The Church the World Needs

Dear First Pres SLO Family,

Grace and peace to you in the name of the one who makes all things new, even our years!

Happy New Year to you and yours!

As we clean up and restore some kind of order after the Christmas holiday, we begin a new year together. Just the sound of “2026” reminds me of the science fiction of my childhood, when this year seemed so far in the distance, with gadgets and inter-planetary travel, and a bunch of other things that never materialized.

Like peace, for example.

I enter this new year agitated and hopeful. I’m provoked by the lawlessness at the heart of our own national government—our own continuing experiment in democracy. I’m shocked, but not at all surprised, sadly, at the words and actions of the people who were elected to lead us and serve us. This goes way beyond party politics—it’s about simple decency and integrity.

But I can find a sense of hopefulness, too.

Whatever else might be happening, there is goodness on display, too. Neighbors are helping neighbors. People are caring for strangers in need. Men and women are making sacrifices for the common good. All of these bring me hope.

And of course, as we’ve moved through Advent to Christmas and now the new year, we’ve all been reminded of God’s faithfulness to us and to the world. We can trust God’s promises for the future, because he has fulfilled his past promises in such a spectacular way. Jesus came so that we could see what God is like, and that gift sustains us whatever this life might throw at us.

Lots of people make resolutions at the start of the year. I have my own personal list—none of it very original: lose some weight, spend more time with my wife, read more books, see more movies.

But I have resolutions for this church, too.

I want us to continue to grow in our shared faith and service.

I want us to find new ways to meet the needs of our community.

I want us to feel more confident and effective in the ways we engage our society in faith.

The world needs us—the world needs what we have to say and do because of God’s love for us and the entire world. My hope is that we’ll rise to the challenge of being followers of Jesus first, and everything else a distant second.

This Sunday we begin our annual short series on what it means to be the church. Here’s the sentence that most of you know already—it will guide us through these next four Sundays.

A healthy church is built on a foundation of Jesus Christ, and expressed through Fellowship, Worship, Discipleship and Mission.

Happy New Year to you. I’m looking forward to seeing what we accomplish together.

Blessings to you,

Pastor John