Message from Pastor Jim 12/1/2025

Dear Friends,

If you ever feel like your life is a little too unpredictable, take heart—you are in excellent biblical company. This month we revisit two of the most astonishing “change of plans” stories ever told: Mary’s angelic announcement in Luke 1:26–38 and Joseph’s dream in Matthew 1:18–25.

Both Mary and Joseph were simply living their lives, minding their business, and probably working on a wedding guest list that included Aunt Elizabeth (who always talks too loud) and Cousin Amos (who always brings olives no one asked for). Then suddenly—boom—heaven knocks.

Picture Mary’s morning: maybe she’s tidying the house or thinking about dinner when an angel appears. Not a polite knock. Not a subtle hint. A full-on “Greetings, favored one! The Lord is with you!”

Mary’s reaction? The Bible says she was “perplexed,” which is a very polite biblical way of saying, “I’m sorry—what?” Yet even in her confusion, she responds with courage: “Yes, I see it all now: I’m the Lord’s maid, ready to serve. Let it be with me just as you say.”

Meanwhile, Joseph faces a situation so confusing that even Hallmark movies wouldn’t touch it. Just when he thinks his engagement is set, he receives news that could only be explained by divine intervention. Thankfully, God sends an angel into Joseph’s dreams—because apparently Joseph sleeps better than most of us.

The message? “Don’t be afraid. God is doing something new. You’re part of the plan.” And Joseph, steady and faithful, wakes up and says, “Alright, Lord—let’s do this.”

Mary teaches us that God sometimes calls us into something bigger than we expected.

Joseph teaches us that trust often begins before understanding catches up.
And both remind us that God’s greatest work often shows up right in the middle of ordinary days.

As we move through Advent, we might not get angels in the living room or divine dream visits (though if you do, please tidy first). But God still interrupts our plans with opportunities to love, to serve, and to be part of something far bigger than ourselves.

So when life surprises you—and it will—take a breath, remember Mary and Joseph, and whisper: “Lord, if You’re in this… let it be.”

May Emmanuel—God with us—find room in our homes, our schedules, and our hearts this season. And may our unexpected moments become doorways for God’s grace.

Grace and peace,

Pastor Jim