Dear Partner in Ministry,
As December continues, the nights stretch longer and longer. Then, at the very moment when the darkness reaches its deepest point, the light begins its slow return. It’s a quiet reminder built right into creation: light doesn’t erase the dark; it rises from within it.
This week in the life of our church holds that whole truth. On Sunday, our children will lead us in the Christmas Pageant — full of energy and costumes and laughter, a joyful reminder of the wonder at the heart of this season.
And then on Thursday we gather for our Longest Night Service. While the world urges us to be merry and bright, many of us are carrying grief, worry, loneliness, or memories that surface this time of year. These are not disruptions to the season — they’re part of being human. This gentle, contemplative service is for anyone who finds the season heavier than expected.
Together, these two moments tell the truth of Advent: joy and tenderness, celebration and longing, the bright voices of children and the quiet prayers of weary hearts. In the Longest Night service, we rest in the promise that God meets us in the dark — and that the light is already on its way.
Peace,
Jessica
