{"id":9763,"date":"2011-12-31T09:53:22","date_gmt":"2011-12-31T15:53:22","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.patheos.com\/blogs\/deaconsbench\/?p=9763"},"modified":"2015-03-13T17:07:56","modified_gmt":"2015-03-13T21:07:56","slug":"a-new-years-day-message-what-some-preachers-are-planning-to-say","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.patheos.com\/blogs\/deaconsbench\/2011\/12\/a-new-years-day-message-what-some-preachers-are-planning-to-say\/","title":{"rendered":"A New Year’s Day message: what some preachers are planning to say"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<\/head>

Stuck for a homily idea?\u00a0 Check out this interesting overview, from a variety of faiths in Indiana, here:<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n

Pastors will have similar new Yyear themes in their Sunday sermons. A fresh start, personal reflection and improving one\u2019s relationship with God are just a few sermon topics.<\/p>\n

The Rev. James Foster, pastor, will preach about \u201ca new season\u201d to about 120 people at Word of Life Fellowship Church in Lafayette.<\/p>\n

\u201cWith a new season, it is an opportunity to make things better,\u201d Foster said. \u201cThere are opportunities for families who can look back to see things didn\u2019t go too well.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe have an opportunity to be better husbands, wives, fathers and mothers.\u201d<\/p>\n

The new year also is a time to improve as an individual and as a church family, Foster said. There are many \u201cwhat else\u201d opportunities.<\/p>\n

\u201cDon\u2019t focus on failures but on the opportunities to make things better in your life through God,\u201d he said. \u201cAs a church family, if we don\u2019t feel like we\u2019ve been as good to the community as we need to be, we must look at it and be better.\u201d<\/p>\n

Another key point of Foster\u2019s sermon will be \u201cforgive yourself.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cPeople are so hard on themselves. The church is there to help them,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n

In Benton County, the Rev. Bob Klemme pastors two Catholic churches \u2014 St. Patrick in Fowler and St. Charles in Otterbein. The combined membership is about 1,000 people.<\/p>\n

\u201cI hope the parishioners gain a greater sense of consciousness of God in their lives,\u201d he said of the new year. \u201cYour thoughts, words and deeds will reflect that consciousness in your daily lives.\u201d<\/p>\n

The priest said his sermon will celebrate the Solemnity of Mary, Mother of God \u2014 a liturgical feast that honors Mary on Jan. 1.<\/p>\n

He will emphasize the Gospel passage from Luke 2:19 \u2014 \u201cBut Mary treasured all these things, pondering them in her heart.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cMy homily will be based on her life and how it reflects on our lives,\u201d Klemme said.<\/p>\n

\u201cMy question for parishioners will be, \u2018How have we pondered what we have learned from our faith and our lives? How do we give thanksgiving and praise to God?\u2019 \u201d<\/p>\n

The Rev. Thom Redmond, assistant pastor, said his sermon title will be \u201cFirst Things First\u201d at Crestview United Brethren in Christ Church in Lafayette. He will preach to a total of nearly 200 people at two services.<\/p>\n

He said he will urge worshippers to seek God through prayer, worship with others on the first day of the week, tithe in the first month and fast on the first of the new year.<\/p>\n

\u201cThese are what I consider the essential tools to grow spiritually,\u201d Redmond said. \u201cIf you want to have a better year, try these things.\u201d<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

Read more. <\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n

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