January 2026 Connections

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CONNECTIONS JA NUARY 2 02 6

STILLNES S Quiet in the Chaos

JANUARY 2026 CONNECTIONS

INSIDE

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FROM “STILLNESS” TO “SILENCE”

STILLNESS

C. Hassell Bullock

Keith Bodger

The Silence of Awe

Stillness, Not Silliness

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EMBRACING STILLNESS AMIDST CHAOS

A TIME OF REFLECTION

Kaye Waugh

Pat Cirrincione

Stillness Is Not Passive

God’s Peace in Times of Storms

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BE STILL, BE AT PEACE, BE CONTENT

CASTING BREAD ON CZECH WATERS

Gary Cook

Jon Smalley

Anchors During Stormy Times

Reflections from a Stamp Trip

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FEATURES From the Editor . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1 Milestones . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5 Our Vision . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5

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ONE ANOTHER: Getting to know our College Church family . . . 11

PRACTICALLY PRO-LIFE: BANK ON THE BABY BANK

Under the Radar . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 19

Kara Beth Vance

Gallery Spotlight: Winter Epiphanies . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12 ArtSpace . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13 CHURCH LIFE: January Calendar . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 16 Looking Ahead . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 18 Facilities Facts . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 19 Opportunities for Prayer . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 19 SHEPHERDING SUNDAYS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 25 SOHL News and Announcements . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 27

Promoting the Value of Life

Community Outreach SPOTLIGHT . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 28 At the Bookstall . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 29 ELDER STATESMAN: Jay Cunningham . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 31

30 ON DECLARATIONS Wil Triggs

New Year’s Declarations

On the Cover: Winter Twilight by Helen Read Our Pastors, Directors and Residents: Caleb Aulie, pastoral resident | Cheryce Berg, ministry director of children | Roger Burgess, pastor of visitation Julie Clemens, ministry director of STARS disabilities | Matt Heaton, pastoral resident | Baxter Helm, high school pastor | Dan Hiben, middle school pastor Tim Hollinger, technology director | Jim Johanik, pastor of evangelism Ann Karow, human resources director | Howard Kern, facilities director Ethan Kim, pastoral resident | Bruce Main, pastor of visitation | Josh Maurer, pastor of discipleship and care | Curt Miller, missions pastor | Josh Moody, senior pastor | Jacob Samuel Raju, pastoral resident | Mindy Rynbrandt, ministry director for women’s discipleship and care | James Seward, pastor of community | John Seward, executive pastor | Nancy Singer, director of administration and finance | Wil Triggs, director of communications Our Council of Elders: Mark Bradley, vice-chair | Jay Cunningham | Steve Ivester | Randy Jahns | Heinrich Johnsen | Anson Johnson | Jonathan (J.J.) Jones | Glenn Kosirog | Josh Moody, senior pastor | David Setran, secretary Dave Tweeten | Chad Thorson | Brian Wildman, chair

Connections is a monthly newsletter published for and about the people of College Church. Send news items and suggestions to: connections@ college-church.org. Keep Connections in mind to promote a community event to the College Church family. Send event information by the following dates: For the February issue: January 9 | For the March issue: February 9 | For the April issue: March 9

332 E. Seminary, Wheaton, IL 60187 (630) 668-0878 | www.college-church.org

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CONTRIBUTORS KEITH BODGER

is a retired environmental scientist. He and his wife, Melody, live in Wheaton and have two adult children. Keith serves in KMs and he and his wife, Melody, lead a small group. Keith enjoys writing and cooking in his newly found retired spare time.

HASSELL BULLOCK

is the Franklin S. Dyrness Professor Emeritus of Biblical Studies at Wheaton College, where he taught Old Testament and Hebrew language for 36 years.

His specialty in recent years has been the Psalms, authoring Encountering the Book of Psalms, The Psalms, Vol. 1 and Vol. 2 (“Teach the Text” series), and Theology from the Psalms: The Story of God’s Steadfast Love (Baker Academic. He and his wife, Rhonda, have worshiped in College Church through the years between his interim pastorates. They have been married for sixty years and have a son and daughter and five grandchildren.

