Rev. John's Christmas Letter 2025
Dear Wesley Church Family,
For 2025 Advent, we will journey together through our new Advent Sermon Series entitled “An Advent of Renewal – Slow down, breathe deep, make space for Christ.”
At its core, Advent is about preparing, preparing room in our hearts, our homes, and our schedules for the One who comes to us in love. So much of our attention goes to preparing everything around us: cleaning, decorating, cooking, wrapping, planning. This year we’re asking a different question: are we also preparing from within?
I remember in early sobriety, sitting across from my first sponsor at a coffee shop in Berkeley. We were there to talk about working the steps. One of the first things he brought up was self-care: getting enough sleep, going to meetings four times a week, praying, eating real food. I said to him, “Self-care!? What step is that?” He smiled and shook his head. “John, you spent years destroying yourself. Taking care of you isn’t selfish; it’s Step Zero. If you’re not okay, you can’t help anybody.” That’s when I first realized sobriety wasn’t just about not drinking—it was about learning self-care.
Self-care, from a Christian perspective, is not selfish. It’s about honoring that we are God’s beloved, created with limits and needs. When we slow down, breathe deeply, rest, pray, and set healthy boundaries, we are not turning away from God’s work; we are actually taking care of God’s creation and when we are well-rested and grounded, we are better able to listen, to love, and to respond.
When we are running on empty, giving can feel like one more burden. But when we allow God to truly renew us, our giving and generosity to others flows more freely. It flows from gratitude rather than guilt, from joy rather than obligation. As you care for your own soul this season, I invite you to consider how your prayers, your presence, your service, and your gifts might help Wesley continue to be a place of healing, compassion, and hope for others.
As we close out 2025, I want to say Thank You. Your faith, your generosity, and your spirit of service make the ministries of Wesley United Methodist Church possible. My Advent prayer is that you will sense Christ renewing you as we prepare for Christmas. “For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given” (Isaiah 9:6).
May God’s blessings fill you with peace, hope and love this season and always.
With gratitude and hope,
Rev. John
For 2025 Advent, we will journey together through our new Advent Sermon Series entitled “An Advent of Renewal – Slow down, breathe deep, make space for Christ.”
At its core, Advent is about preparing, preparing room in our hearts, our homes, and our schedules for the One who comes to us in love. So much of our attention goes to preparing everything around us: cleaning, decorating, cooking, wrapping, planning. This year we’re asking a different question: are we also preparing from within?
I remember in early sobriety, sitting across from my first sponsor at a coffee shop in Berkeley. We were there to talk about working the steps. One of the first things he brought up was self-care: getting enough sleep, going to meetings four times a week, praying, eating real food. I said to him, “Self-care!? What step is that?” He smiled and shook his head. “John, you spent years destroying yourself. Taking care of you isn’t selfish; it’s Step Zero. If you’re not okay, you can’t help anybody.” That’s when I first realized sobriety wasn’t just about not drinking—it was about learning self-care.
Self-care, from a Christian perspective, is not selfish. It’s about honoring that we are God’s beloved, created with limits and needs. When we slow down, breathe deeply, rest, pray, and set healthy boundaries, we are not turning away from God’s work; we are actually taking care of God’s creation and when we are well-rested and grounded, we are better able to listen, to love, and to respond.
When we are running on empty, giving can feel like one more burden. But when we allow God to truly renew us, our giving and generosity to others flows more freely. It flows from gratitude rather than guilt, from joy rather than obligation. As you care for your own soul this season, I invite you to consider how your prayers, your presence, your service, and your gifts might help Wesley continue to be a place of healing, compassion, and hope for others.
As we close out 2025, I want to say Thank You. Your faith, your generosity, and your spirit of service make the ministries of Wesley United Methodist Church possible. My Advent prayer is that you will sense Christ renewing you as we prepare for Christmas. “For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given” (Isaiah 9:6).
May God’s blessings fill you with peace, hope and love this season and always.
With gratitude and hope,
Rev. John
Posted in Newsletter 2025-12-18