December 2025

For a child has been born for us, a son given to us; authority rests upon his shoulders…

– Isaiah 9:6a

Grace and peace to you all! I hope this chilly time finds you with warmth in your hearts.

As we head in to the Advent season, beginning our new year, it’s a good time to reflect on what came before and what we want the future to be.

I want to encourage you to remember the goals your council set for this congregation: increasing membership, adding education opportunities, and increasing visibility in the surrounding community. We have a lot of work to do on all three, and I will need your help to do so.

I plan on adding a second Bible study specifically focused around the Gospel reading from the Revised Common Lectionary, the series of readings we use on Sundays. This is not to take the place of the Bible study already underway, looking at various books of the Bible; this is to add to it, allowing us to take an in-depth look at the Gospels themselves, increasing our understanding together. This will start in January after Epiphany; I will have more information on weekday and time soon.

What I really need your help on is attendance. Studies have shown that people do not simply walk into churches anymore; it’s far too easy to not go to church on Sunday morning rather than make the uncomfortable journey into somewhere new.

No, the main way people come to church now is if they are asked. I can only invite so many people; remember, I don’t live in this area. This means that if people are going to be invited, it has to be by you. We are coming up on a time of year that is perfect for invitation: Christmas and Epiphany. This is the a time of warmth and welcome where we celebrate one of the most recognizable Christian events. Invite people to church. Friends, family, neighbors; share the warmth and welcome of Christ.

This may be uncomfortable for you, but growth is always uncomfortable. I invite you to grow this holiday season as ministers and evangelists, spreading the invitation. You may find that most people either already have somewhere to go or decline, but you also do not know how the Spirit may move. Be bold. Trust in God to give you strength. Take the amazing welcome I have seen within our walls and stretch it out into the world.

Let this be the church year we grow, not just as a congregation, but as disciples. Let us take the message out and grow our community, trusting in God to use our work to make something beautiful.

Blessings,

PR