Pastors Mike and Colleen Francisco remind us that Christmas is a story of journey, light, and grace. It's a story of humble beginnings. A story of the King of Kings, the Prince of Peace, Immanuel; born not in a palace, but in a stable. A signal that this King and His kingdom will be different.

Shepherds saw heaven break into the night sky. Wise men followed a star. Promises spoken centuries earlier came true. Jesus came as grace upon grace... new grace replacing the old, light overcoming darkness, God with us. And that light didn’t stop at the manger.

Today, we carry it.
We live it.
We shine it.

“There’s hope today because God with us sent the Spirit to dwell within us”

Immanuel. God… With… Us. God incarnate. He put on skin and bones and made his dwelling among us. God stepped into our mess, chose us, understanding the costs, knowing our past, where we’ve been, what we’ve done and who we’ve hurt. He became God with us…. The lost sheep, the prodigal sons, the thief on the cross, the plain jane and the common robs, the liars, cheats, and addicts. God chose us.

The hope of Christmas long ago doesn’t grow faint, isn’t a memory, a reflection, or a feeling. The hope of Christmas is with us today, and goes with us into each and every moment because God with us sent the Spirit to dwell within us.

Peace isn’t the promise of an easy life, it's the promise of a present God.

Immanuel, God with us. With us in the overwhelm. With us in the joy. With us in the fear. With us when we can’t walk inside. With us when the tree is glowing but our hearts aren’t. And this is why the angels declare “Peace on earth.” Not because the world suddenly became peaceful… but because the Prince of Peace entered the world.

11|28 Board Member, Natalia Roman, shares that peace is possible where God is and he is here. Natalia reflects on here own Christmas journey last year and what it took for her to experience the Peace of God as life swirled around her.