Dear Brenda,

Well it would seem like 2022 is starting off explosively right from the blocks. The world is changing around us and the Kingdom of God is coming more clearly into focus with each new sunrise.

Here at the Vicarage I am learning the year’s rhythm…figuring out how to accomplish the new thing God has given me to do in life and ministry. That one thing is moving from DLT behavior to DLT character.

I don’t think we really know how to make this shift as a congregation, but I ask confident God is going to show us how. I believe that everything God has put in the calendar is a tool to help me/ us learn just how to do that: Our studies, our opportunities, our trials, even the upcoming Vicarage project and my first ever sabbatical coming in August.

My word for the year is “COLLABORATE”.

And a big part of me learning to collaborate is me getting out of the way so God can use others to accomplish His purposes. I think one of my passages for the year is Ephesians 4: 11-13 “So Christ himself gave the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, the pastors and teachers, ¹² to equip his people for works of service, so that the body of Christ may be built up ¹³ until we all reach unity in the faith and in the knowledge of the Son of God and become mature, attaining to the whole measure of the fullness of Christ.”

Now that right there is collaboration!

I am so glad that things on your end of the pond are moving as fast as they are here. I love the new car!

I am also glad that lockdown has pulled back far enough for you to launch the first Bridge artist gathering!

And So It Begins!

Brother