Dear Church Family,
            Happy 2021! 
I am sending the Good Word earlier this week in order to invite your prayers.  Yesterday Frank Hadsell had a heart attack, after exercising at the Y.  He was taken to Vassar Brothers hospital in Poughkeepsie, where he is resting comfortably and getting good care.  Please pray for Frank and Ruth, that God may surround them with his healing love and strength. 
We have all been hoping this year will be better than the last.  We are looking forward to relief from the Covid pandemic, and the availability of the vaccine to enable us to gather again with family and friends and experience hugs and closeness of touch. 
Although we trust 2021 will be better in important ways, we are always reminded by circumstances that life continues to surprise us with the unexpected.  The final verse of one of my favorite hymns begins “God of the coming years. Through paths unknown, we follow you.   Faith promises a solid foundation, a secure route, wherever those paths may go, for us personally, for our church, for our nation. 
So we gather each week to deepen that faith and draw on the strength of the community of faith.  I look forward to gathering in person again as we focus this Sunday on the baptism of the Lord.  The texts are Genesis 1:26-31 and Matthew 3 :13-17.  The sermon is “Do I Really Belong?”  The online link for those worshipping at home is https://thefv.cc/online-worship/.
I look forward to seeing many of you in worship on Sunday.
Yours in Christ,
Rich