{"id":10750,"date":"2025-01-14T09:47:54","date_gmt":"2025-01-14T14:47:54","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/nccumc.org\/leadership\/?p=10750"},"modified":"2025-01-14T11:07:54","modified_gmt":"2025-01-14T16:07:54","slug":"an-encouragement-for-january-6","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/nccumc.org\/leadership\/2025\/01\/an-encouragement-for-january-6\/","title":{"rendered":"An Encouragement for January"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

The Center for Leadership Excellence, in partnership with COSROW, is pleased to lift up the voices of women in ministry encouraging fellow women in ministry. Please enjoy this month’s Encouragement from Amie Stewart, deacon in full connection in our conference and Director of Conference Relations for the General Board of Higher Education & Ministry. Amie also cohosts a podcast focused on vocational discernment, which may be found\u00a0here<\/a>.<\/em><\/em><\/em><\/em><\/em>

Anyone can sign up to receive Encouragement emails\u00a0here<\/a>.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Read \u202d\u202dLuke\u202c \u202d10\u202c:\u202d21\u202c, 23-24\u202c\u00a0<\/strong>\u202d(NRSV):\u202c\u202c<\/p>\n\n\n\n

At that same hour, Jesus rejoiced in the Holy Spirit and said, \u201cI thank you, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, because you have hidden these things from the wise and the intelligent and have revealed them to infants; yes, Father, for such was your gracious will.” … Then turning to the disciples, Jesus said to them privately, \u201cBlessed are the eyes that see what you see! For I tell you that many prophets and kings desired to see what you see, but did not see it, and to hear what you hear, but did not hear it.<\/em><\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Reflect:<\/strong> In L.M. Montgomery\u2019s novel, Anne of Green Gables<\/em>, Anne exclaims, \u201cI am so glad I live in a world where there are Octobers.\u201d While I love the initial glimpses of fall, I am more grateful for a world where there are Januarys. A new year begins with blank paper, new pens, and a crisp sense of possibility. Well-trodden paths of challenging habits are smoothed, and repeated reflections on negative experiences are lifted and left behind.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Take Action:<\/strong> Consider setting aside time this January to complete an Annual Examen<\/a>. While you may be familiar with the daily prayer exercise of the Daily Examen<\/a>, an Annual Examen invites concrete reflections on the highs and lows of our spiritual journeys in 2024.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In partnership,
Center for Leadership Excellence and the Commission on the Status and Role of Women<\/p>\n\n\n\n

<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

While I love the initial glimpses of fall, I am more grateful for a world where there are Januarys. A new year begins with blank paper, new pens, and a crisp sense of possibility. 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