joy.” This is also our stewardship theme as we commence our church’s financial planning for 2021. Be on the lookout for the envelope in a mailbox near you, as well as other information on social media about our hopes and dreams for 2021. Thank you so much for your incredible faithfulness and generosity in 2020. Your giving is truly the lifeblood of the church. I’m believing that God is going to use us in even greater ways in this new year.

This week we’re looking at the most read, most prayed, and most beloved of the Psalms—Psalm 23. We’re all on a journey. There are a lot of paths out there for this earthly pilgrimage of ours, and not all are good. Just because you’re on a path doesn’t mean it’s a good one. Many paths are dead ends and detours, even possibly a path to perdition. However, the Good Shepherd, who himself is also The Way, the Truth, and the Life, guides our way along righteous paths—paths that lead us to still waters and rest. These are soul-restoring paths. But God’s paths are not always wide or easy. Right paths sometimes go smack through the valley of the shadow of death. Not around, but through. But hard times and even death itself can’t barricade or close down these paths of righteousness—for we’re a resurrection people. We rise up, even from death. With Jesus, we can’t be kept down. “The Lord is my shepherd, I shall not want.”

In Goodness and Mercy,
Pastor John

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