2020 Theme: Believing in Our Future With Hope

Dear Friends:

Grace and peace to you from God our Creator, Jesus our Redeemer, and the Holy Spirit our Sustainer. We write you with joyous expectation as we begin dreaming how God will continue to use Washington Avenue Christian Church in 2020. We have a future and a hope rooted in the promises of God.

In the Hebrew Bible, God spoke to the people through the prophet Jeremiah, saying, “For surely I know the plans I have for you, says the LORD, plans for your welfare and not for harm, to give you a future with hope” (Jer 29:11). When the prophet delivered the Word of the Lord, the people were living under oppression. The forecast for their future looked bleak, and fear was at an all-time high. Though we live in a different context than the Hebrew children, there is uncertainty about the future of the Church. The speech from Jeremiah, however, remains as salient today as when it was first spoken. Hear these words: “For surely I know the plans I have for Washington Avenue Christian Church, says the HOLY ONE, plans for the congregation’s welfare and not for harm, to give the church a future with hope.” We can believe in our future with hope.

When we practice faithful stewardship, we participate in God’s plans for our church’s future. We are believing in our future with hope, trusting that God’s plans for us exceed our wildest dreams and greatest expectations. Our habit of stewardship reveals that our trust is in God and in God’s plan for our church. We can trust God and count on God’s faithfulness, believing that God will ultimately get everything God wants.

On Consecration Day, we completed our commitment cards during the worship service as an act of bold and daring faith. Our commitment to God and the church through stewardship enlists us as God’s agents who are working toward the vision that God has for our church and all of creation. This is the future in which we believe and have hope. If you were unable to join us for Consecration Day, you may make your commitment online at waccelyria.org/commitment.

We are eager to join with you in believing in our future with hope.

Blessings,

Chuck Baumgartner and Lauri Warfield
Stewardship Committee Co-Chairs