Zinnias and Planting Perseverance
January in the Midwest provides us with plenty of shorter, colder days. While we may bemoan the situation and dream of someplace warmer, we also may find this time of quieter days a respite for our souls. For some of us, we may even find this time a great opportunity for reflecting on the past year and planning and dreaming for the year ahead.
For the gardener, this is a time of planning out the garden, considering what grew well and was enjoyable, and what needs to be adjusted or replaced with something new. And perhaps even getting a jump start on the growing with starts indoors! Likewise, for us, we might take such a time of reflection and planning this winter both individually and as a fellowship.
“Make a careful exploration of who you are and the work you have been given,
and then sink yourself into that.
Don’t be impressed with yourself.
Don’t compare yourself with others.
Each of you must take responsibility for doing the creative best you can with your own life.”
–Galatians 6:4-5 MSG
As I look back on the past year, here’s some reflections on New Covenant Fellowship’s 2024 “garden” and dreams for 2025:
- Fellowship Opportunities–meals after service, game nights, fall Open House, and a Christmas carol sing are some of the many events where we gathered together to have fun and invite others to join us. This is the dream of many in the fellowship worked into reality. Looking forward to what gathering opportunities are created in 2025 for us to connect and invite others to enjoy our fellowship!
- Special Collections–throughout the year, we had opportunities to collect our resources to bless local, national, and international ministries. Through our “First Fruits” and “Thanksgiving” offerings, many additional community organizations received financial support. Through our winter coat collection, many people homeless in our community received warm weather gear. The “First Fruits” offering was new this year, but perhaps will become a regular opportunity like our “Thanksgiving” offering.
- Reparations Pilot Project–through the generous contributions, NCF was able to set up and plant $1000 “‘seed” money in each of 22 college fund accounts. We hope to increase the funds for these accounts in 2025, with an additional $500 in each account.
- Our Building–throughout the year, the building continues to be used as a blessing for many organizations in our community to gather for meetings. Our dream is for a community ministry that aligns with our values to be able to find a “home” in our space on the lower level.
- Visibility Increase–through connections we made at our booth at the CU Pride Fair and adding our church to several church directories online, including the News Gazette, we have seen an increase in people finding our church services online and in person. We plan to continue these ways to be visible to our CU community and look for additional ways to connect in 2025.
Nearly every May I scatter Zinnia seeds in a flower garden outside my home office window. Two years ago, I didn’t get the timing right with the frost and then the watering schedule. It was pathetic. And so, last year, not only did I not plant Zinnias in that garden, I didn’t plant anything in that garden! As the summer went on, I was sad that I made that choice. After all, hadn’t I enjoyed plentiful Zinnias in that garden for over 5 years! Not only had I enjoyed them, I always had plenty to cut and make bouquets to share with people. So, this year, my plan will be to, once again, liberally scatter Zinnia seeds in my garden.
“So let’s not allow ourselves to get fatigued doing good. At the right time we will harvest a good crop if we don’t give up, or quit. Right now, therefore, every time we get the chance, let us work for the benefit of all, starting with the people closest to us in the community of faith.” –Galatians 6:9-10 MSG
May God renew our strength (Isaiah 40:31) to continue to do good and to work for the benefit of all!
–Melissa Logsdon, NCF Associate Pastor