From Lay Minister Toviao Hopkins Dear Beloved Church Family, As the calendar turns and we step gently into a brand-new year, may we find our hearts overflowing with gratitude and hope. January invites us to pause, to breathe deeply, and to look both backward and forward… to remember where we have been and to trust where God is leading us next. As we reflect on the year now behind us, I am continually moved by who we are together as a church. We are a close-knit community shaped by acceptance and belonging, a place where people are not asked to fit a mold, but are welcomed just as they are. Over the past year, I have seen love lived out in countless quiet and powerful ways… through shared meals, prayers offered in moments of joy and grief, hands extended in service, and hearts opened wide to one another. We have shared the love and the Word of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ not only in what we say, but in how we live. We have chosen kindness when it was hard, compassion when it was costly, and grace when it was deeply needed. Together, we have created sacred space for all… longtime members and first-time acquaintances alike, to experience the truth that they are seen, known, and cherished by God. Now, a new year stretches before us, full of possibility. The promise of January is not that everything will be perfect, but that God is faithful… still creating, still calling, still renewing. The same Spirit who carried us through last year walks with us into this one, inviting us to hope boldly, love generously, and trust deeply. We believe God has beautiful things in store for our congregation in the months ahead. New relationships will form. New ministries will take root. New opportunities will arise for us to share Christ’s love beyond our walls. As we move forward, may we do so with open hearts, listening ears, and a willingness to follow where God leads… together. Thank you for being the church. Thank you for showing up, for caring, for loving, and for believing in the power of community shaped by Jesus. As we begin this new year, may hope be our anchor, love be our calling, and faith be our guide. With deep gratitude and joyful expectation… GIGATT. Toviao Hopkins Lay Minister