A Christmas Message from Todd

Can the story of Mary teach us something profound about navigating the demands of ministry during Christmas? On this special festive episode of the Healthy Church Staff Podcast, we explore this timeless tale from the Gospel of Luke, where Mary finds moments of stillness amidst the chaos. I invite you to ponder alongside me as we reflect on embracing the wonder of the season and the incredible gift of God's love. Together, we’ll uncover the importance of creating space for peace and contemplation, even when our schedules feel overwhelming.

As we celebrate the season and reflect on a year filled with inspiring conversations, I'm reminded of your unwavering dedication to your church community. Whether you're preparing for a service or spending time with loved ones, take a moment to pause and treasure the miracle of Christmas in your heart. The holidays are both joyful and demanding, but I hope this episode offers you a moment of peace and renewal. Don’t forget to subscribe and ensure you stay connected with us here at the Healthy Church Staff Podcast, as we continue to journey together into a joyous New Year filled with hope and joy. Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year to you and yours!

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Transcript

Speaker 1: 0:07

Merry Christmas, Welcome to the Healthy Church Staff Podcast. It's Christmas Day and, whether you're enjoying a quiet morning with family or prepping for a packed candlelight service later tonight, I simply wanted to say thank you, Thank you for joining me on this journey throughout the year. I wanted to say thank you, Thank you, for joining me on this journey throughout the year. Today we started the podcast, the Healthy Church Staff podcast, just about a year ago, in January of 2024. And today you're listening to episode number 253. So thank you for joining me on this journey throughout the year and thank you for your dedication to ministry and your heart for your church and your commitment to making a difference in the world.

Speaker 1: 0:51

I know this season can be both incredibly joyful and incredibly demanding, and I know you're pouring your heart and soul into creating meaningful experiences and you have this Christmas season often at the expense of your own time and energy. But even in the midst of chaos, I hope you'll find moments of peace and joy and renewal and moments to connect with the true meaning of Christmas, to remember the incredible gift of God's love and experience the wonder of the season. And today I just want to share a kind of a brief reflection of a familiar passage from the Christmas story, one that often gets overlooked in the midst of all the shepherds and angels and the wise men. It's from the Gospel of Luke, where it describes Mary treasuring all these things and pondering them in her heart. Pondering them in her heart. Imagine Mary, a young woman facing the unimaginable, carrying the weight of the world within her. Yet she finds time to pause and to reflect and to ponder the mystery unfolding before her. And in the midst of the busyness and the unknowns, she creates space for stillness and contemplation. And I think that's a powerful lesson for us as church leaders.

Speaker 1: 2:10

We're so often focused on doing, on achieving more, on meeting the needs of others, that we forget the importance of simply being, of being present in the moment, of being still before God, of being open to the wonder and the mystery of the season. So today, wherever you are, whatever your circumstances, I want to invite you to take a moment to be like Mary, to pause, to breathe, to ponder the absolute miracle of Christmas in your heart and remember the reason for our hope and our joy and our celebration. And can I say one thing from all of us at Chemistry Staffing Merry Christmas May your day and the rest of this week be filled with peace and love and the true spirit of Christmas. I appreciate you and I look forward to connecting with you again soon.

Speaker 1: 3:06

We'll be back here on Thursday and Friday on the Healthy Church Staff podcast, but subscribe if you haven't subscribed already, and that way, if you aren't able to listen because I hope you take some time off over the Christmas week this week if you subscribe you'll be able to listen back when you get on the bandwagon right after Christmas, hopefully next week. All right, thanks so much. Merry Christmas to you, If we don't talk beforehand. Have a very happy new year as well, and we'll talk to you again real soon, right here on the Healthy Church Staff Podcast. You.