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 Dear Sisters and Brothers in Christ,

While the Christian New Year—Advent—has now passed, we find ourselves in a season of newness with the calendar new year. Welcoming a new year can be met with mixed emotions. For some, it is an invitation to set goals and work on areas people wish to improve. For others, it is yet another reminder of the fleeting sense of time. For Christians, however, we understand that while our bodies are constrained by the temporal realities of time, our spirits belong to a God who transcends time.

Over the past few weeks, I have been carefully studying the history of our congregation. As a pastor, I see my time (however long that may be) as buttressed by the historical context of this congregation, and those ministers who came before me. Honestly, studying the history of this church has been a joy and, if I am honest, a bit overwhelming. This congregation not only filled a pivotal role for the faithful saints that gathered here for worship, it also served as a crown jewel for the community, and the broader network of Christian faith. Over the next few weeks, do not be surprised (or alarmed!) if I ask you about some of your earliest memories about the church. The Session and I are exploring ways we can highlight the history of our congregation and use it to help us navigate the wide-open unknown future.

Navigating the unknown is scary. Take, for example, the Israelites in the Old Testament who concluded that God abandoned them. In reality, God was always present, but the people lost sight of who they were and are. For us, 2026 will be a year of experimentation and trying new things. One that honors our storied history but one that recognizes our role and call to be people of another way—the way of Christ. The beauty of Christian hope is that our assurance is already granted by God’s love. Our responsibility is to co-create a world that enacts that hope for a better world.

As always, it is a joy for me to serve you at this time in our history. Know that you are in my prayers and look forward to seeing what lies in store for us ahead.

   With God’s grace, mercy, and love,

 David Paulik