Dear Memorial Presbyterian Church Family:

It’s 2021. I’ve heard many of my friends and colleagues say they are glad that 2020 is over, and they can’t wait for 2021 to get here.  I’m fully aware of that sentiment. 2020 was a year of great sadness and loss and anxiety and hopelessness. We have been forced to change almost everything in our lives. It is no wonder that people are eager to leave 2020 behind us.

But what will 2021 bring? I remember what my Mother used to tell me when I would say, ” I can’t wait for next summer or Christmas or Homecoming.” My Mother would say, “Don’t wish your life away. Each day brings you one step closer to the grave.” Of course, I paid that no attention.

But as I ponder our collective journey for 2021, I am paying attention to what we are doing with our days. I’m asking God for discernment and wisdom and well-being for all of us. We are grateful to God for covering us in 2020 with love and compassion even in the midst of death and destruction. We have witnessed the disintegration of our political system and there seems to be no bottom to the vitriol and corruption we’ve experienced from leaders at every level. Yet, we have walked boldly through these hard times into this new year.

I wish I could say to you that all of the turmoil of 2020 has now ended and that 2021 will be a year of joy and peace and prosperity and justice and hope Believe it  or not, Memorial. I can say that and I am saying that.

All that happened in 2020 is past. 2021 will be a year of joy and peace and prosperity and justice and hope according to the will of Almighty God. Oh, there will be sadness and grief in 2021. There will be challenges great and small. But 2021 is a new beginning, a new opportunity to live out our purpose as followers of Jesus Christ. We are called to live as God’s people, caring for those in need, welcoming the stranger, sharing the Good News of the gospel of Jesus Christ. We can do that. We will do that. It’s 2021. Let’s get started!

Blessings,

Rev. Dorothy “Dot” Killian
Interim Pastor