The New Year Unfolds

“Happy New Year”! Or, as I prefer to say, “Blessed New Year”, because blessings come from God, and that’s my wish for us all. Happiness comes and goes, but God’s blessings are never-ending.

If those words sound familiar, then you’ve remembered correctly. I used them for my Dove Tales message at the start of Advent on 1^st December. That was also the beginning of my month of annual leave. In that message I spoke about “anticipation”, and mentioned that I was anticipating going to Goulburn for the Priesting of a friend. Due to Covid that – and many other things - didn’t happen, though I did have a week in Tasmania, did some gardening, was strengthen by Christmas services, and attended the Closure of Ministry services on 29^th December for Rev. Sunny Lee at Warnervale, and Rev. Keps Vaka at Tuggerah Lakes South (formerly Tumbi Umbi).

I ended my 1^st December message with these words: ”In a month’s time we will commence a New Calendar Year. It is worthwhile to reflect on what we are anticipating, both personally and for our Church. May our reflections be guided by our now familiar verse from Jeremiah 31:11 - For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the LORD, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future”.

I am grateful to Church Council for adopting our “Vision and Action Plan” (see below), and to Doug Fletcher who spoke about it last Sunday. I believe that the Plan aligns with our verse from Jeremiah 31. It is also a wonderful focus as we begin a New Year, and as we plan to call a new Minister or employ a Pastor. 

In closing, I want to borrow from Vision Christian Media’s New Year email. The Team writes: 

“’The LORD bless you and keep you; The LORD make His face shine upon you, and be gracious to you; The LORD lift up His countenance upon you, and give you peace’ (Numbers 6:24-26 NKJV; LORD = Yahweh, God’s Holy name). This Bible verse is the Aaronic Blessing. It is the blessing that God, through Moses, instructed Aaron and his sons to speak over the people of Israel to bless them.

In the Old Testament, the Aaronic Blessing expressed the highest state of blessing that the nation would enjoy while they remained faithful to God. In the New Testament, Jesus has already granted us all of the things that are asked for in the Aaronic Blessing, and they have been granted on a permanent basis. 

The elegance and profound sentiments expressed in this blessing resonates with people of all denominations and has been used throughout the centuries long after the sacrifices of the Aaronic priesthood ended”.

I join with the Vision Team in saying the Aaronic blessing to you, as individuals and as members of Central Coast South UCA: “The LORD bless you and keep you, [evermore]”. 

With hope and joy in 2025,

Rev. Frank (Van Der Korput)

Supply Minister