 Siblings and sisters and brothers in the Southern New England Conference of the United Church of Christ, Happy New Year! As we reflect back on the year we've shared together, we are so grateful for the ways in which you have shown up alongside all of us to make this excellence. We have made a difference in so many ways. I'm thinking about the ways in which we had our very first in-person annual meeting as the Southern New England Conference or how we showed up with an embodiment to General Synod this past year. I'm thinking about the ways in which each local church has helped contribute to the love and justice of Jesus in your own region and helped to imagine the kind of church you can be going forward. And I'm so grateful for the joyful and successful summer camps that we've offered in Silver Lake and Pilgrim Day Camp and the ways in which we continue to offer programming that is transformational and helps equip the work of local churches and leaders on the ground. Thanks be to God for what was and thanks be to God for what will be. We want to share some initiatives and highlights from the beginning of this new coming year. The first is something that's going to start in just a few days. Every Wednesday this year we're going to take a pause for prayer. That's what it sounds like, a chance for us to pause together and join together in a spirit of prayer. It'll happen Wednesdays at 12.30 on Facebook Live. Pretty brief, 10 to 15 minutes however long the spirit moves us and really is what it sounds like, a time for us to come together, share our joys and concerns with one another, join our voices together, knowing and trusting that God always makes more of us together than we can be apart. You'll be able to participate live or you can watch it later at any time. So for you to receive the fulfillment that you need on this day too. Amen and amen. Two, save the date for Super Saturday, gathering in person and online at March 9th at the Southbridge Hotel and Conference Center. This light change and date allows us to find a space that will accommodate all of us. So thank you for joining with us on this date and please attend to look forward towards basic tools for local churches, workshops presented by the Southern New England staff and a swap shop so you can bring that which you hope another church can use or take that which you maybe didn't even know you needed in such a way that we continue to work together in covenant and resource each other in compelling and intentional ways. I also want to point to your attention that there will be a regional compelling preaching events where you can experience a taste of the many offerings that will be available to you in 2024 and beyond as a result of the Lilly Foundation's compelling preaching grant to the Southern New England Conference. More on that later. But in the meantime, beloveds of God know that we are grateful for you and send you abundant blessings into 2024. Holy, holy, holy God of endings and beginnings and the liminal space between be our guide, be our hope, be our light, be our foundation, be our breath in all that will be in this coming year. In Christ's name we pray. Amen.