1022 Floyd Street, Lynchburg VA

Church #139 was not a first visit, but a beautiful return to Westminster Presbyterian Church on Floyd Street for their beautiful Lessons and Carols for Christmas service.

Some places mark you forever. This is one of them.

I am deeply grateful to Pastor Shawn Hyska for inviting my family to be part of this special Sunday.

He is one of the pastors who has remained faithfully connected to me throughout this long, humbling journey, checking in, praying, remembering.

That matters more than words can say.

Westminster Presbyterian is not just kind… they are intentional.

They remember. They pray. They follow the story. One of the sweetest moments came when a child, yes, a child and asked my daughter and me how the past couple of years had been since our last visit. That question stopped me in my tracks. It reminded me that this journey is not something I walk alone.

People are watching, praying, caring, and holding space through the ups and downs, the valleys and the mountains.

Today, we were wrapped again in the love of this church family.

Pastor Shawn and his family greeted us with the biggest hugs, those holy hugs that speak before words ever can. This is what the body of Christ looks like when it is alive.

As we moved through the Lessons and Carols, my heart was anchored by one overwhelming truth, God is close.

So close that He sent His Son. So close that He entered our broken world.
So close that He did not turn away when we fell.

That nearness has not changed, not then, not now, not ever.

We traced the story the way the Church has done for centuries…
From Genesis, where God promises that the seed of the woman will bruise the serpent’s head (Genesis 3:15),
Through Adam’s fall,
Through Isaiah’s prophecy that a child would be born, a Prince of Peace given to us (Isaiah 9:6),
Through the foreshadowing of peace Christ would bring,
To the angel’s announcement,
To the birth of Jesus,
To the shepherds running toward hope,
To the wise men following a star,
To the holy mystery of the Incarnation, God with us (Matthew 1:23).

And again, I was reminded, Jesus is always the message.
Jesus is always the song. Jesus is always the reason.
Jesus is always the light, the love, the purpose, the everything.

Watching children and adults worship together, reading Scripture, singing hymns, learning the story, felt like standing inside a living testimony.

The choir was breathtaking. The organ filled the space with a sound that felt like heaven brushing earth. Worship here is not performance, it is proclamation.

Pastor Shawn urged us to sing with our hearts, to let our worship reflect the love of Christ. In a year that has been heavy for so many of us, I cannot imagine a more needed invitation.

After the service, we gathered for a community luncheon, my daughter and I made chocolate truffles to bring, laughing, sharing stories, receiving still more hugs. Fellowship matters. Breaking bread matters. Staying together matters.

Now, as I reflect on this moment, I realize something profound…

It has been almost three years since God called me to this journey and there are five more years to go. And I am still here.

Still walking. Still healing. Still learning to trust.
Still discovering what it means to be loved by Jesus.

I do not take that lightly.

This journey has cost me much but it has given me far more.

It has shown me the heart of the Church. It has shown me the faithfulness of God. It has shown me that even when life is hard, even when we have little to give, Jesus is always worth celebrating.

Scripture tells us, “The people who walked in darkness have seen a great light” (Isaiah 9:2). I have lived in that darkness. And I have seen that light.

May we all remember this Christmas that we are not celebrating a season, we are celebrating a Savior. One who is near. One who came. One who stays.

Thank you, Westminster Presbyterian, for loving me so well. This place will forever remain one of the most beautiful and sacred spaces in my life.

And to anyone reading this who feels weary or worn, Jesus is close.
Closer than you think.

I can’t wait to see where the Holy Spirit leads me next week, I know it will be right on time and according to His plan.