PAT CIRRINCIONE

brings her wit and wisdom to Connections on a regular basis.

Pat enjoys reading and eating her Christmas baked good in the month of January.

GARY COOK

serves as the ministry associate for small groups at College Church and as an adjunct professor in theological studies. His pastoral experience and study of church history have given him a passion for faithful stewardship by the church of the essential truths of the Christian faith. You can often find Gary reading and writing at a table in the Commons, and he’d welcome the opportunity to meet you and hear your story!

JON SMALLEY

served on the Board of Deacons and currently serves on the Board of Missions. Additionally, Jon ushers at the 8 a.m. service and is involved in the Veritas Adult Community.

From time to time, you can also see him around the church campus volunteering with Facilities.

KARA VANCE

serves as a mentor with the College Group discipleship team and is actively involved with the Sanctity of Human Life Task Forces. She works in Wheaton as a financial planner and keeps tabs on counting macros as part of her interest in nutrition and weightlifting.

KAYE WAUGH

and her husband, Kurt, were married in Okinawa, Japan and have been members of College Church since 2019. She loves gathering with friends and families from College Church. Kaye has gone on several missions trips, including one STAMP trip to Thailand.

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T H E S T I LL P OI N T WIL TRIGGS | EDITOR

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n choosing stillness as our theme for January, I thought there would be moments of rest for most of us, fleeting though they may be, after the crushing busyness of fall startups, Thanksgiving, Advent and Christmas. I like to think of God as the “still point in the turning world.” Maybe it’s more like he’s the eye of the hurricane all around us.

But this month’s feature articles provide many dimensions for the soul’s consideration This issue kicks off with From “Stillness” to “Silence” by C. Hassell Bullock. This beautifully layered piece covers stillness in Psalms and our souls. Embracing Stillness Amidst Chaos by Kaye Waugh, suggests an otherworldliness in the best possible way. Gary Cook’s Be Still, Be at Peace, Be Content opens up three aspects of stillness through passages from a psalm, a gospel and an epistle. Simply titled Stillness, Keith Bodger’s starts off thinking he has this one in the bag, but then, reality hits home in our suburban setting. Pat Cirrincione’s A Time of Reflection marks her journey toward a kind of stillness. May we all find that in God, in Scripture, in prayer this month and always.

Jon Smalley reports on a recent STAMP trip in his Casting Bread on Czech Waters. Though not on theme, STAMP trips are not still. But they are a change for a few days, one that has the potential to challenge and change us in good ways. Which is what stillness should do as well.

We also introduce Elder Statesman—a new column at the end of Connections that will give a quick look at one of our elders and how God has made and shaped him.

So, here comes 2026. As we embark together on a new journey through another year, may we do so in partnership with one another—the brothers and sisters who know and obey their Father, the flock that continues to receive protection and care from the Good Shepherd, and the family that uses the Spirit’s gifts that give us the ability to let God work through us for the good of other people.

Happy reading.

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from

“stillness” to “silence”

C. HASSELL BULLOCK

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hen we encounter the word “stillness” we think of more than just physical immobility or a quiet atmosphere. Of course, it can be one of them or none of them. The biblical idea of “stillness” involves primarily the mind and the emotions, and only secondarily our physical being. I suspect the drive for this issue of Connections is the lovely translation of Psalm 46:10: “Be still, and know that I am God. I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth!”

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This translation, “Be still, and know that I am God,” goes all the way back to the Coverdale translation of 1535, and has spawned a trail of translations, almost verbatim, up to the modern era.

The Hebrew verb for “Be Still” (rph), however, does not mean “be still,” rather it means “Cease and desist.”

