2015 Round-Up
2015 has been a full and different kind of year. Last year at this time I wrote about finishing renovations, new patterns of exercise and recreation, and looking forward to being fully staffed at church. For both myself and the congregation, 2015 felt like a 'recovery' year from a pretty exhausting 2014. Though that language seems to fit a personal workout rather than the overall experience of a community, it seems apt nonetheless. And where I anticipated being fully staffed early in the year, it was fall before we had new staff in place. (And they are wonderful!)
So as I look back on the year, I see myself leaning back into core ministries of preaching and leading worship, struggling (a bit) to maintain weight and exercise routines, and only rediscovering time and space for recreation and music late in the Fall. So what follows are some highlights of this past year.
Sermon Series: I don't always preach in series, but when I do, I often enjoy the cumulative effect of building on a theme or digging deep into a topic. We had several this year; here are the indices:
- Holy Habits: the Law as Teacher: patterns and practices God established that still cultivate and develop a healthy spiritual life
- Tested with Us and for Us: on the benefits of Jesus' humanity to identify with us
- What is the Good News: a basic look at several aspects of the Christian message
- Teach Us to Pray (The Lord's Prayer): our longest series by far, we looked at scriptures to understand (and pray) each phrase of the Lord's Prayer
- Welcome Wanderers: working through Ephesians 2 to see how extraordinary is the gracious welcome offered through Jesus Christ
- Psalm 24: a three-week study on Psalm 24 that really covers the whole biblical story
- Advent: a look at the hope, love, joy, and peace of God w/personal testimony
- "40: Waiting on God" (Psalm 37:1-7a, Acts 7:20-36) - three stories of having to wait on God
- "10: Tithing" (Deuteronomy 14:22-29; Matthew 23:23-26) - this was the first time I had preached on tithing not during the "stewardship season" of the church; it was a profound text for me to work through
- "Fit for What?" (Hebrews 12:1-11) - what does spiritual health look like? and how do we get started?
- Cynthia Roberts (audio link, 7 min) - responding to the question "Where have you seen or experienced the Good News of Christ?"
- Marty McKenzie (audio link, 5 min) - responding to the question "How have you experienced the HOPE of God?"; Marty shares personal loss and struggle and how hope in God has sustained her
- Karen Katibah (audio link, 6 min) - responding to the question "How have you experienced the JOY of Jesus Christ?"; Karen, a senior in college, shares about the uncertainties of graduating from college and the joy she has discovered in following God's leading
- Cynthia Roberts (audio link, 4 min) - responding to the question "How have you experienced the PEACE of God?"; Cynthia shares about the loss of her mother and God's peace
- "Dear Refuge of My Weary Soul" - a worship song by Kevin Twit (Indelible Grace) to a text by Anne Steele; wonderful words for those struggling in this world
- "Hail the Day that Christ Arose" - an encouraging song by Steve and Vikki Cook (adapted from a Wesley hymn text) about the benefits of Christ's resurrection
- Jan-Dec: approx. +5 lbs ...but still down 25 from pre-2013
- 279 (-61) workouts in 213 (-40) hours
- 155,000 (-49k) total calories burned
- 502 (-153) mi. running + 400 (-71) mi. walking = 902 (-224) total miles
- Longest Run: 10.1 mi. [did this 2x, but no 13.1 runs this year]
- Fastest Runs:
- 1mi: 7:59 min/mi
- 5k: 10:09 min/mi
- 5mi: 10:07 min/mi
- 9mi: 11:35 min/mi
- 10mi: 12:18 min/mi