Merry Christmas from The Fellowship Community!

This year of change and uncertainty has led The Fellowship Community to have conversations with our members and churches and to re-engage our mission and strategy. While we look forward to an in-person National Gathering and other conferences in the near future, we want to stay connected with all of you. So here’s our two-part plan for the first six months of 2021:

Together, a monthly e-newsletter with video conversations, short articles of ministry and theological reflection, book reviews and prayer — all focused around our TFC mission and values — begins in January.

Zoom Regional Gatherings February 18 and April 22 from 1:00 to 3:00 pm (in your time zone). Board members will lead six regional gatherings (including one in Korean). Join us to connect with one another, share joys and challenges, and to encourage each other in ministry.

This has been a difficult year for all of us. The pandemic, an economic downturn, important conversations on race, and divisive politics are the new context for ministry going into 2021. We’ve had the opportunity to look with eyes of faith to see what God is doing; listen with empathy to others’ stories; learn with humility what we don’t know; and lament for healing, justice, unity and (especially this Advent season) long for hope, peace, joy, and love. Tomorrow we celebrate the Savior’s birth, which is truly “good news that will cause great joy for all the people.”

As you celebrate, I hope you’ll enjoy the beautiful music “Festival of Carols” from First Pres Pittsburgh, one of our member churches.

Thank you for being part of the TFC family. We look forward to seeing you soon in 2021. We pray God’s blessing for you, your family, and your church as you celebrate Christmas and welcome the New Year.

In Christ,

Rev. Dr. Michael J. McClenahan,
President of The Fellowship Community Board