My beloved Mt. Tam Church,
November 24 is the last day of the year—the Christian worship calendar year, at least! Christ the King Sunday bring us to the edge to peer into Advent, a new beginning. We close out this year with a pastor full of gratitude—
**For the revival of the Social Justice Team/Marin Organizing Committee group, led by Clare McCamy, who revitalized our involvement indirect, local social justice engagement. Thanks be to God for that team—Clare, Frank, Jan, Leslie, Jennifer, Winnie, Norma Jean and others who came to the 10th anniversary rally, wrote letters and made a witness!
**For the expansion of the Senior Ministries, led by Rev. Norma Powell, into Corte Madera Aegis Center, by invitation of one of our newest members, 96 year old Allen Clark. Age is not a limit for sharing the good news and God’s love. And celebrate of the Beulah Fund Senior Ministries grant of $11,000 for 2020!
**For the continuation and celebration of the monthly Community meal, which gives all of us, and particularly our youth and children, an opportunity for direct service to others in need.
**For Antonio Vivaldi—well, really our amazing music director Hyunjung Choi bringing the big challenge and joy of our Mt. Tam Family Choir being the nucleus of an expanded choir that will share Vivaldi’s Gloria in worship on December 22nd, with full orchestra! This has been a year-long project involving hundreds of hours of rehearsals and volunteer time.
I can’t wait!
**For the Mt. Tam Church staff; Ivania Miranda joining the staff as office manager, bringing her decades of skills in the UMC at all levels, calmness, sense of humor and joy; Dave Erskine, continuing to manage our busy and big campus and building users not only as a stream of income but as a ministry of care; childcare workers Keline Felix and teacher Julissa Guadamuz, somewhat behind the scenes and taking beautiful care and leadership of our children and bringing Tricia Wiig on full-time as children and youth director has renewed and expanded our ministry with people under 18 Wow! What a staff that serves the Lord and us! I am so grateful!
I also give thanks to God for people who have moved on—how we miss Lila and Bill Sparks-Daniels in their move to Sacramento, Sue Moxon to San Diego and Jessica Jackson Sloan to Washington D. C. We honor our oldest member, Meg Morris who at 98 transitioned in the next life. I am grateful for them even as I miss them.
These are just highlights, of course. 2019 brings us a proposal for the renovation of Fellowship Hall, which may be our big challenge in 2020. We also have a new youth confirmation class coming up, a potential youth mission trip and so much more! How can we not be grateful? With thanks to God and all of you,
Peace, Pastor Kim
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