And the context of this verse was a summons to Israel, and likely to the nations also, to stop trying to be God and trust God to do his own work. This motif in Scripture was at the forefront of Israel’s national political policy, as set forth in Moses’ instructions that Israel

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must not depend upon their military might, diplomatic relations, and wealth to achieve their saving goals (Deut. 17:14-17; Ps. 33:16-19), because the Lord was their protector and deliverer, and he would do his job. The question that taunts readers of Psalm 46 is how seriously to take the hallowed translation that has comforted, encouraged, and schooled so many believers in the faith. Coverdale’s rendering has become what I would call an “unmeant meaning,” even though the thought does occur in Psalm 4:4 with a different verb: “Be angry, and do not sin; ponder in your own hearts on your beds, and be silent” (Ps. 4:4, Hebrew verb dmm). But I will confess—I would allow the popular understanding of Psalm 46:10 to stand. I suspect the translation problem is to be blamed on the passage of time and changes in the English language. In Coverdale’s language, a point made above, “be still” meant to “stop/desist.” Some modern translations have attempted to ease up closer to the original meaning, for example, the Holman Christian Standard Bible represents that tendency: “Stop your fighting and know that I am God” (a pretty good start). And for the purpose of this article, I want to leave the problem there.

SO WHERE DO WE GO FROM HERE? As I have suggested above, “stillness” is more a mental and emotional notion than physical, and it frequently takes the form of silence, which has its own multitude of nuances in Scripture. In fact, in the Bible silence sometimes demonstrates a stronger power than words, and that’s the general rubric under which I want to discuss a few of its nuances.

THE SILENCE OF AWE IN GOD’S STEADFAST LOVE Let’s start with one that belongs at the top of the pyramid: the silence of awe generated by God’s steadfast love.

David conveys the silence of awe in the

inexpressible power and steadfast love of God in Psalm 62. Twice he affirms his silence: “For God alone my soul waits in silence,” and then confirms the cause behind his confidence: “from him (Yahweh) comes my salvation. He alone is my rock and my salvation, my fortress; I shall not be greatly shaken” (Ps. 62:1; verse 5 has a slight variation). It is in the final stanza of the psalms that David stipulates on a conclusive note that it is God’s steadfast love that sums up the fundamental reason for his silence of awe: “Once God has spoken; twice have I heard this: that power belongs to God, and that to you, O Lord, belongs steadfast love” (hesed, 62:11-12). It is the awe that Robert Harkness celebrates in his hymn: “Love sent my Savior to die in my stead; Why should He love me so?” What a mystery!

THE SILENCE OF AWE IN GOD’S HOLINESS In the same category is the silence awe in God’s holiness. The word “holy” (qodesh) suggests that God belongs in a category all his own, which makes him different from us human beings. Yes, we are made in his image—wonder of wonders—but we are not God. Rather we reflect his nature. The Torah makes this provocative call: “You shall be holy, for I the LORD your God am holy” (Lev. 19:2). Even though holiness is one of God’s attributes that he shares with us, when we find ourselves in his presence, like divine love which God also shares with us, we are in awe of the Holy One. The prophet Habakkuk in his critical review of idolatry made this awesome statement of the holy God: “But the LORD is in his holy temple; let all the earth keep silence before him” (Hab. 2:20). The holy God was in his holy temple—his holiness affected the temple where Israel worshiped and the people who worshiped him.

But in another mode, the psalmist found that when he encountered God’s glory, he could not be silent: “that my glory may sing your (Yahweh’s) praise

and not be silent” (Ps. 30:12). God’s holiness, unique and potent, elicited the psalmist’s praise of God. In this instance, the psalmist found that silence was not the appropriate response.

THE SILENCE OF AWE IN DIVINE JUDGMENT At the other end of the spectrum is the silence of awe in divine judgment.

Again we quote the psalmist who, experiencing the divine judgment of the Babylonian conquest and exile, remembers that “From the heavens you uttered judgement; the earth feared and was silent (shqt, Ps. 76:8). Divine judgment was so dreadful that silence was the only appropriate reaction— words were inadequate. Silence “speaks” a universal language understood by all humanity. That, of course, is one of the reasons it is so effective, working in the minds and emotions of those observe divine judgment.

THE SILENCE OF AWE IN THE UNANSWERED QUESTION Somewhere in the mixture of the expressive modes of stillness, silence being the mode I have selected, is a most interesting expression, or perhaps we should say, a most interesting silent expression. It belongs to the rhetorical category of spoken language, and we simply give it a name “the rhetorical question,” that is, a question whose answer is understood, “silent,” we might say, by the very nature of the context.

