“No one sews a piece of unshrunk cloth on an old cloak; otherwise, the patch pulls away from it, the new from the old, and a worse tear is made. And no one puts new wine into old wineskins; otherwise, the wine will burst the skins, and the wine is lost, and so are the skins; but one puts new wine into fresh wineskins.”

Mark 2:21-22

With the coming of a new year, many of us consider what we would like to do differently. Whether we try to set aside more time for family, eat more balanced meals, or learn a new language, I think we all have used the coming of a new calendar year as an opportunity for personal progress. In the verses above, Jesus shares the importance of not combining old practices with new faith. While originally in the context of fasting, this passage has two helpful images that remind us to live into our freedom found in Christ. In 2026, I pray we each feel the freedom to pour ourselves into new or reinvigorated practices. Maybe we need to leave some things behind in 2025: past hurts and grudges, fear of change, materialism, or our reliance on ourselves over our trust in God. Maybe in 2026, we need to learn some new practices to help us pour into our faith. If this resonates with you, there are a couple of opportunities we have at the church.

First, I invite you to join me on a six-week hands-on journey where we explore a new practice each week. This group will meet on Wednesdays at 2:30.

Second, consider attending our calendaring meeting on Monday, January 12th. This will be a space where we reflect on the direction of our ministries and create space for all to contribute and serve.

Third, give some thought to setting up a time to chat with me. Every week, I offer walk-in hours at the church but am always available outside of these hours. I would be honored to be a listening ear and to pray with you. You can reach out to the church office at 270-756-5901, to my cell at 713-454-3778, or to my email at twelch@kyumc.net.

May we use the freedom we find in Christ Jesus to let go of anything that separates us from God. I pray we find the courage to make space for our spiritual lives within 2026. I am excited to see how God uses these upcoming 365 days as we live into our calling as people of the faith.

In Christ’s hope,

Rev. Tess Welch