Pastor's Corner

FROM MEE TO YOU

As we celebrate the wonder of Christmas and prepare to cross the threshold into a New Year, my heart overflows with gratitude. Your prayers, your warm holiday wishes, and the grace you extend to me daily are gifts I never take for granted. To be part of such a caring community is a blessing that humbles me deeply, especially during this sacred season of reflection.

The miracle of Christmas is that God did not wait for us to become perfect before joining us. Instead, God came down into the middle of our messy, broken world to bring the light of the Kingdom—a life defined by radical peace and divine justice. This "Kingdom life" isn't just a distant hope; it is a reality that began in a manger and continues today wherever love breaks down walls and restores dignity. I am reminded of this truth every time I think of a story I have shared with you before-my experience during street ministry years in Chicago. I still carry the memory of that Christmas spent in the home of Carmen who was a veteran sex worker.

Sharing a meal with those society often turns away from, including sex workers and those struggling with addiction, was a stark contrast to any "traditional" celebration. Yet, in that small room, the peace of Christ felt more tangible than ever.

Amidst those struggles, I witnessed a radical hospitality that reflected the true heart of the Gospel: God’s love knows no bounds and keeps no guest list.

It was a powerful reminder that God’s justice is not about judgment, but about restoration and belonging. Carmen’s table taught me that the Kingdom of God is often found in the most unexpected places, sitting with the most unlikely people. When we reach out to those society overlooks, we are not just doing a good deed; we are participating in the peace that Jesus brought to earth. As He taught us, whenever we care for "the least of these," we are truly encountering “God with us.” That Christmas didn't just change my holiday; it redefined how I view God’s mission ever since.

As we carry the light of Christmas into the New Year, let us renew our commitment to living out this love. My prayer is that we don’t leave the spirit of the manger behind in December. Instead, may we seek His guidance in all we do, striving to be a source of hope to those around us. Let us embrace each day of the coming year with a strong desire to take on God’s mission for the transformation of the world, beginning with the transformation of our own hearts.

May God bless you and your families richly this Christmas season and throughout the year to come. May we all work together to experience the fullness of His Kingdom.

Merry Christmas and a blessed New Year to you all!

Prayer: Lord, as the calendar turns, help us to carry the light of the manger into every day of the coming year. Grant us the courage to seek justice for the weary, the heart to bring peace to the broken, and the eyes to see Your face in the "least of these." Transform our hearts, that we may be true reflections of Your love in our community. Amen.