Happy New Year!
As we move past the Christmas and Advent Seasons and into the New Year we celebrated Epiphany on Sunday. This day is so significant to the work we do because it reminds us yet again that Jesus came for the WHOLE world; for ALL people.
As we enter a new year and are surrounded by goals, and resolutions, and new year wishes Epiphany challenges us to reconcile the wounds and divisions created by prejudice and bigotry.
It reminds us to work for unity, under one Saviour, who loves us all without any consideration for our differences, abilities, income, housing status, ethnicity, gender, or religious beliefs.
It’s a time of hope – hope that one day, everything will be made right.
There is much to be hopeful for.
As we focus on this year ahead full of hope, we do so starting with our missional themes of Excellence and Mission, these are the foundations for doing our work the best we can this upcoming year.
‘Our Mission Focus-Year at a Glance’ poster continues to guide us through the year with monthly themes that focus our attention and remind us of the work we are all doing together. It gives us a framework to see why we do what we do, how we do it together, and how we can encourage those around us in the work we do every day. (If you need a poster, email Erin_Marshall@can.salvationarmy.org, and I will send one your way!)
This calendar was created by Dion Oxford as a way of learning from our Biblical history, Church calendar, our core values, and the day to day staff expressions he observed during his years of leadership with THHS. The content of this poster gives us an annual ‘rhythm’ of topics to focus on each month.
It attempts to cover the bases of the important things related to our work at The Salvation Army. Each month gives us a verse and a missional theme to focus on as individuals and as a team. This rhythm unites us so that wherever we are, whether with our teams or by ourselves praying, we can know that others are reflecting on the same topic.
As a result, we can always know that we are never alone.
So this tool serves as a guide to everything I write in these newsletters month to month as we continue to strive to be “The Hand of God, in the Heart of the City.”
Grace & Peace,
Erin
God of all rhythms,
Our rhythm is our work in response to your work, your story.
You speak and act –and we listen and obey (or don’t).
Our rhythm is about You.
Not about our whims or inclinations or social loyalties but about Your action, love, and kindness in our world.
Our rhythm reminds us that faith is something believed,
something encountered,
something felt,
something practiced.
You are with us, above us, in us.
We don’t have to understand everything we participate in,
but we have faith that over time our participation in Your story will transform and heal us and the whole world.
Amen
Prayer by Dion Oxford