January 2, 2026 Notes from the Corner Office…
Dear Beloved Community,
Happy New Year!
When I think about 2025, it is hard to not think about the things that challenged us as individuals, as a community, as a country. But I also think about what Scripture teaches us:
Proverbs 3:5-6
New Revised Standard Version Updated Edition
5 Trust in the Lord with all your heart,
and do not rely on your own insight.
6 In all your ways acknowledge him,
and he will make straight your paths.
Trusting in the Lord, I believe, is to take strength from God’s strength. To acknowledge God in all our ways is to constantly be sure that what we do and say reflects the message of God’s love for the world.
I want to share one reflection on 2025:
Not so long ago, we had representatives from the Western Farm Workers’ Association (WFWA) come and speak to us during our Sunday services. We already had members of our congregation volunteering there and after their visit, the number of people from our faith community who became volunteers increased wonderfully. We have also been able to offer our sanctuary as a meeting place for the WFWA and we look forward to more opportunities to deepen our relationship with them.
During the times we live it, it can feel like individual actions are futile but that isn’t true. Our work with WFWA proves that. And there are so many other ways to get involved at the community level. Acting as safety monitors at school bus stops to help prevent ICE abductions is a crucial way we can make a difference and this is just one example.
As we look towards 2026, and as we look for ways to deepen our participation in protecting our friends and neighbors, I hope that we can provide more opportunities for those who feel called to participate.
We are living in a time when being a Christian and living out our Christians values in the world around us has become as important as perhaps any time since the Civil Rights Movement. I believe we can take inspiration from those women and men.
We may not all be called to direct participation in this struggle but we can all pray and as we know and believe, prayer is a powerful, beautiful and sacred thing that can change the world.
In the peace and love of Christ,
Everett+