Psalm 56 gives us an excellent example of this phenomenon. The psalm is applied to the occasion(s) when David was in the crosshairs of the Philistine grip (1 Sam. 21:10-22:1; 27:1-28:2), and to those treacherous circumstances, David poses the question: “What can flesh do to me?” (56:4, 11). I would put an exclamation point after the question rather than a question mark because it is a declaration. The answer, unspoken, implied by the context, is continued on next page

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“Nothing!” “This is an illustration of the effectiveness of the rhetorical question.

The psalm, of course, does not leave the implied answer entirely undefended, for the psalmist’s experience is that when he calls for help, his enemies turn back, confirming his knowledge that ‘God is for me’” (56:9).1 In fact, it may very well be that the psalmist’s tears, which he asks God to bottle up (56:8), are another expression of the silence which throws a pall over David’s spoken words. There is a Jewish saying that prayer has three forms, “prayer,” which is said silently, crying, which vocalizes prayer in a loud voice, and tears, which are more effective than all of the prayer forms: “There is no door through which tears do not pass.”2 And they may be listed in the “silence” column. The fact that the psalmist believed God would store up his tears in a bottle is a beautiful expression of God’s tender care.

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THE ULTIMATE SILENCE OF AWE IN HEAVEN While my list of occasions for “silence” is not exhaustive, I will mention one other event which is an ultimate event in the story of redeeming history. That is the Lamb’s (Jesus’) breaking of the seventh seal (Rev. 8:1-5): “When the Lamb opened the seventh seal, there was silence in heaven for about half an hour.” While that eschatological silence was in awe of divine judgment on the world (v. 5), readers have to wonder if there was not another perspective of this silence, especially since one of the angels took a golden censer and offered the prayers of the saints “and the smoke of the incense with the prayers of the saints, rose before God from the hand of the angel” (v. 4).

And that perspective, of course, was uniquely the prayers of God’s saints

(see also Rev. 5:8), perhaps answered and unanswered (is this the victory of unanswered prayer?). However, I suggest that this ultimate event in God’s eternal design of redeeming grace brings together the silence of awe generated by the awesomeness of God’s steadfast love and the silence of awe in final divine judgement. Every other circumstance is contained in that envelope of human responses to God’s work. In any event, these very ideas should create a sense of awe within us, maybe one that makes us speechless!

Bullock, Psalms 2 [Baker Academic, 2017], 428.

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Quoted by before God from the hand of the angel” (v. Brooke Foss Westcott, The Epistle to the Hebrews [New York: Macmillan, 1906, 128.

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MILESTONES BIRTHS Dan, Charlene and Jonah Miller officially welcomed Theadora Miller into their family by adoption on December 15.

Peter Tiancheng was born to Nathan and Grace Bliss on November 26, joining his siblings Moses, Emmy and Anna.

George Leo was born to Lou and Emily Fan on November 19, joining his siblings James, Eloise and Theo.

Josiah James was born to Jairus and Jennifer Lukose on November 12. His paternal grandparents are James and Jerusha Lukose.

James David was born to Christian and Christine Hollinger on November 7. James joins his sisters Olive and Emmeline. His grandparents are Jim and Denise Gritsonis and Tim and Debbie Hollinger.

DEATHS Pray for Jon (Sarah) Gieser and family as they grieve the loss of Jon’s mother, Lillian Gieser, who passed away on December 12 in Michigan.

Pray for Beate (Shaun) Carlson and family as they grieve the loss of Beate’s father, Dieter Boeser, who passed away on December 13 in Germany.

Pray for Anson (Teresa) Johnson and family as they grieve the loss of Anson’s mother, who passed away on December 5.

Pray for Ann (Steve) Vander Klok and family as they grieve the sudden loss of Ann’s father, John Kieft, who passed away on December 3 in Bradenton, FL. Pray for Dennis Brown and family as they grieve the loss of Dennis’s son, Joshua Brown, who passed away on December 2 in Missouri.

Pray for College Church missionary Faith (Greg) Hurst and family as they grieve the loss of Faith’s mother, Grace Wendel, who passed away on December 1.

Pray for Ed (Sandy) Hofstra and family as they grieve the loss of Ed’s mother, Eileen Hofstra, who passed away on November 18.

