What a January it has been! We had so much to celebrate—the Lord’s Supper, a great business meeting, and the start of a new year together. Although weather forced us to cancel a Sunday service, the following Wednesday turned into a meaningful opportunity to serve our community through our chili drive-thru. We welcomed neighbors, family members of our church family, and even a man who drove in from Burnet.
Someone asked me how many people we served, and honestly, I lost count. What I could say with confidence was that we made every contact count. Berto even took the van (the one they purchased from us that still says East Lake on it) to deliver chili during a few house visits. People were truly loved on that Wednesday. Inside the fellowship hall, a few folks were spending time with our kids while parents were serving out front—and I loved seeing that!
Now we pivot and look ahead to February. As we continue walking through Nehemiah, I’m seeing the themes we’ve discussed showing up in everyday life. I even had a conversation at work recently where I quoted something from one of our services. This series is proving to be timely—not just for us individually, but for us as a church.
A few things coming up:
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Men’s Breakfast — Tomorrow morning at 8:00 AM. You’ll be finished in plenty of time to pick up your family and return for Sunday School.
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Couples Dinner — Bella Sera in Marble Falls. We’ll be going Dutch, with tables reserved. No program—just couples gathering to celebrate Valentine’s Day together. Please email me to RSVP so I can give Bella Sera an accurate count.
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Committees and Teams — During the business meeting, we discussed service teams and committees. If you’re interested in learning more or finding a place to serve, please let me know.
Finally, I want to circle back to the business meeting. It was a peaceful time and truly a moment of celebration. God did many good things last year, and we’re anticipating even more in the year ahead. One important item that was voted on was the budget. The good news is that we have reserves from past giving that exceeded spending. At the same time, we’ve seen a decline in giving, likely due to reduced attendance from people moving away, members passing, and a season without a permanent pastor.
This year’s budget anticipates giving that exceeds last year’s. While we recognize there may be a deficit, we voted—by faith—on a budget that supports ministries, programs, and opportunities to reach out as we seek to fulfill the Great Commission. My prayer is that each of you would give as the Lord leads you. I truly believe that if we trust Him in this way, He will enable us to do all that we have planned—and even more—in the coming year.
In Christ,
Craig Barrack
