Dear Church Family,
               It is central  to the Congregationalist ethos that we value our role in making decisions about the church. It is one of the key principles of our tradition that God speaks through the will of the congregation.  The freedom of the Christian to participate in the decision making and to have a say in the ministry of the church is honored, even celebrated.               
               Of course, normally we work through representative boards, Deacons, Trustees, Outreach.  But at least once a year we gather as a whole congregation, to review the work of the church, to set a budget for our mission, to ask and answer questions about our future.
This Sunday is the annual meeting of the congregation, where we’ll conduct the business that is set forth in our call.  We will convene in the sanctuary immediately following worship.   I urge you to attend if you are able. 
But, of course, first we will be about the primary work of the church, which is worship.  We’ll be looking at Jesus’  explosive first sermon in Nazareth.  The texts are Jeremiah 1:4-10 and Luke 4:14-30.  The sermon is “Revolutionary Religion.”  
I look forward to seeing many of  you at both gatherings on Sunday.
Peace and Joy,
Rich