Christmas 2025, God's Presence 2026

Christmas and the end of the year was an eventful time for our family!  We had plenty of church activities which kept us busy but we also found ourselves dealing with a lot of sickness as well.  Over the past two weeks, flu and COVID have been passed around our house like a bad exchange gift causing us to cancel or miss most of our family activities.  In lieu of that, we've tried to do a few things together like open Christmas presents, watch a movie, and countdown the New Year.  But it's been strange as we've also tried to maintain social distance from each other.  It brought back memories of 2020 and the pandemic.  

When I think about it, the end of this year was emblematic of a challenging and eventful year for many of us.  2025 was filled with both good times and struggles, blessings and hardships.  Smooth sailing seemed to be the exception.  While nobody knows what 2026 holds, I am reminded that God promises to be with us wherever we go and whatever we go through.  In Genesis 28, Jacob is forced to flee his home and go to Mesopotamia.  On his way, the Lord spoke to him in a dream.  In verse 15, the Lord said, "I am with you and will watch over you wherever you go, and I will bring you back to this land. I will not leave you until I have done what I have promised you."  After identifying Himself as the God of Abraham and Isaac, God reconfirmed His covenant to Jacob and added the promise of His presence.  Whatever happens in 2026, remember the Lord's promise to His children, to be with you and to watch over you wherever you go.           
   
Before we close the book on 2025, I just wanted to share some pictures from various Christmas activities around the church.  Praise the Lord that we could carol, play, and celebrate Christ's birth together!  May He guide us in the New Year!   
             
Pastor Darren