A New Year and A Fresh Start

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After procrastinating for nearly eight months, I finally moved into the Senior Pastor’s office at HH 201. The view from my desk is that of the Gateway building across the freeway, which has a bold inscription on top, “First Foundation.”

As we enter the new year, I sense God calling us to rebuild our community by going back to the basics. We will spend the first three Sundays of the new year exploring three core values that will bring us back to our first foundation: BELIEVE, BELONG, BECOME. This series will function as a springboard to the ROOTED experience starting Sunday, Jan 22. The whole congregation, from school children to senior citizens, will be practicing together the “seven rhythms of discipleship” of Rooted all the way to Palm Sunday, April 2, 2023. This all-church experience will be deeply transformational for our community, unlike any other movements we have witnessed in our history.

I look forward to seeing you at the service on Sunday, January 1, 2023, and the Day of Prayer on Saturday, January 7. Instead of a Fireside Chat, we will have an Open House in January to discuss the latest version of our congregational covenant. This will be held in FL 201-203 (Rose Room) on Wednesday, January 11, from 7 to 9 pm.

As you might have noticed, our Worship Center Lobby has now metamorphosed into an extended living room with prayer stations all around. It signals our transition into a culture of prayer, where we seek the Lord’s counsel on all our plans and His favor in all our endeavors. My earnest desire in the new year is for us to experience God's transforming power that will pivot Lake Avenue Church to be a “house of prayer for all nations.” - (Is. 56:7)

Joanne, Hannah, and Emma join me in wishing you a very blessed and prosperous new year. May this New Year usher in a new season of the Lord’s favor in your life!

Mathew P. John
Senior Pastor