Pray for Joleen (Bill) Billingham and family as they grieve the loss of Joleen’s mother, Leota Snell, who passed away on November 12 in Nebraska.

our

VISION 2026 INITIATIVES Vision: “Proclaiming the Gospel”

PATHWAY.

Coming to College Church you have the opportunity to Discover Jesus, Grow in Your Faith and Impact the World. We want you to discover Jesus if you don’t already know him personally, discover College Church if you’re not yet a part of the church, and for all to grow spiritually in all aspects of life and impact on the world around.

COMMUNITY.

Community matters to all of us at College Church. We treasure knowing, connecting with and loving one another, with the help of our pastoral staff and other leaders, as we move forward side by side.

DISCIPLESHIP.

Being disciples of Jesus brings real-life change as we embrace the foundations of the Christian faith, grow spiritually, and reach beyond ourselves in gospel witness.

CAMPUS.

We seek the best use of our campus.

We want to increase our capacity for community outreach and ministry activities, as well as advancing safety and accessibility.

PARTNERSHIPS.

We are developing strategic partners in church planting, strengthening, and revitalization this year that reflect our commitment to gospel-centered growth locally and globally.

Pray for College Church missionary Steve (Lois) Krogh and family as they grieve the loss of Steve’s mother who passed away on November 14 in California.

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E mb r aci ng Sti llness A midst Chaos KAYE WAUGH

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Chaos. Disruptions. Natural disasters.

Persecution. Violence. Death.

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f you want to know the current state of our country and the world, all you have to do is turn on the radio, the television, or scroll through social media. What you’ll find there is overwhelming, certainly not for the faint of heart.

I’ve heard friends share why they no longer watch the news, and I can’t blame them. Who wants to be constantly confronted with violent riots, ongoing protests, assaults on police officers, rising crime, and a government bureaucracy that feels increasingly out of control?

My heart was sickened when I learned about the mass murders of thousands of Nigerian Christians. Reports from the International Society for Civil Liberties and Rule of Law estimate that since 2009, about 52,000 Christian believers have been killed in Nigeria, an average of 32 every day. It is a grief too great to ignore.

I still have family in the Philippines. In the first part of December, the country was hit by devastating typhoons, and the aftermath was even more horrific: widespread flooding, homes swept away, and lives lost, many still unaccounted for.

I immediately contacted my family, and by God’s grace, the damage to our home was minimal. To God be the Glory!

That’s why stillness becomes essential for the believer. Stillness is not an escape from reality; it is where we are re-centered in the truth that God remains sovereign, present and unshaken.

In a world that thrives on constant noise, God invites us into a quiet that heals. It is in those unhurried moments when we step away from the headlines and silence the noise within and without that our hearts finally have room to hear his voice.

Although the earth groans and nations rage, there is still a place where our hearts can be held securely in the hands of the One who is never moved.

As we embrace stillness, may we find the courage to pause, the grace to breathe, and the peace to rest in God’s unchanging love, no matter the circumstances that surround us.

“Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your request be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.” (Philippians 4:6-7)

And then there’s the part we rarely name or say out loud, the quieter storm, the inner turmoil. Does it matter any less?

We wrestle with quiet storms, shaped by our own circumstances or the noise of the world, and long for all of it to stop. We turn to the Word and remember the familiar truths engraved on our hearts of surrender, trust and thanksgiving as we lay our requests before God. We remember his command over the raging storm, “Be still.”

Stillness is not passive. It is an active posture of faith, trust and surrender. Didn’t Jesus command the raging sea in Mark 4:39, “ ‘Peace! Be still,’ and the wind ceased, and there was a great calm.”

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Be Still, Be at Peace, Be Content GARY COOK

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e all seek ways to escape from the challenges of life to find moments of stillness. Taking a walk in breathtaking settings that remind you of the beauty and design of God’s creation. Having coffee with a longtime friend who listens and encourages. Sitting in front of a fireplace listening to music.

These experiences are healthy and helpful, but the stillness they provide can be momentary, easily displaced by a sudden onset of worry, fear, uncertainty, guilt, betrayal, loss and pain.

