By Maureen Wright

On Monday, the 2025 Presbytery committee chairs met with the Moderator, Leadership Team chair, and staff. We began our time together by looking at the Epiphany story from Matthew 2:1-12 reflecting on leadership, especially bold leaders who serve with extravagant generosity. The conversation reminded me of two things. First, the church or liturgical year begins with Advent, Christmas, and Epiphany. While not ordinarily a character in manger scenes or in the “who’s who” of Jesus’ birth, the Holy Spirit is present in this amazing story of God reaching out to redeem God’s people. Second, Advent, Christmas, and Epiphany mark the start of something new in the story of God’s people.

We too are starting something new in the Presbytery of West Virginia. We are a community of Jesus people, starting something new in the story of God’s people in West Virginia as we begin the implementation of the Strategic Plan adopted by the Presbytery in November. Amazingly, the Holy Spirit is at work in our story.

The same Holy Spirit in Isaiah 44:3, where God says, “I will pour my spirit upon your descendants, and my blessing on your offspring”, is the Holy Spirit that accompanies us on our journey. The same Holy Spirit in Joel 2:28-29, where God promises, “I will pour out my spirit on all flesh; your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, your old men shall dream dreams and your young men shall see visions”, is the Holy Spirit that accompanies us on our journey. The same Holy Spirit in Luke 4:18-19 (citing Isaiah), where Jesus says, “The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he has anointed me to bring good news to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim release to the captives and recovery of sight to the blind, to let the oppressed go free, to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor”, is the Holy Spirit that accompanies us on our journey. The same Holy Spirit in Acts 1:8, where Jesus says, “You will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you will be my witnesses…to the ends of the earth”, is the Holy Spirit that accompanies us on our journey. The Holy Spirit is at work in our Presbytery of West Virginia world.

The Holy Spirit may be like a quiet breeze, nudging us along to engage in God’s work. The Holy Spirit may be like a rushing wind, filling us with gifts for ministry. The Holy Spirit may be like a flame, abrupt and challenging us to go deeper and speak God’s word louder. The Holy Spirit may be like a roaring river, inviting us to work for God’s justice and peace.

As we begin to live out the Strategic Plan, the plan that the Presbytery confirmed as God’s call to us for such a time as this, know that the Holy Spirit accompanies us on the journey. The Holy Spirit is our comforter, our advocate, our guide, and our challenger. As we start something new in the story of God’s people in the Presbytery of West Virginia, may we keep our eyes on the Spirit, praying, Come Holy Spirit, pour out your love that we may witness this amazing story of God reaching out to redeem God’s people. May it be so.