Merry Christmas from Pastor Thomas & Joan

Dear CBC Family,

As we gather under the glow of the Advent candles this year, our hearts are filled with a complex, yet beautiful tapestry of emotions. Christmas is a season of profound "God with us," and this year, we feel that presence in both our tears and our celebrations.

 

We recognize that for many in our pews, there is a chair that sits empty for the first time this Christmas. We have walked together through the valley of the shadow of death this past year, saying goodbye to dear saints who were the bedrock of our community. Please know that your grief is held in our prayers; we do not mourn as those without hope, but we do mourn deeply. We celebrate the legacy they left behind and the eternal life they now enjoy in the presence of the newborn King.

 

Even in seasons of loss, God continues to plant seeds of growth. We are so incredibly blessed by the new faces and families who have joined our congregation this year. You have brought fresh energy, new perspectives, and a reminder that our church is a living, breathing body that continues to expand. To our newest members: thank you for choosing to make this your spiritual home. Your presence is a gift to us all.

 

Our prayer for our entire church family this Christmas is found in the simple truth of the Nativity: The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it.

For those grieving: May you find the "peace that passes understanding."

For those new to us: May you feel the warmth of true belonging.

For all of us: May we be a community that carries one another’s burdens and shares in one another’s joys.

May the wonder of the Christ child fill your homes with hope and your hearts with love.

With deep affection and Merry Christmas,

Pastor Thomas and Joan