January 2026 Newsletter – Pastor’s Page
As we enter a new year, we move with a fresh sense of hope and possibility. After the anticipation of Advent, God’s love entered our hearts again, incarnate in the world as Christ Jesus. God chose to become one of us to show us the depth and breadth of mysterious, divine, always present love.
We are renewed by this wonderful news. But the joy of being part of a community that is social and spiritual, supportive and purposeful is not a reality for all our neighbors. A new survey report entitled “Social Connection in America” is eye opening and reveals the lack of social connection across communities – rural, suburban, and urban – in our country. Here are a few statistics to help you recognize the reality for our families, friends, and neighbors. Over the last year:
– The majority of U.S. adults report never participating in clubs and organizations (67%),
– Never participating in religious services (51%),
– Never getting together with neighbors to do something positive in their neighborhood (63%),
– Or never being part of formal volunteering (58%)
– And among those who DO engage in these types of social connections, their engagement is infrequent.
You can check out the report here: socialconnectioninamerica.org. Why is this important? Reading these statistics reminded me that every worship service, phone call, Messy Church gathering, book and Bible study, music rehearsal, and Circle get together MATTERS. EVERY time we gather, we bolster one another’s physical and mental health. We decrease risks of stroke, dementia, and mental/physical health with each word of welcome, smile, and hug.
I invite you to set an intention for yourself in the new year to grow your social connections. No social participation is the norm, and that harms our neighborhoods, and our social witness as people of faith.
As we celebrate Epiphany this weekend, maybe your ‘star word’ will guide you as an intention. Or maybe you can join our book study entitled “Hope: A User’s Manual,” or read the book with a friend. May God’s spirit within help us nurture meaningful connections that bring hope, support, health, and joy to us all.
New Year’s Blessings,
Pastor Jared