We know that trials, tribulations and temptations will continue until Christ returns. The Bible and our daily lives remind us that Christians are not exempt, but God desires that we have a lasting peace even as we await. Here’s a rough thesis statement: Believers are not exempt from the trials, tribulations and temptations active in this presently fallen world; yet, by God’s help, we can face these with stillness, peace and contentment.

How? We begin with God’s Word. There are many, many, many passages in the Bible that defy any reticence we may have to believe and trust in God’s promise and provision of peace. Christians may plant their faith in the Scriptures that speak into difficult, desperate and debilitating circumstances.

From beginning to end, Bible passages remind us that God is good, not only in declarative statements but also in unceasing demonstrations of his love and mercy. God’s Word announces 8

and affirms that no matter the evil, injustice or threat, God is sovereign over the entire universe he created; nothing escapes his notice and no one challenges or disrupts his unchanging will and authority. As well, God echoes in the Bible he is a safe refuge for every single one of his adopted children.

Here are a few select passages worthy of serving as anchors during stormy times of troubled waters.

BE STILL Be still, and know that I am God. (Psalm 46:10) Psalm 46 portrays the situation facing God’s people in dramatic fashion: The earth shakes, mountains tumble into the sea, nations are in uproar, kingdoms overthrown. Talk about chaos!

Doesn’t the context of this psalm, for some, look much like our time? Yet this psalm begins not with a panicked plea, but with a confession of trust in God, because he “is our strong refuge, he is truly our helper in times of trouble. For this reason we do not fear.” Stillness amidst worldly disaster sounds quite simple, doesn’t it?

But the psalm does not end there. The description “our strong refuge” declares that God is present. The psalmist knows that, and so should we. God knows us. He knows that the confession we make in a moment, honest as it is, may be abandoned as

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we step away from trusting God and seek control of our overwhelming situation. And so, after the psalm supplies a brief litany of remembrance of what God has done and what he is able to do, the tone changes. God reminds us of who he is in a statement of simplicity calling for submission: “Be still, and know that I am God.” Be still. These words remind us of a parent or teacher telling a child, “Sit still.” The words “be still” can be translated “cease striving.” “Know that I am God.” Those five words should cause us to pause. Is there any situation, power or person greater than God? Remember when the disciples witnessed Jesus calming the winds that created tempestuous waves which almost capsized their boat (Mark 4:35-39)? Regardless of our perceived extremity of situations, God reminds us that he alone is the master in the midst of seeming chaos.

Here’s an even higher thought: God’s reign, from eternity past, is pervaded by stillness. We turn the corner and face a new threat; but for God, there are no surprises. Since the beginning of his creation, he has been working all things—all things—according to his unassailable, unchangeable, perfect plan.

We witness this reality in the transformation of someone’s life when they cease striving against God and his people, reconcile with others, and, most profoundly, come to faith in Jesus Christ.

These are living testimonies of God’s plan, power and presence,

testimonies that grow our faith in knowing what it means that he is God. The climax will come when God’s kingdom fully and finally unfolds. In that moment there will no longer be a need for us to be told be still. As he declares in this psalm, that which has been forever true will be witnessed in that final moment: “I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth!”

Stillness among us will prevail for all eternity. For now, be still.

BE AT PEACE Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you. (John 14:27) Christ’s first coming secured the promise of peace and stillness.

Those who believe in him have peace with God and the promise of eternal life. In speaking to his disciples about his coming departure, Jesus framed peace as foundational to their commissioning to be his witnesses. He did not hide the fact that the opposition he faced would not end after he was crucified, resurrected and ascended to the Father. No, his faithful witnesses would be hated and persecuted, and some martyred, by the world (John 15:18-19). Both before his crucifixion and after his resurrection, Jesus prepared them with these words: continued on next page

