Knapsack 12-12

Notes from my Knapsack – Newark Central 12-12-12

Jeff Gill

 

It has been a year of transitions, of changes, of adjustments major and minor.

 

We have today a significant date, numerically speaking, with 12-12-12, something we won't see again for a very long time; we've got coming up a date that marked a change in eras for the Mayan people on their calendar, with a 364 year cycle ending with a dozen of those cycles concluding on Dec. 21, 2012 to boot, which means . . . something. I forget what, and can't be bothered to look it up. Mayan elders say the world's not ending, and if they don't think that's what it means, then why worry about what some off-kilter modern Americans say?

 

For me, 2012 was the year for a major new beginning in my life. My son started high school. Oh, and I was called to be your pastor, that too! (Parents will understand the order I put them in.) Here at Newark Central, we've begun a number of new things, kept a bunch of traditions just the way they are, and made some shifts in what we're used to.

 

In other words, life. In all, life is going well here. And in all things, as it says in granite out near Mt. Vernon Road, "Christ the chief cornerstone" from Ephesians 2:20. We build out and up and remodel and refurbish and renew, but the cornerstone does not change, the benchmark remains the same.

 

We celebrate the birth of Jesus because in him we know where we come from, and where we are going; the promise of God-with-us, "Emmanuel" was fulfilled. The baby will grow, his story will unfold, yet God's purposes working through Jesus will not change, even as we understand those purposes in new ways with every passing day, and year.

 

Which is why I'm looking forward to 2013!

 

In grace & peace, Pastor Jeff