“For unto us a child is born, unto us a Son is given; and the government will be upon His shoulder. And His name will be called Wonderful, Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.”— Isaiah 9:6-7

A great Christmas is never an accident. It is forged, like steel, through purpose-driven struggle.

The words of Isaiah 9 were penned over 700 years before the first Christmas dawned, yet their promise burned like a lantern in the dark. Fragments of this ancient prophecy, preserved in the Dead Sea Scrolls, have been carbon-dated to over a century before that sacred night in Bethlehem. These verses, immortalized in Handel’s Messiah, speak of a coming King—a child who would shoulder the government of heaven and bear the names Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Prince of Peace.

But the road to Christmas was not lined with joy. It was a path carved through centuries of pain and perseverance. Isaiah’s vision came during days of looming disaster. Israel and Judah were crushed under the heels of their enemies. The young were chained and marched into exile; Jerusalem, the holy city, lay in ruins. Families were torn apart; lives, extinguished. By the waters of Babylon, the captives wept. Their cries echoed through the centuries: Daniel faced the lions, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego endured the furnace, and untold others bore the weight of persecution. Yet through it all, a remnant held fast to a flicker of hope—the promise of a Savior, a light piercing the darkness. Seven centuries of faith endured before the prophecy became flesh and dwelt among us.

And so, it is with Christmas. Great celebrations do not happen by chance. They are born from sacrifice, vision, and relentless faith. Ask any mother preparing her home or any “Saint Nicholas” laboring in quiet devotion. Christmas requires intention.

This year, our theme is Welcoming Home the Light of Christmas, and Isaiah 9 encapsulates that spirit. It reminds us that healing, renewal, and hope don’t arrive unbidden; they require purposeful effort and trust in God’s redemptive power.

This week, I have the honor of sharing the Good News of Jesus Christ with you. Together, we’ll explore how God’s plans for healing and restoration can transform your life and your family this Christmas season. I believe this journey will lead to a worship experience you’ll treasure—a moment to reflect on the Light that has come to dwell among us.

I invite you to join us—online or in person—at 10:30 a.m. on the Sunday after Thanksgiving. Together, let us welcome home the light of Christmas.

Your friend for the rest of my life,

Pastor Tim White