It’s Sunday night, January 9th, & I am here, at our evening services at Cross & Crown. A brand new year. The word that keeps coming back to me over & over is faithfulness.

The faithfulness of the Shelton group, & so many others, for 10 years, to not only lead worship once a month, but to bring food & serve everyone from our community who comes to eat.

There are Roy & Louella…Clyde & Judy…Barbara…Jorge & Olga…Socorro…& so many more neighbors…friends from our community whom we met 10 years ago when we first opened…who call us their family, & are faithful to worship with us so regularly.

Roma, who has led our food pantry for 10 years, who will not stay away no matter what the weather may bring.

Luke, who was just a teenage summer intern when we opened 10 years ago, sits with his wife…& Ron, who along with Luke, is making a big difference in the lives of the youth in our community…changing our world!

And countless more friends, staff members, volunteers & those of you who donate regularly, who have FAITHFULLY been a part of the mission for 10 years. But, most importantly, I see the faithfulness of our God…who has blessed this place…this work…this community…this mission…for 10 years. What a special year 2011 will be!

“For the Spirit of the Sovereign Lord is on me, because the Lord has anointed me to preach good news to the poor. He has sent me to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim freedom for the captives and release from darkness for the prisoners, to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor and the day of vengeance of our God, to comfort all who mourn, and provide for those who grieve in Zion, to bestow on them a crown of beauty instead of ashes, the oil of gladness instead of mourning, and a garment of praise instead of a spirit of despair.” Isaiah 61

Kathy