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For turning over a new leaf, the start of the school year is second only to New Year's Eve itself. Oh, there's a lot of hassle as parents rush around getting all the supplies on those new lists, and some new clothes (preferably tax free!), and records of immunizations and all the rest. If you live in a school area, especially an elementary school, you've got to negotiate a whole new level of morning and mid-afternoon traffic.

Then there are the emotional hassles. Little kids going off to school for the first time. Big kids going off to college. New schools, new teachers, new groups and new classes - it's all pretty anxiety producing.

But on the other hand, it's also fresh and new and an opportunity to start over again. Sometimes when someone asks me how I'm doing in the morning I'll say, "Well nothing bad has happened YET!" On the first day of school pretty much everybody can say at least that much. We can't say much about the whole year or even next week, but "so far, so good!"

And here is another piece of freshness, too. I've heard kids say as they start a new school, or move from elementary to middle school, or middle to high school that it is a chance to re-invent themselves, and break out of some of the old ways of doing things. We all need chances to start over, to erase the slate and start again, to get a "do over." I know I've been getting that wrong, but here is a chance to start over and get it right.

Things feel like that around here right now. We have Ashford Child Enrichment pre-school teachers back in the building and kids will soon follow. It is a lot more fun with little noise makers around the campus! Choirs are starting back, new opportunities for adult discipleship are coming up and lots of people will be back from vacation in these next few days.

There will be more people in worship, some of them members who have been away, some of them newcomers to the area and some of them folks who are just turning over a new leaf and coming back to church. It is an exciting time.  I hope you will take the opportunity to find your place, in worship, in Sunday School, in a short or long term group, or maybe in a choir. Fresh starts are good. Why not join the kids and make one right now?

Peace to you,

David