… a brief message from our Minister – Tanis Podobni
“Behold, behold, I make all things new, beginning with you, …” These words are part of one of my favorite hymns. I often find myself humming the tune or singing while I am travelling to and from work, and as I sat down to gather my thoughts for my newsletter submission, those words popped into my head again.
How have we been made new in the past year? Sometimes, our day-to-day lives leave us trying to catch up, zipping from one thing to another; time flies by; some days, it has felt like a whirlwind. I was blessed to be welcomed into the family of St. Paul’s in October of 2023, and the winds of change haven’t stopped blowing yet.
We have journeyed together through the season of Advent; we celebrated Christmas Eve by preparing the manger as we joined with family and each other to celebrate the birth of Jesus. Lent greeted us and offered a time of reflection as we walked the path of the resurrection story.
We have worshiped together in person and using Zoom, and we have challenged ourselves by introducing intergenerational Sundays and Messy Church. We have wept together as we surround each other with our support and encouragement during loss, and we have celebrated together, participating in the sacraments of baptism and communion.
For some, the activities of the past year will feel like the year before, and for others, this is all a new experience. Wherever you are on your faith journey, I invite you to open yourself up to being made new. Each day, each new experience is a gift from our creator, God.
Peace and Blessings, Pastor Tanis
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