December 2025

Dear Friends,

As we enter this beautiful Christmas season, our hearts turn once again to the story that changed everything —

a story of hope born in a humble stable, of light shining in darkness, and of God doing something wonderfully

new in the most unexpected way. Christmas reminds us that even when life feels heavy or complicated, renewal

is possible. Scripture tells us, “The people walking in darkness have seen a great light” (Isaiah 9:2), and that

great light still shines for us today.

Yet many of us find it difficult to step into that light because we’re still holding tightly to things from the past.

Old frustrations, unresolved hurts, disappointments, or even memories of seasons that felt easier can quietly weigh

us down. While holding on may feel natural, Christmas invites us to open our hands and hearts to the new things

God is doing. As Paul reminds us, “Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, I press on…”

(Philippians 3:13–14).

Consider Mary and Joseph. They had plans, expectations, and a sense of what their future should look like.

But when the angel appeared, everything changed. They could have clung to their original path, insisting life

remain predictable. Instead, with courage and faith, they embraced God’s new direction. Mary’s response,

“May it be to me as you have said” (Luke 1:38), shows a heart willing to release the familiar and receive the

miraculous. Their willingness created space for the birth of the Savior.

Then there were the shepherds. They could have stayed in the fields, tending their flocks as they always did.

But when the angels proclaimed the good news, they left their routines, fears, and comfort to seek the child

(Luke 2:8–16). Their openness brought them face to face with God’s promise fulfilled.

We are invited into this sacred movement—from holding on too tightly to stepping forward in trust. Maybe

you’re clinging to an old disappointment that has shaped how you see yourself. Perhaps a long-past success or

failure still influences your decisions. Or maybe you’re holding a season of life so dearly that moving forward

feels uncertain. But Scripture assures us, “See, I am doing a new thing… do you not perceive it?” (Isaiah 43:19).

God often meets us not in what is familiar, but in what is new.

This Christmas, I encourage you to take a quiet moment to reflect: What might God be inviting you to release?

And what joy, peace, or purpose could be waiting as you step forward?

May this season be one of gentle renewal—an opportunity to breathe deeply, let go graciously, and walk

forward with hope. The light that entered the world on that first Christmas continues to shine, guiding us into

God’s new beginnings.

Wishing you peace, joy, and renewed courage in Christ.

Pastor Peter Blank