Happy New Year!

New Years Eve with a few of our student leaders: Lizzy, Alisa, and Laurel :)

Welcome back!

 Happy New Year! I hope you were able to rest and spend time with loved ones over the holidays. These past few weeks have been slower than the normal pace of the semester with most of our students gone for the break. I'm excited to show you what ministry has looked like in this slower time, it has been a helpful reminder that God is always moving and working even when I am resting or on break. 

Over the break ..

    I read "Working the Angles" by Eugene Peterson along with the rest of our staff. In the book Peterson has a chapter on Sabbath. As someone who likes life to be doing, talking, or moving most of the time, this chapter really struck me. Peterson says "Nothing else conditions us better with the rhythm of grace in our lives than sabbath.".... "We go to sleep, and God begins his work.... But always grace is previous. Grace is primary. We wake into a world we didn't make, into a salvation we didn't earn. Evening: God begins, without our help, his creative day. Morning: God calls us to enjoy and share and develop the work he initiated. Creation and covenant are sheer grace and there to greet us every morning." This reminded me how big God is and how small I am. 

    It has never occurred to me that I am missing a big aspect of God's character and inhibiting myself from experiencing his grace more fully when I do not sabbath. Peterson also said we need to sabbath for the sake of those around us, so they can hear from God and be dependent on him without us getting in the way. Both of these things have been heavy on my mind as I enter this new semester, I want to be more purposeful about sabbath and rest for my sake and for those around me! 

Staff Retreat!

In a similar vein, our staff all went on a retreat just outside of Austin together! We got to hear from and discuss with each other "Working the Angles", and spend time preparing for the semester together. The winter staff retreat is one of my favorite times of the year because of the people I get to spend time with. It is such a unique privilege to be with all of our campus ministers for four days. 

Shayla was someone I got to spend time with at retreat that I don't normally get to see! She works with FOCUS at UNT so our paths don't often cross, except at retreats or meetings. I really appreciated my time with her and her insight on things I was thinking through. 

Winter Grads

This is my friend Dani, she just graduated in December! Please be praying for her and our other winter grads that they would continue to pursue God and community after college. I am so thankful to have gotten to be with her and be her friend during her time in college. Thank you for making community for her while she was in college possible! 

Thank you for your generosity and faithfulness this year, you are a reminder to me every day of God's character. Join me in praying for this next year of ministry and the lives God will touch.  

Love, 

Sophie