This year has held so many beautiful and heart-warming blessings to praise God for. The parent/child dedications. The multiple baptisms. The member acceptances. The involvement and leadership in a huge community-wide children’s VBS program. Seeing progress in the expansion-build, where the west-end new office space and new washrooms are already utilized and appreciated.

One thing that stood out in July was the monthly prayer, worship and communion night. As usual it was a highlight for those attending, but this time there was a unique twist. In the middle of the evening everyone was invited to go to and remain in the new just-barely-started east-end build-on and pre-dedicate it all to God.

Based on Deuteronomy 6:4–9, we were instructed to write thoughts, prayers or Bible verses onto the bare studs or unfinished walls. After receiving ample time to finish this, the whole bunch of us, of all ages, gathered in the dusty, by now dusky new space and participated in our standing only, first ever communion in it. These were heart-stirring moments; may they merely be a beginning of many more good things to come.