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Wow, what a year 2018 was for Berlin Center and LeValley United Methodist Churches. We had our ups and downs, our joys and our sorrows, and yet, we remained strong and filled with the Holy Spirit. I’m not faithful about keeping up with my daily journaling, so I am sure there are activities we have participated in that I have forgotten, but perusing our monthly newsletters, I came up with an extensive list.
I officiated at funerals or memorial services for several church family members or friends this past year. We miss each of them, but live with the joy that they are in Heaven with Jesus. The churches and the families of the deceased cannot thank the women of the church enough for the meals they provided.
A few from Berlin Center and LeValley are no longer part of the congregations for personal reasons, but we will always love them and consider them part of the family, no matter how near or far away they are from us.
We have received new members at LeValley through membership transfer and affirmation of faith. We celebrated the baptism of Caroline Plett.
Donna Andres retired as the director of LeValley Christian Childcare (LVCC) and Sarah Saenz was hired as her replacement. We continue to care for over 30 children in our daycare and have a dedicated staff, many who have worked at the LVCC for over 18 years. Many of the daycare kids attend VBS and several of them sang during worship on December 16th, along with the LeValley Church kids.
I was pleased with the large group of committed women who participated in Bible study at LeValley. We also had representation from Berlin Center. This group will resume later this month. My prayer is that a men’s study or a study for both men and women will be established. Maybe someone will feel called to host a study in their home.
Berlin Center hosted its first annual Old Fashioned Tent Revival on Thursday, June 14th and Friday, June 15th. Music was provided by 4 ONE Quartet, an all male southern gospel group and on acoustic guitar. Preachers were Pastors James Black and David Lunsford, colleagues of Pastor Nancy from Mississippi and Tennessee. Thank you to all who helped and participated. Another Revival is going to be planned for 2019.
I, of course, cannot forget the LeValley Fellowship. This group meets once a month for food and fellowship, but they also raise money for many of the LeValley projects. They host the annual Forrest Nash Memorial auction in May.
