Pastor’s thoughts for January

In January we linger with Christmas in the bright Starlight of Epiphany (January 6) , when the Wisemen, having seen Jesus, were changed, and taking a different route home, brought the light of God to the world beyond Bethlehem.

In January we also look back with love and remember those whom we have lost. In 2025 we grieved the loss of beloved members and friends, Nancy Oatman, Janet Hayes and Bill Rominger. While we know they are with God now, we treasure our memories of them. We can also remember them through memorial gifts. We have a Memorial Fund, and anyone can make a donation to the church in the name of someone you want to honor. The church is filled with beautiful gifts gratefully purchased by church leaders through the memorial fund.

In January we also turn our attention ahead to the New Year, first by reminding ourselves of Jesus’ baptism, and what baptism means for us all. Methodist theologian and preacher, Will Willimon says: “ As a sacrament, baptism is a gift of God whereby God—knowing that we are animals—uses the ordinary, bodily, stuff of mundane creaturely life to get through to us, to signify God turned toward us in ways that we can comprehend. Nobody is born Christian. Water + the story of Jesus + God rewriting your story + your willingness to be written into the story of Jesus = Christian.” So each January we re-commit to our journey together as Christians.

Finally, in January, refreshed and renewed, we turn to church organization. We have our Annual Meeting to hear reports of the past year, elect church officers (Elders) for the next year, and talk together about our dreams and aspirations for the year ahead.

January is a month-long New Year Celebration with God and one another.