2008: Year in Review

As we near the end of 2008 I am feeling a little retrospective. By all accounts 2008 was certainly eventful. In just a mere 366 days (Feb. 29th this year) the world changed a great deal. In our own nation we elected the first President of color, we witnessed the collapse of the American economy and perhaps most shocking, Paris Hilton got a new TV show. A lot can change in just a year...

Around Boulevard 2008 was no slouch either. This year we launched the Men's Prayer Breakfast, the Young Adult Group, we put on another Simple Gifts Sale, we had transitions in staff, put together about 350 Christmas Boxes that reached over 1000 individuals, we began work on the Chapel rehab, began a church recycling program, welcomed many new members and baptized many children, traveled to Iowa to work with Presbyterian Diaster Assistance, put on another VBS, performed many weddings and had a Summer Sermon Series on Call just to mention a few.

It is very easy to measure a year according to the things that we have done and the days that have gone by. But is this the best way to look back at the year? The stuff we did? Hopefully this year brought you opportinties to grow closer to God and deepen your faith. Hopefully this year provided opportuinties to find your place in a community and stregthen relationships. Hopefully this year you hear God's often small voice calling you into something, leading you, and providing for you. Hopefully we can look back on our 2008 and measure the year in this way...but many cannot.

For many 2008 was a terrible year. Love was lost, relationships were broken, finances were ruined and our comfort was challenged. For many God felt so very far away in 2008. For many faith was challenged in 2008. In the midst of all the hardship that 2008 might have provided and in the midst of all the joy that 2008 might have provided, there remains one truth that we can both take into 2009: it will be new and different. Our scriptures tell us that the grass will wither and the flower fades, everything in the end started as dust and to dust it will return. Everything ends and new life begins. 2009 is about to sprout, bringing forth its only surefire crop: a new day. Things will be different no matter what in 2009. I hope that you will join me in rejoicing in what awaits Boulevard, each other, and ourselves in this new year.

Happy New Year!
Brett

Only One Service this Sunday, Dec. 28th - 10am

Greetings from Charleston, West Virginia! As I write this post I am at my sister-in-law's house waiting for the start of the West Virginia vs. North Carolina Bowl Game. I had a wonderful Christmas and I hope you did too!

Now down to business...

This Sunday, December 28th there will be only ONE WORSHIP SERVICE @ 10:00 AM. I am excited to say that my lovely wife, Kate Hopta, will once again be joining me as a Worship Leader as we all come together to celebrate the Lord's Day. The sermon this Sunday is taken from Luke 2:22-40 which tells of Mary, Joseph, and the infant Jesus going to the Temple to make a sacrifice for the purification of Mary. When we read this scripture in light of the Advent season we encounter two main points: that Simeon and others have been waiting for the Messiah for their entire lives and that when the Messiah did come he would be raised and brought up in poverty. My hope is that we can explore how these two points help us understand who Jesus is and what his life means for how we look at our own lives. I hope you can make it to worship at 10 AM on Sunday.

Hope you have a wonderful Saturday! Go Mountaineers!

Peace,

Brett

Wet and Silent Night...It's Christmas Eve!

Looking outside my office window I can see the multitude of Milk Jug Luminaries carefully lining the sidewalks by Ginny Fisher and her family and so I know that we are officially hours away from celebrating Christmas Eve. Hours from now Travis and Lana Williamson, new members here at Boulevard, will come through and light the candles. Not long after that our young readers will begin to practice their scripture readings for the 5:30 pm Family Service, and then our celebration will begin! Remember there are two services today: Family @ 5:30pm and Candlelight & Communion at 10:30pm.

Finally I know that there will be no way to thank everyone who helped out to make this Christmas Eve great but I wanted to name a couple of people who are giving extra this season...

Mary Ann Stephens put together all the hand-held candles for the 10:30 pm service
Suzanne McLeod revised the script for the 5:30 pm Service play
Alex McCormick and family decorated the tree and the worship spaces
The WAM committee for organizing the decorations and helping out
Kate Hopta for providing nursery care for the 5:30 PM service
Garret Culbertson, Megan & Sarah Clifton, James Elliott and Lilly Feast for reading
The 7 members who will be reading during the 10:30 PM service
Phyllis Miller for getting the Communion Bread
Ginny Fisher for spearheading the Luminaries
Travis and Lana Williamson for helping light the Luminaries
Karen Feast and Family for signing up to clean up the Luminaries
Annie Craven for baking cookies for both services
and all the others who have worked hard during this season!

Merry Christmas,
Brett

Christmas Eve Eve - December 23rd

If Christmas Eve is the busiest day of the year for churches then Christmas Eve Eve is the busiest "working day" there ever was. With staff going on vacation the office is busy working on Bulletins for the 5:30 PM Family Christmas Eve Service, the 10:30 PM Communion and Candlelight Christmas Eve Service, the December 28th 10 AM Single-Service, and the January 4th 8:45 and 11:15 services. See what I mean...busy, busy, busy. If you add in all the prep for getting readers their scripture, making sure we have enough good candles for the candle lighting, and all the other little things that are happening in the next 24 hours you get a pretty good glimpse of the church on Christmas Eve Eve.

But I don't want you to think that Christmas Eve is one logistical headache...it really is an exciting time to be working in and serving a church. In the midst of all the hustle there is a great energy; there is a drive to make sure that above all else we come together and celebrate what God has done in the little person of the infant Jesus. The waiting is almost over. The time is just about here. Mary and Joseph are just about to Bethlehem and soon enough the Word will have been made flesh and Jesus will dwell amongst us. I love this time of year!

I hope to be able to wish you all a Merry Christmas in person on Christmas Eve!
Peace,
Brett

Great Things for Kids & Families Happening this Sunday, Dec. 21st

As it is my last day in the office this week I wanted to drop a quick post to tell y'all about this Sunday (Dec. 21st) at Boulevard.

This Sunday during the Educational hour we will be having a small family mission project for the kids and families as we work together on Luminaries. Last year we used the traditional paper bags but this year we are trying to be ecologically friendly and will be using recyclable plastic Milk Jugs. Kids of all ages can come on down to the Fellowship Hall @ 10 AM to help out and enjoy a "Happy Birthday Jesus" cake. Last year we had a blast and this year should be no different. I hope you will bring your family and come on down.

Also this Sunday the Choir will bless us all with a Christmas Cantata. Taking the place of the sermon, this Cantata will feature readings from scripture and unforgettable music. As we near Suzanne's last Sunday (which happens to be December 28th) she is really pouring her heart into the music and directing the Choir. While I will be the first to admit that I know next to nothing about music I will say that from where I sit Suzanne is one great director and whoever God provides for us after she is gone will have HUGE shoes to fill. I hope that you will come on out to the 11:15 AM service and hear some beautiful music.

Finally, with the Cantata happening only at the 11:15 AM service, if you wanted to hear James' sermon on Luke 1:26-38 then head on out to our 8:45 AM service that takes place in the Fellowship Hall. Communion is served weekly at 8:45.

Well, that is the Sunday ahead. Hope to see you there and as always if you have any questions you can find me pretty easily...I am the one wearing the big black robe.

Peace,
Brett

Welcome to the BPC Blog

Welcome to my new BPC Blog!

My hope is that this Blog can become a resource to get to know the church a little bit better (and the people who make it great). I am going to do my best to let you know what is going on during the week and offer up some thoughts on what is happening here at Boulevard. New and exciting stuff is always right around the corner. I hope you will be part of it!

Peace,
Brett