From our Pastor

As we enter the season of Advent, I am always struck by the dissonance between the meaning of the season and the reality of life. Advent is a season of waiting—a time to look for Christ in the middle of our ordinary days. It should be a time of peace and reflection. And yet, our calendars fill quickly with holiday events, we spend time decorating, baking, and shopping for gifts, and the feelings of rush and activity seem at odds with this season of waiting and reflecting.

I keep returning to the promise in Isaiah 9:2: “The people walking in darkness have seen a great light.” That verse isn’t just about ancient Israel; it’s about us. It reminds us that God meets us exactly where we are—hopeful or tired, joyful or overwhelmed, steady or stretched thin. The light comes not when life slows down, but right in the middle of everything we’re juggling.

Throughout Advent, we will reflect together on the ways God’s light breaks into real life—how hope grows even in uncertain times, how peace settles in places we didn’t expect, how joy can surprise us, and how love changes everything it touches. These aren’t just topics for Sunday morning worship; they are gifts that God blesses us with day after day. They guide how we serve, how we pray, how we show grace to one another, and how we share God’s presence with others in our families and our communities.

And then Christmas arrives with its simple, world-changing truth: God chose to be with us. Not from a distance, not in theory, but right here. Emmanuel. God with us in the busy days and the quiet nights, in the celebrations and the worries, in the traditions we cherish and the moments that catch us off guard. The manger reminds us that God often shows up in humble places, small beginnings, and moments we might otherwise overlook.

My prayer for us this season is that we will make room—however imperfectly—to notice God’s quiet work: in a conversation, in a kindness received, in a moment of peace, in worship, in the shared life of our congregations. May this Advent help us remember that God’s light still shines, God’s promises still hold, and God’s love is still drawing near.

Wishing you a blessed Advent and a joyful Christmas,
Pastor Lisa