HAPPY NEW YEAR
So what’s new, what’s changed, what will you do differently, what will you do the same?
SO WHAT’S LEFT?
At the end of a difficult year we still remember that God was still up to something good—God still showed up, God still provided, and God’s promise of salvation is still given to us in Jesus!
SIMEON and ANNA
But it is not lost on me that Jesus hasn’t done anything (YET). He’s just a baby. He hasn’t healed anyone, forgiven anyone, saved anyone, taught anyone. He just showed up. Anna and Simeon don’t ask anything of him—they just give thanks and praise.
JESUS BORN FOR YOU
Merry Christmas! Wherever you are, whoever you see, however you see them, whatever celebrations the day holds, the truth remains: on this day, for you, Jesus Christ our Lord has been born.
TIME TO PONDER
While this year has been hard, and the losses nearly incalculable, we’ve learned a great deal about who we are and who God calls us to be.
MARY, MOTHER OF OUR LORD
God consistently chooses to use normal, everyday, insignificant things to do miraculous, powerful, life-changing work.
ARRIVAL OF LIGHT
These words stick with me (and I hope you, too) today:
“But I realized this today—by definition, you can’t wait for something that’s already here. The light that awakened the forest was always there—we only needed to carve away what was keeping the light out.”
ACTION IN ADVENT
If you are painfully aware that Christmas this year is going to be different than all years’ past, if you feel like you’re failing as a parent trying to provide the “perfect Christmas” for your kids, if nothing you’ve tried brings back some of the past joy and merriment, I need you to hear this:
CARE ASSESSMENT
Thank you for your support as we strive to better understand and meet the needs of our congregation and community.
ADVENT SHADOWS
But this doesn’t mean dark is bad and light is good. After all, the season of Advent preparation recalls Mary’s pregnancy, where the baby Jesus grew in the darkness of her womb. His birth comes at night, in a stable, shrouded by the peaceful darkness. We claim the holiness of the dark as sacred to our faith as well.
WORSHIP REFLECTIONS
When we turn to the grace, mercy, and loyal love of God, and our hearts resonate with God’s heart, then the love starts to flow…
GET IN THE CHRISTMAS SPIRIT
I’d constantly hear rounds of “Go Tell it On the Mountain” from across the church, mixed with bursts of laughter - a perfect setting for the holiday season.
GOD’S ACTIONS CAN’T BE CONTAINED
Find people in your life who will tell you the truth. Reach out and make connections with those beloved in faith who can expand your vision and remind you that God works in and through you, yes, but also throughout the wideness of the universe in ways you cannot know, understand, explain, or experience.
GOD OF HOPE
Because this year is so different, let it be a time for you to establish new habits and rituals. What things help prepare your heart for the birth of Christ? What kinds decorations, treats, and gifts keep you centered in the hope, joy, love, and peace of the Advent season? Just because something doesn’t explicitly mention Christianity doesn’t mean it can’t build your faith.
WHO IS MY NEIGHBOR? WHAT IS RACE
So what is race? Honestly, I still don’t really know. But I do know that it’s often an unhelpful way to classify ourselves and an unchristian way to decide which of us are better than others.
THE PROPHET JEREMIAH
No more warnings. Just conscious and faith-filled actions to show love and care for ourselves and our neighbors.
EASTER MEMBERS SHOW HOW TO LOVE YOUR NEIGHBOR
I got to be out at the parking lot at the Hill that day as many of you dropped off your statement in person. The wind was cold but my heart was warm. It was a real joy to see you share God’s gifts with the ministry of this congregation.