Tracy and I thank all of you who extended your gratitude and appreciation and love to us and our family over this past week. It is hard to believe that a year has gone by since we moved to Alabaster and began work here. This church is a unique collection of faithful people gathered who have a unique opportunity to do good work in the kingdom. I remain excited and hopeful about the future.

We continue to have good numbers of visitors attending each week. I will be putting together another membership class for older youth and adults soon. That is exciting work to do. Also, as the season of Lent approaches we will be involving ourselves in another Lenten study. This year we will be studying a book by J. Ellsworth Kalas entitled, Seven Words to the Cross. Our study time should again provide an avenue of growth and fellowship.

During the Lenten season we will also be guiding our sixth grade youth through their time of confirmation. So, the church will soon be calling on some of you to share your time and your love for Christ as mentors to these young people.

Following the season of Lent, the text for our next adult study group is already selected. I t is a book by Earl S. Johnson entitled, Witness Without Parallel ( Eight Texts That Make Us Presbyterian ). That study should make for some in depth conversation and learning.

As always there is a lot of activity, programming, and ministry underway and on the horizon. Find time to be involved in some. There are places of involvement all around. You can help with the children and youth ministries, start singing in the choir, attend Sunday School, get involved in an evening study, volunteer to be a mentor ? honestly, the list is inexhaustible for the ways each of us can be involved in the ministry and programming of the church.

And the thing is, all of us, every last one of us, is richer and deeper the more diversified and inclusive the involvement is. We are, together, the body of Christ. Gifted. Blessed. Enriched. More together than we can ever presume to be apart. Thanks be to God!

Grace and peace,

Pastor Mark