January 2026
“There’s a season for everything and a time for every matter under the heavens …” ~ Ecclesiastes 3:1
I used to set New Year’s resolutions until I realized I never was going to fulfill them because by the end of January, they’d almost always been broken.
Since I am someone motivated by goals, several years ago I started setting goals for myself. I learned this from the Apostle Paul where he compares the life of following Christ to running a race (1 Corinthians 9:24-27) and again in Philippians 3:14: “I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus.”
What about you? Do you set goals when it comes to your faith? The church sets goals heading into church conference. They are listed in the church conference packets. But, as a follower of Jesus Christ, do you set goals for yourself and for your walk with Christ?
It’s suggested the best types of goals are SMART goals. SMART is an acronym for Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Relevant, and Time-bound. So, when I was taking part in the NUMB (Nebraska United Methodist Bike for hunger), I ended up setting specific goals when I’d train: Get used to riding around town the first two weeks (mostly to condition where I sit), then 10 miles for a week, then 20 miles for a few weeks until I’d get to 50 miles on a single ride. Those goals were both specific and measurable. They became achievable because I put them on a timeline based on how I felt and whether I felt I could increase the miles each week. The relevance of riding was that I got in better shape, often adjusting other habits or changing diet. And since it was each week for a period of weeks, it was time-bound.
As 2026 approaches, I have noticed lately how my attention has been shifting in the direction of the goals I want to achieve in the new year. Oddly enough, it wasn’t something I was even aware of until it just started happening in my daily devotional writings, and it was like it came out of nowhere.
For me, that’s a God thing, and God things matter greatly to me. My vocational goals center on the church and on where I have felt God is leading me and inviting you to be in service of each of our churches. Some of this will find expression in studies, preaching and worship, and, particularly, service. So far, the studies I have offered since coming here last June have pointed to serving our communities and our world. Studies provide the “why” of serving, and preaching and worship are about the “how” of serving like Jesus served. All three will invite people to step forward from whatever certainty they have in their lives into the curiosity of living. This is the “what” of ministry, and I will be doing them, too.
My personal goals center around nutritional practice, personal growth, and self-care practices. For instance, Melody and I have discussed creating a fire pit at the parsonage for evenings when we would use it, and we are planning on creating a garden in the parsonage yard. We also plan on occasionally playing golf together and riding bikes together. And, of course, exercising together.
So, again, I ask you: What goals have you set for yourself when it comes to your faith? I’d invite you to consider, too, whether whatever goals you might have maintain the status quo or stretch you because faith and how it’s lived should always stretch us. I do not believe God created us to be idle; I believe God created us out of love to be loved and to love by being ambassadors for God’s kingdom, where healing happens through healthy relationships with God, others, and ourselves.
And I believe God has brought me to be your pastor for just such a time as this.
Reverend Mark
DATES TO REMEMBER
Jan 4 Fellowship Sunday
Jan 5, 7, 12, 14, 19, 21, 26 28 – Ladies Exercise Group Meets at 9:30
Jan 8, 15, 22 4:00 at FUMC Emotionally Healthy Spirituality Study
Jan 13 1:00 – FMW Meeting at the church
Jan 19 5:30 pm Administrative Board Meeting
Jan 26-29 Rev Mark attending the Center for Pastoral Effectiveness Retreat
JANUARY BIRTHDAYS
Jan 3 Summer Warren Jan 18 Rhonda Riley
Jan 4 Jerry Wente Jan 18 Jason Clemensen
Jan 5 Katie Johnson Jan 20 Brian McGowen
Jan 7 Bailey McKee Jan 20 Sylvia Musser
Jan 9 Betsy Knowles Jan 26 Larry Willis
Jan 12 Olivia Lillich Jan 29 Susan Rhodes
Jan 16 Kylor McCartney Jan 31 Jennifer Morris
Jan 16 Rain Warren Jan 31 Dan Knaup
SERVERS DURING WORSHIP
At this time, we only have 4 people signed up to serve during worship time in January:
Jan 4 – Sandy and Mike Emerson to greet
Jan 4 – Melody Crist assist with song leading and Children’s Message
Jan 4 – Jennifer Morris for Children’s Church
Please sign the clipboard to help with our services.
FELLOWSHIP SUNDAY
January 4th is a special time of fellowship. Come and enjoy this time together to visit with our church family and enjoy a snack together. We still need someone to be the host/hostess for this event.
NEW STUDY TO BEGIN Rev Mark will be starting another class entitled ‘Emotionally Healthy Spirituality’ beginning Thursday, Jan 8 at 4:00 pm at FUMC and at AUMC on Monday, January 12 at 6:30 pm.