Nov. 20, 2025 Newsletter - BE changed into people through whom God will BRING change
| Highrock MetroWest, 754 Greendale Ave. Needham MA
Dear Friends in Christ,
As November gives way to December here in New England, the days shorten dramatically. The sun dips low and early, casting long shadows over our frost-kissed landscapes. Bare trees stand spindly against the gray sky, their branches like skeletal fingers reaching into the chill. Darkness creeps in by mid-afternoon, and for many of us, it lingers heavily—robbing energy, stirring melancholy, and making even simple tasks feel burdensome. Seasonal affective disorder, or the “winter blues,” touches so many: the desire to hibernate, the struggle to leave home, the quiet ache of isolation.
I am mindful of you—those who feel this weight most acutely. You are not alone in this. Even in our region, where the sun still rises each day, we taste something of the profound darkness experienced farther north. In Norway, above the Arctic Circle, they call this season mørketid—the “dark time.” For weeks, the sun does not crest the horizon at all, plunging communities into twilight and night. Yet, in response, Norwegians have a beautiful tradition: they place candles or simple white lights in their windows. These gentle glows pierce the gloom, signaling to neighbors and passersby, “There is life here. There is warmth. There is hope.” From house to house, the lights form a chain of quiet encouragement across the frozen land.
What a profound image for us as followers of Jesus! In John 1:5, we read: *”The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it.”* This is the promise of Advent and Christmas—the eternal Light entering our world, undimmed by any shadow. No matter how bare the trees, how early the night falls, or how heavy our hearts grow, Christ’s light breaks through. He is the hope that sustains us, the warmth that draws us out of isolation into community.
This season, reach out: a phone call, a shared meal, a walk bundled against the cold. Come to worship, where we gather as living lights reflecting the One who conquers darkness. If the gloom feels overwhelming, please speak with me, Pastor Robert, or a trusted friend—care is part of our calling to one another.
The solstice approaches, the longest night. But remember: after that, the light returns. And in Christ, it never truly leaves.
Prayers for us all,
Pastor George