An invitation to worship...
Entering the New Year with Hope and Reflection
January 2, 2026
Good afternoon, Church!
The new year brings new opportunities for all kinds of new beginnings. It is common for people to set new goals, plans, or resolutions for the coming year. Certainly our intentions and motives matter! Yesterday, for fun, I participated in the sixth annual Resolution Run 6K, just to begin the year off well. As we are most of the way through the second day of the new year, I hope that there are not too many of you have already broken a resolution!
This Sunday is our first opportunity to worship together in the new year. Furthermore, it is the final Sunday of Christmastide (it will be the 11th day of Christmas, to be exact). We are reminded in this season of celebration that God comes to us. Our worship Scriptures, found in Ephesians 1:3-14 and John 1:1, 9-18, tell us of the mysterious and grand plan that God has had since the beginning; a plan to rescue and redeem his people through his own life. The joy and mystery of our faith is the wonder of why God would do such an incredible thing!
As we prepare our hearts for worship this coming Sunday, I want to invite you to pause to reflect on what your expectations and longing are for the coming year. What motivates and moves you?
Pastor Joel Heald
Student Ministries