A Glint of Light
The other day, my teen and preteen boys got into a scuffle… you know… like brothers often do. And one of them hit the other in the face.
The one who got hit winced and said,
“Ah! You hit me in the eye. I saw a glint of light.”
Now, obviously, I’m against violence. I hate when my kids scuffle. I do not think attacking one another is a helpful solution, whether in words or actions.
But do you know what I was proud of in that moment?
My son used the phrase “glint of light.”
When is the last time you used the word glint? Probably not recently… and definitely not as your first response to an injury.
But do you know why he said that word?
Because it’s one of his vocab words right now. He’s been studying it, so much so that it’s steeped into his life and flowed out of him naturally.
As we wrap up Advent and officially begin the season of Christmas, celebrating the birth of Jesus, we’ve spent a lot of time looking at the perspectives of different characters in the Christmas story. And many of those perspectives have challenged us to see the world differently, to fundamentally change how we embody hope, peace, joy, and love, and how we proclaim the good news of Jesus with our lives.
Our hope is that as we follow after Jesus more, as we grow in faith, His ways, His teachings, and His love become so steeped into our lives that they flow out of us naturally.
As we close out this year and look ahead to the next, here are a few things to know so you can stay connected, engaged, and plan ahead. A new issue of The Tower is coming soon with more details, but here’s a quick heads up:
• Tuesday, December 16th. Our last Noon Prayer Hour of 2025, from 12–1pm.
Live worship led by Nate, prayer prompts to guide you, and space to rest, pray, read Scripture, and sit quietly. Come and go as you need.
• Sunday, December 21st. The final Sunday of Advent. We’ll close the season with The Perspective of Love at our 10 a.m. service. If you’ve missed any weeks, you can catch up on the podcast (Apple, Spotify, or wherever you listen). With people coming into town for Christmas, it will likely be a busy morning. Parking is currently free in all public Seaside parking.
• Christmas Eve – Wednesday, December 24th. Our Christmas Eve Service at 4:30 p.m. at The Chapel. One outdoor service. Dress warmly! Come at 4 p.m. for hot cocoa and live pre-service music. We’ll also have seating inside with a screen for those who need warmth. On Christmas Eve we will give away 50% of our offering to proclaim the Good News of Jesus through both word and action.
Please note, there will be no parking at The Chapel that evening. More details coming soon in The Tower and at thechapelatseaside.com/christmas.
As you reflect on all that God has done here at The Chapel in the past year, in the lives of the people who call The Chapel home, and everyone we’ve had an opportunity to impact, and as we look ahead to what’s coming, I hope you’ll prayerfully consider The Chapel in your year-end giving. You can go to thechapelatseaside.com/give to easily give online as well as update your email address or other information for your 2025 taxes.
And a few things to come up.
To start the year well, we’re inviting everyone to consider a 21-day season of prayer, Scripture, and fasting from January 1st–21st. We’ll provide bookmarks with daily Scripture readings and encourage you to try a few things: spend intentional time in prayer daily, memorize a chapter of Scripture, and consider fasting or abstaining from something (coffee, social media, 24-hour news…or at least delaying them until after your daily prayer and Scripture).
We’ll also gather for three prayer & worship mornings at The Chapel on Wednesdays: January 7th, 14th, & 21st from 9 a.m.–10 a.m. These will feel similar to our Noon Prayer gatherings.
During January, there will be NO Tuesday Noon Prayer or Wednesday Bible Study, as we focus on the 21 Days of Prayer, Scripture, and Fasting together.
• Tuesday Noon Prayer begins Tuesday, February 3rd.
• Men’s & Women’s Bible Study begins Wednesday, February 4th, Men at 8 a.m. and Women at 9:30 a.m. We’ll both be studying the book of Ephesians.
• Two Sunday Services Coming Soon. As our congregation continues to grow, we’re excited to share that we’ll be launching two services starting in February. More details coming in The Tower.
What we spend our time on will form us. It will shape us. And eventually, it will flow out of us.
My hope is that this Christmas season has allowed the story of Jesus to form you, the love of Jesus to shape you, and the ways of Jesus to flow out of you. We believe that the light of the world stepped into darkness on that first Christmas 2000 years ago, and it wasn’t just a flash of light, but it illuminated the world. I hope that as we remember Jesus, abide in him, are changed and embody his ways, that light shines in us and through us for the glory of God and good of others and that this continues into the new year.
While I hope you never experience pain, challenges, or a brotherly scuffle… when obstacles inevitably come, my prayer is that, without even thinking, you respond like Jesus. Because that’s who you’ve spent your time becoming. I hope when people see you they catch a glint of Jesus and his heavenly light.
Blessings,
Andrew