Dear Saints,

2026 is upon us, and there's no shortage of companies encouraging us to take advantage of the moment as a chance to rebrand ourselves - with their help, of course. “New Year, New You” never seems to go out of style as a marketing ploy across multiple industries. And for good reason: that line taps into our innate longing to be born again.

Marketing genius aside, it's fitting that we'd turn our attention to rebirth during the Christmas season and its celebration of the one who came to make all things new. And it's worth thinking about the meaning of true newness.

As many of our rote prayers suggest, newness is actually a daily reality, if not an hourly one. It's about saying yes to God's invitation - issued again and again and again - to leave behind our old fears, doubts, sins, and hurts. It means embracing his plans and purposes with a new level of confidence and energy.

Long after the company slogans have moved on to something else, God's offer of newness will remain. Whether it's January or July, we will find in him the satisfaction of rebirth we all so deeply crave.

Christ’s Peace,

Father Daniel

δοῦλος Χριστοῦ Ἰησοῦ