Beloved Community,
Grace and peace to you all as we usher in the new year, as we are met with the crispness of January—a time of fresh beginnings, renewed hopes, and the promise of Immanuel, God’s abiding presence with us. The days may still be short, and the cold chill of winter may linger, yet even in this season, God is already at work—quiet, faithful, and steadfast—bringing light where the days feel dim and warmth where we long for reassurance.
The start of a new year often comes with pressure: resolutions to keep, goals to meet, expectations to fulfill. But the grace of God invites us into a different mindset. Rather than striving for perfection, we are invited into faithfulness. Rather than demanding instant change, we are called to patient trust. Because the hope we carry into this new year is not rooted in our ability to get everything right, but in God’s promise to walk with us through it all.
A promise that is at the heart of who we are—and who we are becoming.
As a congregation, we find ourselves discerning a new chapter, including the possibility of changing our name to St. John Immanuel. Immanuel means “God with us,” and this truth grounds us deeply. For God is with us as we celebrate milestones, as we live into our merger, and as we navigate change. God is with us—not only in our history, but also in our future.
And what a beautiful way to honor both the histories and futures of St. John and Immanuel by embracing the name St. John Immanuel.
As we move through this new year together, may we give ourselves permission to move at the pace of grace. May we be gentle with one another, bold in love, and rooted in hope. And may we remember that no matter what lies ahead, we do not walk alone. God is with us. Thanks be to God.