December 2026

    Christmas Season is here, and the Millers have a lot of Christmas trees in the parsonage! Despite the 8 trees we already have in the parsonage, I told Ms. Tammy I want another tree for this season. I wanted a green tree that is frosted with snow. My plan was to put blue and silver ornaments and blue lights on the new tree. I have great memories as a young child riding around my hometown looking at Christmas lights in the neighborhoods around my house. The houses with blue lights were always my favorite. Therefore, I have a beautiful, frosted Christmas tree with blue lights this year!

    As we enter the Christmas Season, let’s reflect briefly on the message the old man Simeon gave to Mary and Joseph about baby Jesus through his prayer to God. Luke 2:28-32 28 Simeon took Him up in his arms, praised God, and said: 29 Now, Master, You can dismiss Your slave in peace, as You promised. 30 For my eyes have seen Your salvation. 31 You have prepared it in the presence of all peoples—32 a light for revelation to the Gentiles and glory to Your people Israel. Simeon told God that baby Jesus would become a light for revelation to the Gentiles and glory to God’s people Israel. In one of the earliest proclamations about Jesus recorded in Scripture, we already see the unity Jesus would bring between people groups who were historically bitter enemies. The Apostle Paul talks about the unity Jesus brings between Jews and Gentiles in Ephesians 2:11-18 11 So then, remember that at one time you were Gentiles in the flesh—called “the uncircumcised” by those called “the circumcised,” which is done in the flesh by human hands. 12 At that time you were without the Messiah, excluded from the citizenship of Israel, and foreigners to the covenants of the promise, without hope and without God in the world. 13 But now in Christ Jesus, you who were far away have been brought near by the blood of the Messiah. 14 For He is our peace, who made both groups one and tore down the dividing wall of hostility. ... 16 He did this so that He might reconcile both to God in one body through the cross and put the hostility to death by it. 17 When the Messiah came, He proclaimed the good news of peace to you who were far away and peace to those who were near. 18 For through Him we both have access by one Spirit to the Father. One of the most beautiful and powerful works of Jesus Christ is the unity He brings between peoples who were once rivals. We should never allow anyone or any teaching to create a division between people that Jesus gave His life to remove. Both believing Jews and believing Gentiles have direct access to God presently through their common high priest and savior, the Lord Jesus Christ. Paul highlights this monumental truth explicitly in verse Ephesians 2:18.

    As we look at Christmas lights this year, let’s remember that the peace and unity Jesus brought between the Jews and the Gentiles was accomplished at His First Advent and announced publicly when He was only 8 days old. May we never forget, obscure, minimize, or ignore the amazing reality that Jesus is the light of salvation to the nations!
Pastor Clint Miller