It’s that time of year when we reflect on the year that has passed, and start thinking about the year to come. Do you remember making some resolutions for 2012? Maybe a promise to make intentional efforts to improve your health, or to spend more time with family, or focus on intentional de-stressing time. Maybe even a resolution that had something to do with church – after all, 01 Jan 2012 was a Sunday!
So what about 2013? Have you already made some? Are you waiting until 12.01 on Tuesday morning? Maybe this will be the year you join (and go to!) the gym… maybe 2013 will see you phoning relatives or friends more regularly… possibly this year you’ll decide to do more quality reading… or increase your donations to the PWRDF… or support local farmer’s markets…
So what about your resolutions for your mission and ministry within the church? And by church, of course, I mean the people of God, not the structure. Yes, I know the liturgical New Year started on the first Sunday of Advent (one parish I serve had a foil “Happy New Year!” sign on the door that day – in blue even!) Did you make any new years’ resolutions then? If not, why not consider now as a perfect time for that.
Maybe this will be the year that you will get involved with the ACW or the men’s breakfast group… maybe 2013 will be when you start attending bible study… or driving distant non-drivers to worship (who may not otherwise be able to attend)… or starting an outreach programme in your community… or setting aside even 5 minutes every day for scripture reading and prayer…
It can be a challenge – as can all resolutions. We know that the ones that are realistic and measurable are the ones that are more likely to be kept. But resolutions take resolve, and are intended to help us be better in the coming year; this is what makes the effort so worthwhile. So let’s challenge ourselves to include in our resolutions something focusing on our spiritual and church lives.
So – to start the discussion: this year I aim to try a new 10-mile recipe at least once a month. I’m also resolving to dedicate more time to ‘churchy’ reading – be it theology or liturgy or prayer. Reading is the first thing that gets dropped when life gets busy, so I resolve to read at least one book per month.
What are your resolutions?
