Christmas Eve Service 2025

Kindred in Christ,

As we move from the glow of Christmas Day into the quieter season that follows, my heart is full of gratitude for this community. This Advent and Christmas have been a gift—from the steady beauty and dedication of our Choir each week, to the shared laughter and joy of The Muppet Christmas Carol, which welcomed families from our neighborhood, to a Christmas Eve service alive with carols, candlelight, and many new faces. Again and again, you made room for wonder, welcome, and connection. Thank you to our amazing staff, volunteers, and community for the many ways you offered your gifts so generously.

Christmas reminds us that God comes not through dominance or spectacle, but through the small and seemingly ordinary. John’s Gospel tells us that “the Word became flesh and dwelt among us.” In the Biblical Greek, eskēnōsen means that God “pitched a tent” among us, choosing nearness over distance, vulnerability over command, and presence over control.

This truth shapes our life together. In small, faithful acts such as showing up, sharing meals, singing, and offering welcome, we bear signs of God’s justice, peace, and love. These quiet practices form us in the way of Jesus, and I am excited for how we will continue to grow together in the year ahead.

While I am away this week, I am grateful for Nancy Goddard, who will be preaching this Sunday. As we keep listening for God’s presence amid the beauty and the struggle of the Christmas story, she offers this invitation for the coming week:

“The Gospel reading for this Sunday tells of the slaughter of the Holy Innocents, a story of fear, cruelty, and power threatened by the Christ child. Herod is not unlike despots we know today. Where is hope in the face of such violence? Come this Sunday as we look to the Christ child for the answer.”

Even as the Christmas story turns toward hard truths, hope remains. God is still with us, pitching a tent among the vulnerable, dwelling in the midst of the fragile, and calling us to live love in tangible, faithful ways.

Alongside you,

Pastor Paul