One of our favorite things about the start of a new year is looking back. At the end of December every year, there are plenty of yearly recaps—lists of the top songs that were stuck in our heads, the movies and shows everyone was talking about, the biggest headlines that shaped our conversations, and the moments that made us laugh, or pause, or take note. Like, how the phrase 67 shaped conversations with anyone under the age of 18? It’s a time when the world collectively says, “Let’s remember where we’ve been."

That kind of looking back is healthy. It gives the opportunity to see how we've grown, what patterns emerged (positively or negatively), where we need to give thanks, where we need to make changes. And as one year ends and a new year begins, that spirit of reflection has led our family to something especially meaningful.

Jessica, Noah, and I realize that we have now been at BSLC for two years. That simple sentence is filled with so much gratitude, joy, and thankfulness to God.

From our very first days here, you welcomed us with open arms. You welcomed us not just as a pastor and his family, but as fellow brothers and sisters in Christ. Over these two years, we have shared worship and prayer, laughter and tears, celebrations and seasons of challenge. We have watched God at work—in hearts, in families, in our youth, in this congregation, and in the community around us—and it has been a tremendous joy to be part of what God is doing here week after week in worship, Bible study, Small groups, preschool, missions, etc. We have gathered around Word and Sacrament, trusting that God is faithful to do exactly what He promises through them. Through it all, God has continued to remind us that this is His church, His mission, and His work—yet He graciously invites us to be part of it.

For Jessica and Noah, Beautiful Savior has truly become home. We are thankful for your friendship, your encouragement, and for the many ways you have loved and supported our family. Ministry is never something a pastor’s family does alone, and we are deeply grateful for the care you have shown us along the way. Thank you for being the church. Thank you for your faithfulness, your generosity, your prayers, and your love. Thank you for walking together in this mission God has given us. We are excited for what God will do next—at Beautiful Savior, in our community, and through each of you.

As we look ahead to the new year, we do so with excitement and trust. We don’t know everything that lies ahead—but we do know the One who goes before us. The same God who has been faithful over the past two years will continue to be faithful in the year to come and in the years beyond that. He will continue to gather His people, grow His church, and share His saving love with a world that desperately needs hope. Along with these new opportunities, the new year also brings a renewed reminder that our confidence is never in our plans or efforts, but in Christ, who is the same yesterday, today, and forever.

My encouragement for you as you conclude this year: look back and give thanks for God’s faithfulness, even in moments you didn’t recognize it at the time. Look around and see how God has placed you within His people, His church, and His mission. And then look ahead with confidence—not because the path is clear, but because Christ is. The One who has carried you this far will not stop now. He goes before you, walks with you, and holds you fast. Whatever this new year brings, rest in this sure promise: God is faithful, and His grace will be enough.

Thanksgiving is a day when many of us know what it means to feel full. Full tables, full plates, full homes. And yet, the kind of fullness we chase with food and celebration usually fades. The meal ends. The dishes pile up. The leftovers grow smaller each day.

And yet, even on a day of abundance, we can still feel empty.

Sometimes we come to Thanksgiving with worries on our minds.
Sometimes we are frustrated with how our week has gone, we are impatient with our kids, or our spouse, or our guests. We have past hurts.
Sometimes our hearts feel more crowded with stress than with gratitude.
Sometimes we see the blessings on our table but forget the One who gave them.

Those moments show us that by ourselves, we are not full. We are people who need to be filled.

And that’s exactly why John, at the beginning of his Gospel, writes about the fullness that Jesus has come to bring. We don’t come to God with arms full of goodness—we come empty. And Jesus comes full.

“From His fullness…” That means we don’t create our own fullness. We receive it.

Jesus comes full of forgiveness, and we come with sins that need forgiving.
Jesus comes full of love, and we come with love that falls short.
Jesus comes full of peace, and we come with anxieties we can’t shake.
Jesus comes full of strength, and we come with weakness we can’t hide.

And He gives.
He gives freely.

He pours out His fullness into our emptiness.

On the cross, Jesus emptied Himself so that our hearts could be full—full of mercy, full of hope, full of life that never ends. Thanksgiving becomes richer when we remember that the deepest blessings on this day aren’t the ones on our plates, but the One who fills our hearts and our souls.

John doesn’t just say we receive grace. He says we receive “grace upon grace.”

Grace for our sins.
Grace for our failures.
Grace for our fears.
Grace for our families.
Grace for our futures.

God doesn’t give us just enough grace to get by—He overwhelms us with it. Layer upon layer, day after day, He keeps filling us. Even the moments when we complain, worry, or doubt become reminders that we need Him—and He is eager to give.

And when Jesus fills us, He doesn’t simply fill us to the brim. He fills us to overflow—so that His compassion, patience, kindness, and love spill out into the lives of others around us. Because full people become grateful people. And grateful people become gracious people.

This Thanksgiving, your table may be full, or it may be simpler than in years past. Your life may feel overflowing with blessings, or it may be a challenging season.

But no matter what this year has looked like, this remains true:
In Jesus, you are not empty.
You are not forgotten.
You are not alone.
You are not without hope.

In Jesus, you are full—truly full.
Because from His fullness, you have received grace upon grace.