Slippin' Slippin' Slippin' into the Future

At the end of the year we often reflect on the year gone by and consider all that took place. I don't generally make resolutions for a new year because they essentially draw attention areas where I've failed during the previous year and punctuate my weaknesses into the future.

Why not make new day's resolutions or new hour's resolutions. If I resolved to serve the Lord each day when I woke up, I think I'd find much more fulfillment than if I resolved to drink less coffee in 2007 (I'm not planning to actually drink less coffee. This was merely an example).

What a year it's been. Ascension Church launched and grew, I began tentmaking to make ends meet. I'm still not married and continue to age relentlessly (though the old guy in the picture isn't me).

Time marches on. God keeps on working. When I consider the magnificent work of God here in Queens over the past year, it's pretty exciting to imagine the things He'll do in the coming year and for years to come as we continue to proclaim His Kingdom here in New York City.

The new year is also an opportunity for some of you to partner with me afresh. I am still very much in need of financial support as I continue in my capacity here at Ascension Presbyterian Church. Many of you reading this blog can possibly afford $20 to $25 a month. Perhaps your churches can join in with $200 a month. No matter how large or small, financial partnership in our Gospel endeavours here goes a long way in bringing people here face to face with the Gospel of Grace. Should your 2007 budget fit such support, checks should be made out to Ascension Church and mailed to my home address: 83-44 Lefferts Blvd. Apt. 3C; Kew Gardens, NY 11415. Remember to put my name on the memo line.

May God bless you abundantly in the coming year.

Christmas in Queens

Well, here we are. Christmas arrives this Monday and I've done no shopping, I'm behind on my support letter writing, and my parents arrive for a visit late Saturday night, not to mention, I'm broke. This time of year is always busy, especially when you're involved in ministry.

As exhausted as I am, I'm just as excited about what God is doing through Ascension Church this season. Last week's children's program and family Christmas extravaganza we hosted was a smash hit. We had lot's of people visit with us and made some good connections. People were very excited with the crafts, games, and music and it was a thrill to see how positive our volunteers were, and that the community was able to see that we weren't just a dry bunch of Presbyterians who get together once a week for services. What was apparent was that this church is active and involved in the community.

Last year, when Christmas and New Year's were on Sunday, and we were still meeting in the library, we were unable to have worship services. This year, I'm happy that we will have our weekly worship on Christmas Eve and New Year's eve, without interruption.

Oh yeah, about those Christmas support letters. Most of you will hear from me by both e-mail and snail mail. The e-mail will probably get to most of you first, rendering the letter nore of a year-end report than a Christmas letter. Sorry about that, but my time is not exactly my own these days. Also, many of you received something from me with the Christmas letter. That'll be coming as well if I can work it out, but it may not get to you until January. Money's a bit tight these days too. Save some wall space.

Have a most blessed Christmas.

The Bridge to Queens

Of the five boroughs of New York City, only Queens and Brooklyn share a land border. Both sit at the western tip of Long Island; the Bronx is on the mainland, and Manhattan and Staten Island are, well, islands. With all the waterways attached to New York Harbor, there are, as you might imagine, lots of bridges around these parts.

At this time of year, we are presented with an opportunity to build and cross bridges. Our bridge, of course, is the Gospel and it connects a lost and broken human race with a loving and gracious God. As we contemplate the birth of Jesus this Christmas, Ascension Church is reaching out to communicate the Gospel to central Queens. This week we will be presenting our first ever Christmas program and will be renting the gymn at the school where we meet, to host games, crafts, and family activities and have stood out on street corners and invited our neighbors to participate in this with us.

Before engineers undertake bridge construction, they stand on one side of the river and look at where they are in comparison to where they want to go, and determine the means of getting there. This is what makes the Gospel a bridge to the community. We see where the people are, and where they need to be and recognize that the Gospel of Jesus Christ is the only means by which any of them will get there. That's our job and we're sticking to it.

I'm crossing a different bridge this Saturday... the birthday bridge. Of course, I've featured two views of the Queensboro Bridge, of which I've crossed hundreds of times as a passenger and driver, and even once on foot. I don't expect to cross the birthday bridge hundreds of times. I am always amazed each year at how many times I've crossed that bridge, though I'm also thankful for God's grace seeing me through another year.

'Tis the Season

Yes, friends, it's the Christmas season, and Ascension Church is hopping. Our dance card is full of special gatherings and events, and in the midst of the busy schedule, our goal remains clear: To establish a Gospel community and proclaim the Kingdom in central Queens.

Tomorrow night I'm taking the youth on an Holiday outing, breaking away from our usual meetings in light of the Holidays. Satudray begins with a number of us hitting the streets to invite the public to our first Christmas program next week, and culminates in our annual church Christmas party. I say annual because this is the third such party celebrated in connection with this church. That's right, before I even graduated from Seminary, a group of people had a vision for this church and celebrated at a Christmas gathering three years ago. All that goes to show how long this church has been in the works and how much work has gon into this church. Three years ago, no one could have seen the wonderous work God had in mind for a church plant in Forest Hills, Queens that would go on to become Ascension Presbyterian Church. God has been so good to us.

Please pray for us during this important Advent season, as we seek to take advantage of the meaning of Christmas to open Gospel doors and open our church doors for God to usher people into His Kingdom.