One of the many places that have captured my attention in my visits to Egypt is the Abu Serga Church in Cairo, also known as Cavern Church. Dating to the 4th Century, it is likely the oldest church in the country. The small and austere space is between two locations that signal God’s faithfulness: The place where infant Moses was found by Pharaoh’s daughter and the cave where Mary, Joseph, and Jesus took refuge from Herod’s devastating violence.
The memories of that holy place remind me of how much Advent, Christmas, and Epiphany have to do with travel: An easily discounted family with no place to stay, a group of foreigners risking their lives to pay homage to the One greater than all the stars. And -last but not least- the irony of finding safety in the very place where the people of Israel endured centuries of slavery.
As we approach the end of this year, I am incredibly grateful to people that have and are joining us in this journey of faith we call our Presbytery:
- Our former Moderator, Deb Hill, will now become the Chair of our Lead Team.
- John Langfitt led our Nominations and Representation Committee for a decade.
- Rich Poole led the Evangelism and Church Growth Committee for five years.
- Daryl Fisher-Ogden concludes her six years as chair of our Finance Committee by becoming our Moderator.
- K.C. Wahe, who led our efforts in missional leadership development for two years, will now serve as Chair for the Evangelism and Church Growth Committee and the Nominations and Representation Committee.
This incomplete list may make our Presbytery look like a very complex set of entities. Indeed, we may be intricate but not static. We must find more straightforward ways of making decisions and facilitating the fulfillment of our goals. But regardless of our future organizational arrangements, Presbytery is ultimately about journeying together in faith.
While this season presents us with the occasion to acknowledge the ongoing dedication of Ruling Elders and Teaching Elders, I rejoice over the many others elected to serve in our committees and entities for the first time. How pleasant it is to have new folks travel with us!
Regardless of how long you have been on this journey, let me assure you that God goes with us. In Jesus Christ, we see God “going the distance” for the sake of this world. That is not only “the reason for the season” but the reason why we will continue to gather for worship and go out into the world in 2023. It is because of Emmanuel that we continue to travel forward together!