Ponderings from Pastor Pamela's Pen
By Rev. Pamela Fitkin
Happy New Year!
How wonderful it is to be heading into the New Year with all of you!
I am so looking forward to seeing what God has planned for us, as we trust Him with 2026. The new year is also timely, as we will begin a short preaching series, titled “Instructions for a New Year”, a look at King Solomon's Proverbs. Here we will be challenged, reminded, and encouraged about right living in and through the Spirit and there might be some riddles and strange sayings throughout that are meant to make us laugh and learn.
I also want to recognize that a new year can be daunting for some and many of us carry into a new year all the same baggage as the past, but I want to invigorate and remind us that we are New Creation, bought and paid for by Jesus on the cross. In this new creation we have the power of resurrection life in us now and we are led by the Holy Spirit, that means we can shed our old selves including the baggage. In order to do that well, we must keep close to Jesus and truly ask him what our goals are as a church body, personal and perhaps even in our business lives. We do this best when we are worshipping together. Let's make sure we are committed to attending Sunday services, serving on boards and committees, volunteering and most importantly praying for one another.
I do not have any new years resolutions, but I do have requests: please keep praying for me as I study and plan with you. I must be securely anchored in Jesus, fed by the Spirit, so I can feed you. Think of our souls as overflowing water wells, we are thirsty for God, so we must remain in his Word or, well (no pun intended), we dry up.
My second request is that you pray with me for the following areas: young adults (those 19 and older) we will be kicking off a small group for them shortly, led by me, but praying organically/naturally for a leader to rise up and guide this group that can often be neglected, so pray hard for them.
I also seek your prayers for our seniors. We are kicking off a new year with a Valentines Tea, either at my house or the church (to be announced) and finally I ask you to pray that God will bring being about a revival in and through Norfolk. Church numbers across denominations and across Ontario are down. There are many reasons for that, so our job here in Simcoe will be to identify, specifically local reasons and then address them. This area of work will require much prayer.I invite you along as we begin 2026, excited to see God moving, challenged to address areas of our lives that need more of the Spirit and watching the skies for His return.
I end with these verses. Isaiah 9:6-7; “For a child has been born for us, a son given to us; authority rests upon His shoulders, and He is named Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. Great will be His authority, and there shall be endless peace for the throne of David and his kingdom” (NRSV).
And “The Lord your God is in your midst, a mighty one who will save; He will rejoice over you with gladness; He will quiet you by His love; He will exult over you with loud singing” (Zephaniah 3:17, ESV)
Remember our motto for 2026, “Do Not Be Afraid, The Lord is with us!” Happy New Year!
