By Pastor Chris Dembeck

Greetings Glen Mar,

As we approach the end of 2026, we have many different events converging. We have midterm elections this week, Thanksgiving in a few weeks, and Advent and Christmas just around the corner. All of this while questions surrounding artificial intelligence, ethics, war, the rising cost of living, and the basic needs of people in our communities and around the world weigh heavily on our minds.

But have we stopped to consider what all of this is doing to us?

The constant stream of news, the stress and anxiety about what might happen next, the hours we spend consuming media, and the lack of quiet in our lives are doing more than occupying our time. They’re shaping us. And whether we realize it or not, we may be becoming people we never intended to be.

We are all being formed, whether we realize it or not. But who are we becoming?

I want to offer an alternative. Not one that calls us to shy away from the realities of the world around us, but one that invites us to face those realities with the hope and Ultimate Reality we have in Christ.

Yes, we should vote according to our consciences. We should celebrate Thanksgiving with family and friends, even those who may have voted differently than we did. Advent and Christmas can still be “the most wonderful time of the year,” as Andy Williams reminds us, regardless of how many presents are under the tree, or whether there is a tree at all because of the rising cost of living. And while artificial intelligence will continue to develop and shape our world, it is not God, nor are those who create or wield it.

Jesus is Lord.

And because this is our Ultimate Reality, we can face an uncertain future without allowing the uncertainty to define us. We can participate in the world without being conformed to it (Romans 12:2). We can disagree with others without treating them as enemies. And we can be concerned about tomorrow without losing sight of what God is calling us to do today.

In John 15, Jesus describes himself as the vine and us as the branches. He reminds his disciples that a branch cannot bear fruit unless it remains connected to the vine. Neither can we. If we want our lives to bear the fruit of Christ’s love, we must remain connected to him.

John Wesley understood this. He taught that God meets us through what he called the means of grace: prayer, searching the Scriptures, worship, Holy Communion, fasting, and acts of mercy toward others. These aren’t simply religious activities to check off a list. They are ways we respond to God’s grace, already at work in our lives, and open ourselves to the transforming work of the Holy Spirit.

And that’s the invitation I want to extend to us as we finish this year. Pay attention to what is shaping you. Make room for God amid the noise. Spend time in prayer, the Bible, worship, and community. Love your neighbors, including those with whom you disagree. Serve those in need.

The goal of Christian formation isn’t simply to become better versions of ourselves. It is to become more like Jesus, people whose lives reflect his holy love.

So, as we approach the end of another year, perhaps the most important question isn’t what will happen next, but who are we becoming? Are we allowing Christ to shape us into the people God created us to be?

We are in this together, but most importantly, God is with us.

Yours in Christ,

Pastor Chris