Making The New Year Meaningful

Throughout my ministry, I have often heard people say that they wish they knew the Bible better. What’s funny to me is that they say this as if it were a problem without a solution! All it takes is two simple steps. Step one: open your Bible. Step two: read it.

But, for some reason, we have made the Bible out to be some mysterious and unfathomable book. Nothing could be farther from the truth! It is actually one of the most understandable books ever composed. It even comes with its own helpful Guide whenever we search it for meaning. Who is that Guide? Here’s a hint: Every Sunday I lead us in a prayer before we read the Scripture Lesson which says “Lord, open our hearts and minds by the power of your Holy Spirit, that as the Scriptures are read and your Word proclaimed, we may hear with joy what you say to us today.” That prayer works effectively for us in Sunday worship, and it also works when we open our Bibles to read throughout the week. The Holy Spirit wants us to understand God’s Word, and wants us to find divine meaning in God’s book, and the Holy Spirit will guide us whenever we read the Scriptures.

Years ago, I had a church member, Mr. Cam Cook, who was well in his nineties when I moved to that congregation. He had retired from farming decades before I met him, but still kept the most beautiful flower garden. It was a place of meditation for him on the warm days of the year.

But, there was another place he went every day whatever the weather. Every day, Mr. Cook would read his Bible. He told me he began that daily practice day he retired and he read the Bible every day after that. He began with Genesis 1:1 and when he had read through to the end of Revelation, he would write that day’s date in the back cover of the Bible. Then he would return to Genesis 1:1 again. When I first visited him in the early days of my ministry there, he showed me where he had marked the date of completion fifteen times in the back of that Bible, and he was well over halfway toward finishing his sixteenth reading on the day of that first visit. For this old farmer, reading the Bible wasn’t a chore. It was a gift he gave himself each and every day.

It is a gift I want you and I to enjoy each day, just like Mr. Cook. I can’t think of a better way to do this than as a church family, making the journey through Scripture together in 2026. My brother, Doug, has been excited that his church shared this journey together in 2025. Using the book The Bible Year: A Journey Through Scripture in 365 Days by Magrey R. deVega, Doug’s church in Greensboro has read through the Bible together. Their pastor, Rev. Jeremy Troxler, led them in a church-wide conversation every other week to help discuss what his folks were learning. Doug’s enthusiasm for this journey has been infections, so that now I want to share that journey with each of you. I encourage you to purchase a copy of deVega’s book for yourself and your family. Hard copy versions are available from Cokesbury, and both hard copy and Kindle versions are available from Amazon. You may find it from other retailers as well. The book breaks down the readings into daily segments and also gives some wonderful explanatory notes for each major section. However, if you aren’t interested in owning the book, we will include the daily readings in the newsletter each week so that you can follow along with or without the book. The newsletter will also keep you posted on when we will meet for our conversations on what we have reading. (Don’t worry! There won’t be a test. Just a friendly conversation!)

But, the most important tool you will need to make your reading of the Bible effective is the companionship of the Holy Spirit. I will not promise that you will understand each and every detail you read, but I will guarantee that the Spirit will make your reading fruitful. You don’t need to be an expert on the Bible, you simply need to know that the Lord will meet you in its pages. Once you realize this, you may become like Mr. Cam Cook, receiving the Bible’s gifts each and every day. I can’t think of a better way for us to spend 2026 together. We may well read through to the end of Revelation, write the date in the back of the book, and start journey all over again!

Here is the first week of readings (and slightly beyond) for our study of The Bible Year: A Journey Through Scripture in 365 Days  beginning January 1.  I extended up to January 11 to conclude the week on Sunday.

Day 1   Thursday, January 1, 2026   Genesis 1:1-3:24

Day 2   Friday, January 2,   Genesis 4:1-5:32

Day 3   Saturday, January 3,   Genesis 6:1-9:17

Day 4   Sunday, January 4,   Genesis 9:18-11:32

Day 5   Monday, January 5,   Genesis 12:1-14:24

Day 6   Tuesday, January 6,   Genesis 15:1-17:27

Day 7   Wednesday, January 7,   Genesis 18:1-20:18

Day 8   Thursday, January 8,   Genesis 21:1-23:20

Day 9   Friday, January 9,   Genesis 24:1-25:18

Day 10   Saturday, January 10,   Genesis 25:19-28:9

Day 11   Sunday, January 11,   Genesis 28:-30:43

The Lord be with you!

Rev. Bill Roberts

Poinsettias

As you may have seen, our Sanctuary has been decorated with lovely poinsettias. Thank you to all that gave them in honor and in memory of people they love. Please know that they are available for you take home and enjoy. We will try to help them thrive throughout the holiday—poinsettias are notoriously difficult—but we hope they will survive to brighten your home as you have brightened the Lord’s house with your gift! Merry Christmas.

Year-End Giving

As we close out 2025, we are deeply grateful for the generosity that sustains our ministries and blesses our community. To be included in this year’s contributions, gifts must be received or postmarked by December 31, 2025. If you prefer to drop off your gift at the church, a locked drop box is available on the office door for your convenience. Thank you for your faithful support.

Church Calendar