Beyond Tradition:

The Timeless Spiritual Message of Christmas

Christmas is often seen today as a season of lights, gifts, and celebration. Yet, beneath the tinsel and festivity lies a quiet, spiritual invitation—one that asks us to pause, reflect, and reconnect with the deeper currents of our lives. In the midst of modern busyness, the spiritual meaning of Christmas reminds us of hope, love, renewal, and connection in ways that remain as relevant now as they were centuries ago.

At its heart, Christmas is a story of hope. The Nativity tells of a humble birth in a simple stable, a reminder that light can emerge from the most unlikely places. In our contemporary world, filled with uncertainty and struggle, this story resonates deeply. It invites us to find hope not in grand achievements or material abundance, but in small acts of courage, kindness, and resilience. Spiritually, Christmas encourages us to recognize that even in ordinary moments, miracles of healing, understanding, or reconciliation are possible.

Love is perhaps the most enduring spiritual message of Christmas. The birth of Christ symbolizes a love that reaches beyond boundaries, a love that embraces the marginalized, the overlooked, and the weary. Today, this message challenges us to embody that love in our own lives. It asks us to extend compassion to strangers, patience to those we find difficult, and generosity beyond what feels convenient. The spiritual essence of Christmas is not in the gifts we give, but in the love we live out, quietly but meaningfully, in our daily interactions.

Christmas is also a season of renewal. As the year draws to a close, the celebration becomes an opportunity to reflect on the life we are shaping. It prompts us to let go of what no longer serves us, to forgive, and to cultivate intentions for the year ahead. Just as the season celebrates new life, it encourages us to nurture our own growth, spiritually, emotionally, and morally renewing the promise to live more authentically and mindfully.

Finally, Christmas reminds us of connection. In moments of quiet reflection, prayer, or simply shared presence with loved ones, we sense that we are part of something larger than ourselves. Spiritually, this connection, whether to the divine, to community, or to the natural rhythms of life that ground us. It invites gratitude, humility, and a recognition of the sacred woven into ordinary days.

In the modern world, Christmas can easily become a blur of obligations and consumption. Yet when approached with intention, it becomes a profound spiritual checkpoint: a time to rediscover hope, express love, embrace renewal, and strengthen our connections. Spiritually, Christmas is not confined to a date on the calendar; it is a living call to cultivate meaning, presence, and compassion throughout our lives.

A Prayer Minister will be available at the

back corner of Dunlap Hall, for at least

15 minutes after the benediction.

Masks will be worn when requested.

Prayer Minister this week is Nikki Grifin

As we all know, prices at the grocery stores remain high. Also, our recent winter weather will undoubtedly bring higher energy bills. Our partner churches in the Coalition of Churches help meet some of the basic needs.  

Augsburg Lutheran Church on Hamilton Avenue invites anyone to a Take and Make Meal the third Sunday of each month. They also have a small food pantry for those picking up those meals. In November, they served 58 families. In December, 40 families were served. What a blessing for each member of those families. 

Pleasant Run Presbyterian Church – As many of you may know, this church had to close its doors. There is good news! This congregation and two other churches have combined into Resounding Joy Church. They are now meeting together in the former Northwest Community Church building at 8735 Cheviot Road. The members of the combined church are continuing the work of the Practical Grace Non-food Pantry. This ministry provides a package of household items including paper and cleaning products, laundry detergents and personal care items once a month. 

Pleasant Run Presbyterian Church on Pippin road has their Practical Grace Non-Food Pantry the third Saturday of each month. They supply the kinds of items people can’t get with food stamps. These include paper goods, cleaning supplies and personal hygiene products. They serve about 50 families each month.

These two ministries meet a very important need. Of course, they both require funding so this is another way we can help our neighbors.  

Two ways to donate to SHARING OUR BLESSINGS:

On Communion Sunday (first Sunday of the month), place donations in baskets on the front pews when you go up to receive Communion.

Any time during January, bring a check with Sharing/Coalition Ministries on the memo line or cash in an envelope marked the same way and put it in the offering plate. You can also mail your donation to the church office.

Thank you for your ongoing support of our neighbors!

There can be so many joys around Christmas. First and foremost, we welcome Jesus as our Lord and Savior. In addition, there may be fun times with family or friends, beautiful music, decorations inside and out, and wonderful worship together at John Wesley. However, for others, this time of year may be difficult for many reasons and provide us with opportunities to support others in our church "family" or in the community. Our 2025 Christmas Offering provides a chance to do both.

