December 31, 2017 What an epic year! I am sitting at my desk waiting to join with the children of God here at “The Higher Way Church” for our New Year’s Eve Prayer Gathering. Throughout its history, Jones Memorial has had many transformative moments—the founding of the church in September 1960, the building of a new sanctuary on Holloway, the transformative gift from Sister Willie Clay Robinson in 1989 that has been a bridge for this church over many waters by providing scholarships for hundreds of youth from this congregation, the purchase of more than 10 acres of land and the building of our present worship and service space, and the 2015 union with Living Water as one congregation.  The year 2017 started with the entire congregation loving on each other and watching the movie “Hidden Figures.” In February we had a “Free Beer and Wings” (root-beer) Super Bowl Party providing a time of community building and invitation to others to join with us in the work. Small Group Bible Studies from the Young Adult “Financial Reprise Workshop” to “Watch your Mouth Bible Study, Disciples Small Group Study and many others provided an intimate study of God’s word throughout the year. In April we hosted a community Easter Egg Hunt with our neighbors at Skyview as a way of getting to know them and allowing them to meet and know us. We continued to reach out to Frost Elementary, Pro-Vision Charter School, Society of St. Stephens Food Distribution, Prayer Ministry, Congregational Care Home Visits, Christian Summer Camp at Lakeview, Mission Month in July, Sunnyside Community Wide Service Day, Back to School Supplies—and then came Harvey. In response to Hurricane Harvey, and in collaboration with United Methodist from across the United States who poured into our efforts, we distributed 1,467 flood buckets to our neighbors at a cost of around $20 per bucket. We helped with emergency rental assistance and temporary housing in the immediate aftermath of the storm. We purchased 4 new refrigerators for a home day care center for special needs adults as well as assisted in the purchase of a van for transportation for the clients. We helped two local congregations who had severe roof damage and we helped many families to repair their homes damaged by the storm. Most of all, we just loved and served like Jesus taught us. To date with have distributed over $47,000.00 in direct aid to those in need.  Last Sunday we received the disposition of the Nathaniel and Margie Duty Estate—another milestone in generosity to this congregation from members who decided to bless the church and their community after they were no longer here. This Duty gift will prove to be transformative as it has been directed to our capital building needs and for scholarships for our youth. Today’s church decision to merge with Crestmont UMC is another example of the epic year of 2017. The overwhelming support of the members of this church to say yes to the God opportunity demonstrates how willing you are to follow Jesus in the Way. In the face of all of these challenges you have continued to give at a record rate with your tithes and offering. This year we did not ask for any special giving for Christmas and yet our December 2017 income will be very close to the giving for 2016. Thank you for bearing witness to God’s love and helping others know his love for their lives. There will be challenges ahead that will try our souls but because of what we have seen God do in the past on our behalf we are confident that we can trust God with our future. I just want say to each of you, I am so humbled to be your pastor during these days of transformation, and to have this opportunity to serve with you and help others come to know the love and salvation that only comes from knowing, trusting, and believing in Jesus Christ. On His Team, Pastor Levingston