And now abideth faith, hope, charity, these three; but the greatest of these is charity. 1 Corinthians 13:13
Dear RSNY Church Family and Friends,
Every January, we tap into the energy of a new year. After the holiday celebrations and the many Christmas events, the church provides a perfect bridge from the old year into the new year. It is a chance to reconnect with our colleagues who share the same determination, passion, and theological platforms. It is also an opportunity to determine our pride in the Christian faith as we chant and shout with the hymns of the church.
This year, during the Super Bowl with a simple can’t emerge, in one voice was the simply resounding response, “All The Way.” I can imagine many of you who watched the Super Bowl cheered on your favorite team or the underdog with the hope of victory. It is a reminder of Jesus’ ministry call to the church to go “All The Way” as Jesus pronounced to Peter, “On this Rock, I will build my church.”
When we as children of God, commit to doing something in the “Love” month, “All the Way,” we are embracing fully the ministry in Loving God, our Neighbors, and the strangers on our church doorstep. This Love of God, without reservation or doubt, moves us to the commitment of passion in Ministry and Mission in our church communities, even as pastors and Consistories wrestle with economic disparities, social injustice, and immigration unrest – especially separating families. “All The Way”, brings us to A Refuge Place of Love: A Love of healing, hope, and determination to go “All The Way.”
After all, this level of dedication is precisely what brings us into fellowship and communion with one another.
During my APCE 2025 experience in Memphis, Tennessee, I shared with a Presbyterian, that our RCA (CERCA) dedication extends beyond personal achievement. I explained that it is a commitment to the continuation of learning, teaching, and sharing the gospel as Christian Educators in God’s church. We are called and equipped to serve with a joyful heart, the foundational love hearted to nourish God’s children, and for God’s children to flourish by our witness, “All The Way.”
In this turbulence time of the church, we are called to retell the love story of Jesus’ Birth, The Cross and Resurrection as we cry out, “All the way” Jesus and be sustained by a Spiritual Love in this broken world: a world with changes and uncertainties about tomorrow, even as God’s Church can go “All The Way”.
Prayerfully,
Rev. Dr. Micheal Edwards, Executive Minister