A Prayer for the New Year

Senior Pastor Steve Thulson

We thank you, Father,

…that our stories are not over,

and that you are not done;

…that you have an abundance of gifts,

and plenty of time to give them all;

…that you waste nothing,

can redeem anything,

and will fulfill everything.

May your kingdom come and will be done

on earth – and in our lives – even as in heaven.

In the name and presence of your reigning Son,   
Amen

   

With Us

Darlene Thulson, Children's Pastor

Last week my three year old grandson, Drew, wanted to watch a short “Chip and Dale” on my tablet.  As we sat on the couch together, I found the Centennial Covenant’s Children’s Christmas program on YouTube that we had posted. Drew and I decided to watch that first.  What a gift from God that turned out to be!

Since I was “directing” from the floor on the Sunday we presented our program, I didn’t see what was going on by the stable. But the video captured the whole thing.  While the kids were coming and going on the stage, acting out the Christmas story, there was one “sheep” – and his “shepherd” – standing by the manger, riveted on “baby Jesus.”

It was at that moment that the Holy Spirit reminded me that the most important thing during this season of doing things for Jesus is to be with Jesus.  

 He is inviting me to just be with Him,
to look into His eyes filled with love for me.   

Words from an old song came to mind, 

Turn your eyes upon Jesus,

Look full in His wonderful face. 

And the things of earth will grow strangely dim

In the light of His glory and grace.

These last 10 days have been a snapshot of life in our broken world.  

In the very middle of Advent, a time of celebrating the coming of Emmanuel, a very disturbed young man walks into his school and shoots an innocent girl sitting in a hallway.  The impact of that 80 seconds of destruction has been deeply felt in our church family.  With seven students and two faculty (one of them being my son-in-law) from our church being at Arapahoe High School, we have felt the grief, anger and sadness in a huge way.  

 Yet, the darkness of that act cannot negate the fact
that Emmanuel is with us.   

As more and more stories come out from that day, it is obvious that Emmanuel was in that school, alongside the students and faculty.  Emmanuel was with each of us as we prayed and waited and helped as we could.  Emmanuel will bring redemption in ways we cannot see now. 

May each of us take time to look into His face day by day, minute by minute. Even Now!

Accomplishing Within the Accomplished

Senior Pastor, Steve Thulson

I’ve been thinking a lot these days (and preaching) about “running at the pace of grace.” Like most people I know, my days get full and move fast. It makes a difference for the good when I remember and embrace this: the reality of God and his grace. I love the prayer of Isaiah (26:12 NIV): 

Lord, you establish peace for us;

all that we have accomplished

you have done for us.

Peace has been established. Our risen Lord’s finished work on the cross reconciles us to the Father, promises that one day all will be well, and allows his Spirit to indwell our hearts and spread a peace for the living of our days.

 The farmer-philosopher Wendell Berry has composed a series of Sabbath Poems. Here’s one that echoes the paradox of Isaiah’s prayer on seeing all our accomplishments within God’s. Read it slowly. As you do, think of your hard work. And then place it into an even greater work and so a growing rest. 

Whatever is foreseen in joy

Must be lived out from day to day.

Vision held open in the dark

By our ten thousand days of work.

Harvest will fill the barn; for that

The hand must ache, the face must sweat.

And yet no leaf or grain is filled

By work of ours; the field is tilled

And left to grace. That we may reap,

Great work is done while we’re asleep.

When we work well, a Sabbath mood

Rests on our day, and finds it good.

(Wendell Berry, in A Timbered Choir, “Sabbath Poem, 1979, X”)