Glen Avon Presbyterian Church

Rev. Robyn Weaver

He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of all creation...

For in him all the fullness of god was pleased to dwell, and through Him God was pleased to reconcile to himself all things, whether on Earth or in Heaven, by making peace through the blood of his cross.

Colossians 1:15, 19-20

A new year lies before us and what 'good news' we hear from Colossians. God's plan to 'make things right', to reconcile the cosmos, has taken place in the Christ Child. We know to each year come the challenges and the joys that are a part of living our lives faithfully. Yet, we need not fear being reconciled, in right relationship, with God. That work is completed and the zeal of the Lord accomplished this! So we can step into the hopes and dreams of this year 2012 with full assurance of God's hand beneath us. We are not alone. There is One who goes before us into the ups and the downs of this fragile life we live.

We also enter this new year with the call to share the news of this reconciling work of God. There is still work to be done as partners and disciples of Christ to make visible the hope we hold so dearly, 'You are my witness, says the Lord, and my servant whom I have chosen'

(Isaiah 43:10)

Emily Dickenson wrote in the middle 1800's this poem:

If I can stop one heart from breaking

I shall not live in vain;

If I can ease one life the aching,

Or cool one pain,

Or help one fainting robin

Unto his nest again,

I shall not live in vain.

We face new opportunities to ease the aching lives of those we see and encounter. We can each image being able to cool one pain. And so we become the good news of hope and help. We become the way in which others realize they are not alone in this world. In turn we see we too are not alone.

I am only one,

But still I am one.

I cannot do everything,

But still I can do something;

And because I cannot do everything

I will not refuse to do the something

That I can do.

Edward Everett Hale 1800

Together our single efforts come together to paint yet another picture of God's handiwork coming to light in our broken world. We just need to not be fearful and to do the one thing God calls us to do each day. Know that tomorrow God will be present for we are not alone. Indeed our God is alive and living and is made visible through you and me each and every day. What a year this will be! And God goes before us!