John Wesley has the Pastor's Emergency Fund which Pastor Kalamba uses to help families in crisis. Our Christmas Offering will help replenish this fund so we can "reach the individual" and families in their time of need. Quoting the pastor, “Our emergency fund is used to support individuals and families who are experiencing financial hardship. We are able to assist with housing needs, gas, utilities, prescription medications, food, and other urgent situations where someone is struggling to make ends meet.” This is all done confidentially. 

On December 21, there will be special envelopes in the bulletin for you to place your donation. You can also send a donation marked Christmas Offering to the church any time this month.

Thank you in advance for supporting this important mission.

The John Wesley Missions Team

Carolyn Barber, Hope Stetler, Donna Upton,

Sally Wessendorf, Amy Mackey, Cheryl Harper 

SOUL PANTRY NEWS

The Mission committee would like to thank the people of John Wesley for their support in helping SOUL pantry with their many many donations through out the year.   With food prices rising, we have many more clients who need that extra help with groceries. You have all done a wonderful job in providing that extra support. Seasonal clothing has been a blessing for our clients.

Also, thank you for supporting the Angel Wishes at Christmas time. This helps SOUL clients to pay Duke Energy bills, medical expenses, house repairs, etc.

For the month of January we will be collecting hearty soups for the cold winter months. Thank you! You are the blessing to so many families.   

Transportation Team

We now have a group of volunteers who are willing to take our members to doctor appointments or medical procedures. If you need a ride to a medical appointment, Christie has the list of the volunteers. She would be glad to email the list to you or put a paper copy in your hanging file folder. Please try to arrange the transportation several days ahead of your appointment.

If you would be willing to be on this team, please let Christie know; and she will add you to the list of volunteers. We hope the Transportation Team will be able to assist our members who need assistance in getting to medical appointments.

Room Use and Calendar Update

If you have any questions about meetings, scheduling, or room use, please always direct them to me, christie@jwumc.com or call me at 513-825-0733.

Keep in mind that all of our classrooms and meeting spaces are used by a variety of people throughout the week. No one group "owns" a certain room or meeting space so we all need to remember be kind and gracious as we work together to go about the business of being the hands and feet of Jesus.

Reoccurring Monthly Meetings

Boy Scouts - Every Monday @ 7:00 PM - Youth Rooms

Missions - First Monday @ 1:30 PM - Rm. 8

C3* - First Monday @ 7:00 PM - Rm. 9

Creative Needles - Every Tuesday @ 9:30 AM - Rms. 11/12

Finance - First Tuesday @ 7:00 PM - Rm. 9

UWF - First Wednesday @ 10:00 AM - Rm. 9

Handbells Practice - Every Wednesday @ 6:30 PM - Rm 7

Choir Practice - Every Wednesday @ 7:30 PM - Sanctuary

JW Men’s Group - First Saturday @ 8:00 AM - Rm. 9

Wednesday Wizards Fix-It Group - Every Wednesday @10:00 AM

Stephen Ministry - 2nd and 4th Sundays @ 7:00 PM Rms. 11/12

Staff/Parish Team - Second Tuesday @ 7:00 PM - Rm. 8

Church Council - Third Tuesday @ 7:30 PM - Rm. 8

Hospitality* - Fourth Tuesday @ 7:00 PM - Rm. 8

Pickleball - Thursdays @ 4:00 PM & Saturdays @ 10:00 AM - Gym

ELC Board - Second Monday @ 7:00 PM - Rm.9

*Meetings Vary - Check with Teams Leaders or Church Office

Thank you,

Christie Riggsby, Office Manager

"Be A Rainbow In Someone's Cloud"

The 9:00 Sunday school class has converted half of Wesley Hall into two pickleball courts.

We have three times reserved weekly for those of you who would like to join us. We're set up for Tuesdays and Thursdays from 4:00-6:00 and Saturdays from 10:00 to noon. You need to enter by the back Wesley Hall door, and ring the doorbell if you do not have a key.

Contact Lu Anne Gerard if you have questions.

If you have any questions about the Prayer Chain,

please contact the church office at info@jwumc.com

To Send A Prayer

To The Prayer Chain

Please ALWAYS send prayer requests to: prayerchain@jwumc.com

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