As autumn arrives this month I will have completed my first year of ministry here at UBBC! I know that it is hard to believe, but it has been a year. It is a marker in our journey that I want to celebrate. We have walked through all the seasons of the church year, from Advent through Pentecost. We have walked through life's seasons together celebrating new life and new relationships, while continuing to share sorrow and grief at the deaths of loved ones in our faith community, and at our nation at war and its aftermath. We've laughed and cried together, played and prayed together, learned from and challenged one another. For me, the year has been rich and rewarding, exciting and at times exhausting, fun and full of new experiences.

I enjoy learning more about my new American Baptist faith family, even as efforts continue to find a regional connection within the denomination. I've also enjoyed making new friends and renewing relationships in the Church of the Brethren. Perhaps most rewarding for me this year has been developing my own style as a solo pastor. That challenge has been much easier because of the strong staff team of my colleagues, Pat Gong, Nancy Hillard, and Matthew Russell.

While this marker in our journey provides for all kinds of informal reflections together it also provides us an opportunity for some intentional reflection as well. At the end of this month, Larry Waltz, our Executive Minister for the American Baptist Churches, USA and Randy Yoder, our District Executive for the Church of the Brethren Middle Pennsylvania District will conduct a formal Pastor-Congregation Evaluation with the Staff Relations Committee. Bill Schrader chairs the committee, which includes Susan Beyerle, Peg French, Daryl Gregory, Neill Johnson, and Janet McCracken.

Together we will examine our ministry as pastor and congregation over the last year, looking at what we want to celebrate and continue, what areas of ministry may need improvement or specific attention, and some directions for the coming year. A summary report of this evaluation will be shared with the congregation.

I look forward to our second year of ministry together at UBBC. I believe that God has some new paths of ministry for us to walk together. In the meantime let us give thanks for the ways God has worked among us even as we await God's leading us in the future.

Giving thanks and celebrating

Bonnie

Sermon Titles and Texts for September