21 December 2016
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For a
pastor, this time of year is anything but silent – but last night I found time to sit quietly by the fire and reflect over the last 28 years of my calling to
ParkwayHills. What memories
Belinda and I have! Memories of
Vacation Bible School in the park, of Brinker Elementary School, and memories
of hundreds – even now thousands of faces – who have walked through the doors of 2700 Dallas Parkway and into our lives forever. Weddings, funerals, births - and even a Quinceañera
celebration, where I was privileged to dance with the young girl being honored – all of
these now make up memories for me of this great church and our time
together.
Of course,
as wonderful as all this is, if Belinda and I held only memories, this would not
have been enough to sustain God's call upon our lives. For His call was
not about these sweet memories alone – no, they just make up the ‘gravy.’ You see, the main course of God’s call
was and is always about mission - the mission to reach this community with the gospel and to open our doors to those passing by. Even we could not
have conceived of what God had in mind, for what He had in mind was our becoming a gateway for
the gospel to people who would move here from all over the world. And… certainly they have come.
So this Christmas,
in ‘my’ silent night last night, I took a moment in the quiet to thank God for
His provision, then asked Him to give me strength to remind you of our
mission once more. For it has
always been about that one child, that one family and that one senior or single
adult. Yes, it is for 'that one yet to come' that we are here. This has always been so and I pray will remain till Jesus calls us home.
Now… from
our house to yours, Merry Christmas!
I ask that you remember us with your tithes, your offerings and your prayers. If in town, join us for Christmas Eve either at 4:00 or 6:00 pm, and on Christmas Day at 10:45 am. And, should you have questions or need assistance, our church and finance office will remain open until 2 pm on December 30.
So, until we
see you again, we remain faithfully and with love, always yours…
Pastor Sam
and Belinda Dennis
