When we hear the term “New Year,” we often think of January 1st and the literal start of a new calendar year. This week our Jewish friends will be celebrating Rosh Hashanah, the New Year in Judaism. Christians recognize the first Sunday in Advent as the beginning of the Church year, and hundreds of millions of people around the world celebrate Chinese New Year, which may be the best of all of them as it lasts for two weeks.
For most families with children or teens, the new year is often tied to the start of a new school year. For Howard County residents we are just finishing our fourth week of the current school year. Everything is fresh at the start of the school year: new classes, new teachers, new activities, and new friends. The same is true at church. The new school year coincides with the start of a new season of ministry at Glen Mar.
Glen Mar children and youth began a new year of Sunday morning classes two weeks ago, and all the children and youth music groups have begun practicing as well. The Sunday morning youth classes and Sunday night youth group have gotten off to great starts, with attendance close to or surpassing pre-covid levels. Fresh starts aren’t limited to our youngest members either, as all the adult choirs, small groups and Bible studies are also resuming.
You don’t need to wait until January to think about starting a new activity at Glen Mar, now is the perfect time. Perhaps you would like to join one of our special community outreach projects like Jewels for Hope, Wish Upon a Star, Journey to Bethlehem, or Day of Service. The planning for all these projects is well underway and each would be grateful for more volunteers.
Maybe one of our ongoing monthly ministries is what you’d like to try: building with Habitat for Humanity, serving at the Day Resource Center or Manna House, making a meal for Grassroots, these and many more are great ways to scratch that itch to serve others. While it is always time to Praise God, Grow Disciples, and Serve the World, now is certainly a convenient time to start something new.
Hey Glen Mar!