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Greetings New Hope Lutherans and Friends 

 

Happy New Year!

  

First century Christians moved from the Mideast into European lands and encountered a temple system, which functioned around over 200 Roman and Greek gods.  One temple deity was “Janus”.   From Janus, we get our calendar name “January”.    

 

Janus statues reveal a human image with two opposite faces.  One looked forward.  The other looked backwards.   Practical benefits to this perspective are obvious.  We benefit from looking backwards; into 2025 for lessons learned.  And to look forward, anticipating 2026, enlightened, wiser, smarter, to make the future better.  

 

Jesus taught us, likewise, to assess the past and move forward.  But…Jesus gave us infinitely more than thinking and doing in January calendar transitions.   Jesus is God who came to us, and leads us on an eternal perspective.  Jesus brings Grace, which is God’s love, presiding upon all life experience.  Jesus brings Grace…that despite past failings; collectively as the human species, our nation, or us as individuals, we are forgiven and given new opportunities.  The new opportunities look into eternity.  

 

So, if we want Grace, Hope, Love, Faith, and the teachings of Jesus to bolster our lives in 2026, then New Hope is for you…where All are welcomed. 

 

2026….Here we go!  

 

Interim Pastor Jeff Swanson