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“Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you. Not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your hearts be troubled, neither let them be afraid.” (John 14:27) “Peace be with you. As the Father has sent me, even so I am sending you.” (John 20:21) The peace Christ promised is the antidote to the fear and anxiety he knew would be experienced by those he called to be his witnesses and proclaim the gospel. The Book of Acts provides an instructive narrative of the outworking of the peace that Jesus imparted to those on mission for him, which includes each of us. We may not experience the earthquakelike rumbling when the disciples prayed for boldness in the face of persecution (Acts 4:23-31) or the extreme sufferings of the Apostle Paul as he faithfully followed his calling to proclaim the gospel in difficult and dangerous places (2 Corinthians 11), but there is no predicting if and when the Holy Spirit will lead us to witness where fear and anxiety might arise. Paul offered a prayer to the church for just such encounters, which he believed would be answered with Christ’s promise to those he sent: and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. (Philippians 4:7) BE CONTENT I have learned, in whatever situation I am, to be content. (Philippians 4:11) What do you do when you find yourself in adverse situations, times when you are seeking to serve the Lord but feeling impatient, disappointed, uncertain, sidelined, confused?

Perhaps there is conflict or concern in knowing or discerning what the Lord desires. There are nights where you wake up wrestling with what you perceive to be life-changing choices, ones that you have made or ones that you are praying about.

The ability to quiet the ceaseless stream of thoughts in your mind is failing.

By God’s grace he sent the Holy Spirit to indwell believers. Part of his mission is to develop our character and guide us in the work God has prepared for us where he will be present and

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active. The tranquil soul prays and rests in the Spirit’s work of cultivating a powerful character trait in us: contentment. Paul described it this way: “Not that I am speaking of being in need, for I have learned, in whatever situation I am, to be content.

I know how to be brought low, and I know how to abound.

In any and every circumstance . . .” (Philippians 4:11-12).

Contentment is not inaction. The quiet soul patiently trusts God—and listens—in times that seem uncertain and difficult, while simply and joyously doing that which God has put right in front of them.

Having tapped into passages that speak of God’s provisions for steady cultivation of a tranquil soul, a lasting peace, and a stillness by trusting in who he is, what is our next step? Here are a few recommendations: • Consider the specific trials, tribulations and temptations in your life right now. Walk through each of the above Scripture passages, carefully and deliberately pondering God’s provision for growth in stillness, peace, tranquility and quietness. How do these verses apply to what you are experiencing?

• Finished with this biblically guided assessment (for the moment), spend time in prayer. Confess your distress with a plea from Psalm 46:10 for the God to help you remember to “be still, and know that I am God.” Perhaps the pattern of prayer in Philippians 4:7, which has a promise of peace amidst anxiety, is a good one to follow.

• While each of us thinks and reacts differently to the unique troubled waters in our life, it’s good to have company on the road to gain a peace that passes understanding. Paul was purposeful in sharing with the Philippian church, “I have learned to be content (to be still) in all my circumstances.”

Why not join with others to walk through these Scriptures, encouraging and praying for another?

• As you grow, by the Lord’s help, in trust and tranquility, be on the lookout for others whose life is missing the stillness that comes from believing and trusting in the presence, promises and provision of God. Perhaps the Lord intends for you to come alongside them for prayer and encouragement.

JANUARY 2026 CONNECTIONS

One Another

GETTING TO KNOW OUR COLLEGE CHURCH FAMILY Each month, we’ll have a chance to get to know various people who call College Church home. It’s a little way we can make our big church feel a bit smaller.

NATE HOOPES

What has been your greatest spiritual challenge after coming to faith?

Definitely sharing my faith with others.

I became a follower at a church that did not encourage people to share the gospel with others. It wasn’t until I started attending College Church that this became apparent to me.

What’s the strangest job you’ve ever had?

During college I spent an entire summer in a freezer picking orders for a logistics company. I was working second shift for 60 hours a week and rarely saw sunlight. This job taught me the importance of hard work.

List every place you’ve lived.

I have lived in many regions of the country from Columbus, Ohio, to southern California, to a small town in northern Texas, to the Chicago area.

What’s a key to thriving spiritually as a parent?

I find it’s helpful for me to consciously remember to put the needs of my wife and kids ahead of my own. This helps me to remember to keep an attitude towards service within the family unit.

MARCUS HERSHBERGER What is one Scripture passage you’ve memorized and why is it so valuable to you?

