Friends,

As we step into a new year, I find myself thinking about the way God meets us in seasons of beginnings. January always feels like a doorway. We look back at the year behind us with gratitude and sometimes relief, and we look ahead, wondering where God might lead next. Scripture gives us that same sense of holy possibility. Isaiah reminds us that God is always doing a new thing, and the Gospels show us again and again that Jesus calls people to begin again.

That is good news for all of us. The start of a new year does not magically solve everything in our lives, but it does invite us to breathe, to pause, and to remember that God is already at work in ways we may not see yet. We do not walk into 2026 on our own. We walk with the One who promises to make paths in the wilderness and streams in the desert.

This month we will explore those themes in worship as we move through the season of Epiphany. Epiphany is all about revealing, God showing us who Jesus is and what his coming means for the world. Each Sunday gives us a chance to look for Christ’s light in familiar and unexpected places. I encourage you to bring your questions, your hopes, your weariness, and your curiosity. Epiphany is a wonderful time to remember that faith is a journey, not a finished product.

As we enter this new year together, I want to say thank you. Thank you for your generosity, your service, your prayers, and the love you share in this community. I see it every week in quiet acts of kindness, in volunteers who show up early, in cards mailed to those who are homebound, and in the way you welcome new faces. You live out the heart of our mission to follow, love, and share in the name of Christ.

My prayer for Malvern First UMC in 2026 is simple: that we grow in grace, that we keep our hearts open, and that we continue to seek Christ’s light in our daily lives. May this be a year when we listen deeply for God’s leading and step forward with courage.

Grace and peace to you in this new year. I am grateful to walk this journey with you.

Blessings,
Rev. Candace

United in Hope. Growing in Love.