Dear Friends,

First off, let me wish you a Happy New Year! Welcome to 2012! As we enter this New Year I am mindful that life just keeps changing. At the end of 2011 we said "Farewell" to our beloved Office Administrator, Ann Tucker. Ann faithfully served GMPC for the last 4 plus years! We will certainly miss her warm smile and caring personality and the ease and skill with which she did her job.

Your Personnel Commission is already busily working on advertising and searching for our next Office Administrator. In early January, while we are conducting the search, we have hired a temp service to cover office duties a few days a week. We ask for your patience as we make this transition. Until we have this position filled, we will have limited office hours; Tuesday, Thursday and Friday mornings from 8:00 a.m. to 12:00 noon. Know that our goal is to keep things running as smoothly as possible while we search for the very best person for our church staff. Please pray for your Personnel Commission, and their chair Adrienne Antink, as they do this most important work.

As I think about this transition in our church life, I am reminded of the words of wisdom which come from the book of Psalms in our Bible. The 46th Psalm says:

God is our refuge and strength,
a very present—help in trouble.
2 Therefore we will not fear, though the earth should change, though the mountains shake in the heart of the sea;
3 though its waters roar and foam,
though the mountains tremble with its tumult... ‘
Be still, and know that I am God!
I am exalted among the nations,
I am exalted in the earth.’
11 The LORD of hosts is with us;
the God of Jacob is our refuge.

Things on the earth in which we live change all the time. Things in the life of the church change all the time. And we certainly know that things in our personal lives change all the time. India Arie once said: “The only thing constant in this world is change.” We know the truth of this statement, but I would shift the saying: “Change is constant, but the only thing constant in the midst of change is our God!” God is our refuge in the midst of the movements of life!

As we enter this New Year and whatever shifts and movements are ahead in our lives, in the church and on this earth, may we hold on to our refuge and may God cling to us!

With Confidence in God,

Pastor Gretchen