In the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit.
“What new things are you planning on doing in the New Year? Call in. We’d love to hear from you.”
This was a question asked on a popular talk radio show last week. I listen to talk radio while driving and I tend to think about their question of the day. After I heard this question, it repeated itself in my mind throughout the day for some reason and so, my answer kept developing in my mind. I thought about all that took place here in our church during the last twelve months.
For much of this year we planned for our parish’s 100th Anniversary Celebration. I thought about how we traveled to the most remove regions of Armenia to deliver winter clothes and firewood to our brothers and sisters displaced from their homes in Arstakh. I thought about the dear members of this church who were laid to rest within these walls or the students who graduated from our Sunday School or those much younger who sat on the floor behind me as I spoke to them about Armenian Church traditions during our Trinity Kids’ Place program held every summer. I thought about the many women and men who helped us prepare for our Christmas Bazaar by baking, setting up the tables and chairs, weighing and preparing foods of all sorts, decorating the church halls and preparing our booths and kitchen day and day for weeks leading up to this fund raiser; and those who give of their time to run our 1000 Club, Men’s Club or women’s and youth programs. I thought about the faces in the crowds on Easter Sunday and at our Christmas Eve Service and the innocent faces of the children who took part in our new Christmas Pageant. I thought about the many nervous grooms just moments before their wedding was to begin. Later that same day, the thoughts continued on very vividly thinking about the people involved with the sacrament and services of our church. I brought to mind their faces. I saw joy on the face of a young mother and father bringing their child to church on the day of their baptism. I saw clearly in my mind the mournful eyes of adult children attending the funeral of a parent. I saw tears running down the face of a bride as she stood before this Holy Altar with the groom of her dreams.
Different people, different emotions at different times of their lives but the same church and the same faith. As these thoughts ran through my mind, I heard that simple question from the radio: “What new things are you planning on doing in the New Year?”
In light of the past year, the answer for me was obvious. It is what I want to share on this last Sunday before the start of a New Year. In this New Year, how great it would be for each of us to create time along with God every day. That is the one thing we can do in this New Year that will make a significant difference in our lives. Create time for God and let’s not forget spending time with God works both ways. God wants to give us something in return for our prayers. He wants to give each of us the fruit of His Holy Spirit. The fruit of God’s Spirit is love and joy. It is peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and it’s self-control. These are God’s gifts to us in this New Year.
The fruit of the Holy Spirit creates a difference in the lives of all those who believe in Him and who among us doesn’t need this kind of fruit in his or her life or know of someone else who would benefit from it.
So, in this New Year, let’s spend time asking God to fill our hearts and homes with the Fruit of His Spirit. May that be our answer to the question: “What new things are you planning on doing in the New Year?” To fill our homes with the Fruit of God’s Holy Spirit and to fill our homes with love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and the ability to have more self-control. Just imagine your home without those things.
May this New Year bring good health and happiness to you and your families. I wish you all a very Happy New Year.
Amen.
