Dear Beloved,

How are you as 2025 begins? As 2025 begins, I am continuing to ponder our Bible passage from the third Sunday of Advent from Philippians 4 - 4 Rejoicein the Lord always; again I will say, Rejoice. 5 Let your gentleness be known to everyone. The Lord is near. 6 Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. 7 And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.  

As Pastor Marc, the worship leader of the day, and I prepared to pray before the 8:30 a.m. worship service began, the worship leader said, “This one is a good one.” I agree. This passage from Philippians is one of those passages we can carry with us throughout the day. It is one that can encourage and uplift us if we let God hold us and trust that God still loves us even when we still feel anxious even in the midst of rejoicing, giving thanks, and seeking to live in the paths of courageous and liberating gentleness made known by Jesus. In the midst of my deepest valleys when I have questioned whether it was worth going on, thanking God has been a lifeline back to the hope and peace God faithfully and continually offers. Perhaps that is why God has taught me to understand gratitude as a way of life. For this season and maybe beyond, I hope to spend time meditating on this passage with you. If you’d like to chat about it, please feel free to reach out. I will be praying it for us. I am thanking God for you and the opportunity to worship God with you. I rejoice in the opportunity to grow, learn, and serve with you as we seek to reflect the gentleness and peace of Jesus each day. May we invite God’s Spirit to guard our hearts and minds in Christ Jesus, and may you always know that you are a loved child of God on the best days, on the worst days, and in all the days in between. You are cherished. You are appreciated.

With joy for the journey,

   Sarah