Can’t believe this is December already. One moment, we are putting away Thanksgiving leftovers; the next, we are thinking about Christmas decorations. But in all the bustle, I wanted to pause and reflect with you on what God has been doing at Hillside. It has been quite a journey.
I remember at the beginning of this year, things felt a little uncertain. Change has a way of doing that for all of us. But something beautiful happened here at Hillside:
We grew from uncertainty to unity.
From “What’s next?” … to “Let’s do this.”
Somewhere along the line, miracle upon miracle happened. We felt a burst of new energy. Old friendships were rekindled. Our worship grew stronger. More and more people called Hillside their home church. More people are involved in ministry.
And I want to say how honored I am to serve with you. You leaned in. You prayed. You showed up. You supported one another. You extended grace. You kept going. The energy, excitement, and warmth in our church these days are something only the Holy Spirit could build.
Some of my favorite moments this year were simply standing in the narthex after service–hearing the laughter and seeing the warmth in your faces. I see friends shaking hands, saying “How do you do?”, they’re really saying I love you. What a wonderful day. (You gotta sing it to get the full impact)
Things that had been waiting for years finally began to move. Constructions upgrades to the parsonage, repairs and improvements on the church building, opening doors for another church and family to be part of Hillside are some of the signs of how we are maximizing the talents that God has given us. We fixed things. We repaired things. We upgraded things. I hope we are not burying any talent at all in the ground. Everything must be maximized for the Kingdom.
This December, I pray you experience Christ drawing near—just like He did that night in Bethlehem. Maybe not with angels singing in the sky… although if that happens, definitely call me. I want to hear that story.
But I do pray you feel Him in:
The simple conversations.
The quiet prayers.
The gatherings with family.
The songs we sing together.
The warmth of this church family.
Thank you for being a church that laughs easily, loves deeply, and serves faithfully. You are a gift to me, to one another, and to our community. And I can’t wait to see where God leads us next.
If 2025 was about rebuilding, reuniting, and regaining momentum…
2026 will be about moving forward in purpose, faith, and joy.
Merry Christmas and Happy New Year, Hillside family.
Your servant,
David Gunardi