Dear Church Family,
In our Sunday School and Vacation Bible school we encouraged children to look for “God sightings” in daily life, times when they saw something which reminded them of God’s character or experiences where God seemed present.  But we adults, too, should be attuned to those serendipitous God moments in our lives. 
Recently we have had several. Early in December we got a note from a woman we hadn’t heard from in years.  She was a teenager in the first church we served and indicated her step mom, Pat, now 101 and still living in her home, was wishing to connect with us.  We called and Pat answered the phone and was alert and engaged. We had a delightful half hour visit.  Her step daughter was amazed how well she did on the conversation, and called our time their “Christmas miracle.”  Pat died a few days after our call.  The Holy Spirit at work, nudging us to call?
The second God moment was equally touching.  You may remember in a sermon just before Christmas I shared the story about the extraordinary spiritual journey of a woman we knew in a church we served in NY. A couple of days after that sermon, I got a lengthy letter from Meg ( after not having heard from her in more than ten years).  She was eager to tell us that a woman who grew up in our church in Winchester (and in whose wedding and ordination I had participated)  had just become pastor of the church Meg and her husband attended in NC.  They quickly discovered each had a connection to us and already have become good friends. Who would have thought a sermon illustration would become so fresh again?  God at work connecting people in the community of faith?
Each of these connections was heartwarming and seemed rich with the presence of God.  But God is present in the more ordinary experiences.  God sightings are all around if we have eyes to see.
Worship for the 3rd Sunday after Epiphany will focus on “The God in Charge.”  The texts are Exodus 3:7-15 and Mark 1:14-20.
The annual meeting of the congregation will be held this Sunday during coffee hour in Miner Hall.  Reports of the ministry activities for 2023 will be received, the budget for 2024 will be adopted, officers for the coming year will be elected, and any other appropriate business will be considered. Please make every effort to be present.  
See you in church.
Rich