What a joy this first month has been! On behalf of Liz, my dad (Jim) and myself, we thank you for all the warm wishes, greetings, and gift cards. We feel embraced in the warmth of your hospitality.

Our faith and our spiritual lives sometimes

need a little spring cleaning.

We're almost halfway through the year – can you believe it? We are back to in-person worship and meetings and have tried to continue Zoom fellowship with our friends who live far away.

Lent is time when we look at our faith practices and ask ourselves if we are doing what we need to do to be a disciple of Jesus Christ.

During the past couple of months, several loved ones in our lives and in our church have died. It is a difficult time – even more difficult because it happens around the holidays. That's because the holidays hold so much tradition and are a time when families traditionally get together.

Prayer....why do we – why do you – pray? Is your prayer life any different today than it was 5, 10, 20, even 30 years ago?

The question has come up: when will we be back in church? The answer: Easter Sunday! I am thrilled to announce that the Administrative Council has decided to return to in-person worship on Easter Sunday, April 4.

I was tired of writing “what a year this has been!” I think all of us are looking for a better year in 2021. More people are getting vaccinated and the numbers of new infections are going down in many areas.