Slideshow image

Merry Christmas, everyone!

I don’t plan to write this week’s newsletter on Thursday morning, and I know Fiona doesn’t want to publish it then. So this is an early greeting with prayers that everyone will have a blessed, restful, peaceful, joyful Christmas celebration this week. May your heart and home be full of Jesus, and may His presence overflow to everyone around you.

I can’t think of better words for today than these:

O come, all you faithful ones, joyful and triumphant,
O come in your hearts and minds to Bethlehem.
Come and behold Him—born the King of angels!
O come, let us adore Him,
O come, let us adore Him,
O come, let us adore Him, Christ the Lord!

Yes, Lord, we greet You, born this happy morning!
Jesus, to you be all glory given.
Word of the Father, now in flesh appearing,
O come, let us adore Him,
O come, let us adore Him,
O come, let us adore Him, Christ the Lord!

God has given us the greatest gift possible in Jesus. May you be aware of His presence and filled with His Spirit throughout this wonderful week. 

For those who plan to join us for the Christmas Eve service this Wednesday at 7:00, I look forward to wishing one another a Merry Christmas again there. For those who can’t, we’ll catch up in the coming weeks. Enjoy the holiday wherever it takes you!

Oh, and if you’re wanting to think ahead about next Sunday, we’re going to transition out of Christmas and into New Year's with some reflection on Jesus’ name Immanuel. It’s one of the most precious names for our Lord, even though the word only shows up 3 times in the Bible. It’s a reminder that God is with us. God is “with us” in Jesus, taking on our humanity to be our Savior. And God is “with us” in the sense that He never leaves or abandons us. What a great thought as we come to the end of one year and the start of another! He has walked with us faithfully over the past 12 months, and He will be “with us” wherever 2026 takes us.

This coming Sunday will be a little on the casual and reflective side, as we think about some of the ways God has proved faithful and “with us” over the past year. So if you’re wanting to prepare mentally, I suggest taking a few minutes to look back over the past 12 months and consider ways in which God made you aware that He was “with you”—answering prayer, providing, protecting, helping, etc.   Let that be a source of encouragement and joy as we look to launch into the new year.

Again, a very merry and joyful Christmas to you! See you soon.

Richest blessings,
—Pastor Ken