Pastor's Corner: What do we know about 2022?

Today, I am pulling out my 2022 calendars and writing down events taking place during this first month of the new year. As I do this, I can't help but wonder, what is this year of 2022 going to be like? Will it be like 2021? Will it be like 2020? In a very real way, I hope the answer to both of those questions is a resounding no!

And yet, we really do not know what this year (or any other year) will bring. So, what do we really know? We know that God loves us continuously. There is nothing that can separate us from His continuous love, as Romans 8:38-39 says, "For I am convinced that neither death nor life nor angels nor demons neither the present nor the future nor any powers neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord." Lamentations 3:22-23 tells us that

22 The steadfast love of the Lord never ceases;

his mercies never come to an end;

23 they are new every morning;

great is your faithfulness.

We know that we can always trust Jesus Christ for our salvation, cleansing from sin, power to live righteously, and healing in our bodies and hearts and minds. We know that the Holy Spirit is not just with us, but He is in us - and because of that, we have the faithful guidance of God shaping our lives every step of the way. With all of what we really do know, what do we know about the year 2022? We know that God is with us, saving us and guiding us each and every day! And you know what? That's all we really need to know...

The Week of Prayer for Christian Unity takes place this month. This year's theme is "We saw the star in the east, and we came to worship Him." - Matthew 2:2.

This event is sponsored by Greater Havre Area Ministerial Association. It takes place the week of Jan. 16-21. We will kick it off with a variety show at Havre Assembly of God Church, starting at 6 p.m. on Sunday, Jan. 16. People from various churches are encouraged to sing, read a poem, do a skit, etc. If that is something that you would like to do, please contact me and let me know ([email protected] or 406-399-0263).

On each weekday morning, we will meet at 7 a.m. at St. Jude's Parish Center for a short devotion and some breakfast. Each morning a different church will be providing the devotions and the breakfast food. Here is the schedule: Monday, Jan. 17 - Christian Missionary Alliance Church; Tuesday, Jan. 18 - St. Jude Thaddeus Church; Wednesday, Jan. 19 - First Lutheran Church; Thursday, Jan. 20 - Van Orsdel United Methodist Church; and Friday, Jan. 21 – Havre Assembly of God Church. I always enjoy these times to get to fellowship with other Christ-followers from other churches. I hope that you will take the time to enjoy this very special week!

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Written by the Rev. Edroy "Curt" Curti, president of the Greater Havre Area Ministerial Association, chaplain of Northern Montana Health Care and lead pastor of Havre Assembly of God Church.