Happy 2026, everyone! I hope that your celebrations of all the holidays were positive, cheerful, festive, and full of friends, family, and food!
I was recently listening to some music that was popular during my high school and college years. It was just a little nostalgic playlist looking back on not just the past year but many years ago. I guess I was inspired because in late November 2025 I attended by 20th high school class reunion.
One of the songs that popped up on the playlist was, “Feeling Good” by Michael Bublé. This song, if you’ve never heard it, has a refrain, “It’s a new dawn/It’s a new day/It’s a new life/For me/ And I’m feeling good.” The song, and its lyrics, got me to thinking, “Isn’t the new year a new dawn? A new day? And don’t we feel good about it?”
The new possibilities of life together with God? Doesn’t it leave you feeling, “I wonder what new thing will do with me this year?”
Each day in relationship to God is a blessing and gift. Each moment spent sitting with our Creator is precious. So, take each moment as the gift that it is.
I encourage all of us to spend some quiet time together with God each day. Sit in silence, prayer, and reflection of what it means to be loved by God.
Take time to find the presence of God in the ordinary moments of life. Even the ordinary becomes extraordinary when you look and see where God exists in the moments of your life.
Be part of the worshipping life of the congregation. We are called as God’s people to gather and worship God regularly, embracing one another and God’s common love that lives among us all.
Be engaged with God’s holy work. We have no shortage of opportunities to roll up your sleeves and get involved with many projects and mission opportunities to share God’s love with those in our local communities, around the US, and around the world. Ask how you can help and become more involved in these efforts or pray and ask God to direct you to where God needs you to be.
In all of these ways, being still, worshipping, and serving, we get to live in the presence of the One True God. And definitely leaves us feeling good!
Happy 2026! May this year be bright and full of the presence of God!