Greetings!
As I pause to write this newsletter article, my family and I are in the throes of packing up our house in North Carolina in preparation for our move to Florida! There are boxes, bubble wrap, and packing tape everywhere. Although things are chaotic at our house right now and our minds are racing with everything that needs to be done before we move, we are extremely excited to be joining Pilgrim Church!
I understand that with change comes both excitement and anxiety. Even though I’m looking forward to joining the Pilgrim family, I, too, am feeling a little bit anxious. While Cathy is from Sarasota and is somewhat familiar with the area, I am not. I have GPS on my phone, but I’m still anticipating getting lost several times as I try to figure out my way around!
With any new journey comes anxiety. There are many questions surrounding what comes next, especially given that we are beginning this journey while dealing with a pandemic. Although they are necessary, social distancing and face masks can also present challenges that make the future even more daunting.
As we begin our new relationship and new journey together, I’m sure there will be questions that arise, and with these questions there may be anxiety. That is to be expected. We are only human, after all. When we don’t know what to expect, we may worry about our ability to meet the challenges we might encounter.
However, as we look forward together, we do not do so alone. God is with us. We can look to the future with hope and excitement because we know that God, whose steadfast love sustains us even in the most difficult times, is and will always be in the mix.
I give thanks to God for you and for this opportunity to join you as your brother in Christ and your pastor. I look to the future with hope and excitement, knowing that God goes with us as we set out on this new journey together. I cannot wait to see what God has in store for us!
“Fear not, for I am with you; be not dismayed, for I am your God; I will strengthen you, I will help you, I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.” Isaiah 41:10