Psalm 18:1, “I love you, Lord, my strength.” Although I’m pretty young, I know enough to know that in this life there will be much hardship. But no matter how awful things may get, I know the Lord has been, is, and always will be my strength in the fight. One day, I’ll see him face to face! Amen.

What’s the strangest job you’ve ever had?

At my last job, I worked as a night patrol officer on Wheaton College’s Public Safety team — as a then 18-year-old, it was an unexpected opportunity.

What is a life experience that shaped you significantly?

Though I was born in Illinois, our family moved to Japan for missions work when I was five, and we’ve been there

ever since. My missionary upbringing has become part of my identity, and I’m grateful to God for it.

If you were writing a letter to the modern church, what lesson would you include?

The importance of ridding our lives of distraction. Especially in this modern day, all of us, young and old, need to monitor the media we’re consuming, since it has an impact on our souls. When we look back on our lives in heaven, I know we won’t regret setting our phones down to pray more or serve.

ANNIKA CARLSON How have you been able to best connect with the College Church family?

I have been able to connect best with the College Church family through HYACKs (the high school ministry) and Kids’ Harbor. I have had many opportunities to spend time in Kids’ Harbor through different events in the summer, and it has really made me feel a part of the church and helped me connect individually with many people.

What activities/hobbies allow you to experience the creativity and pleasure of God? Something that I really enjoy doing is running. I feel grateful for what God has given me the ability to do. I can honor God through something that I really enjoy and gives me joy which is super cool.

What’s something most people wouldn’t know about you?

I lived in Germany from ages seven-nine and I can speak German!

As we walk through a broken world, what practical ways can we cling to our future hope as Christians?

As we cling to our future hope as Christians in a broken world, it’s having people and a community around you that are also living apart from the world that is super encouraging and helpful, especially when encountering difficult parts of life as a Christian but also to remind us of God’s goodness and faithfulness.

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JANUARY 2026 CONNECTIONS

Gallery SPOTLIGHT WINTER EPIPHANIES Dark winter days mingle with night-flickering light in surprising ways. We invited ArtSpace creators to share insights and realizations they’ve discovered in celebration of the One who created winter.

Come and get warm around our fire of faith.

HELEN READ

RUTH GREGORNIK

KATIE KARR

LISA PIRES

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J. MARR MILLER

JANUARY 2026 CONNECTIONS

GALLERY WINTER EPIPHANIES Surprising gifts of hands, heart, dark, light OPENS JANUARY 11-FEBRUARY 27 Opening Reception from 12-2 p.m.

In the spirit of the Magi from the east and their gifts, we invite all creatives to submit their art to be included in this inspiring collection of winter worship and inspiration.

GALLERY HOURS: Monday, Wednesday and Friday from 12 to 2 p.m.

NOTE: For other opening times, contact the church office at (630) 668-0878 or email artspace@college-church.org

GATHERING

WORKSHOPS

A monthly coming together,

IMPROV GROUP

where we discuss our personal projects and the many facets of creativity and God. TUESDAY, JANUARY 13 at 7 p.m. in Crossings Join us at our monthly gathering!

Artists, writers and all lovers of art are encouraged to attend. We will share a relaxed time of creative

SATURDAY, JANUARY 17 Noon to 2 p.m. in room 211 (Library) FREE | No registration Join this new recurring group to learn and practice principles and practices of improv, led by Doug Lindhardt.

ALL ARE WELCOME!

sharing and making. January is our creative t-shirt night. Bring your shirt in January.

Jan. word of the month: STILLNESS Feb. word of the month: BELOVED

For more information or to sign up for a workshop, visit our webpage: college-church.org/artspace.

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STILLNESS KEITH BODGER

W

hen I saw the prompt for January Connections, I was thrilled. Silliness.

Finally! Something in my wheelhouse.

Then I thought, “This is College Church. We don’t really do silliness.”

I zoomed in on the email and saw “stillness,” not “silliness.” Yes, that makes more sense but stillness is not at all in my wheelhouse.

My mind went to a heavy metal song from my youth: “In the still, still, still of the morning, that’s when I’m coming home.” It’s about staying up all night. But that’s not College Church, either.

Then I looked up the lyrics and it’s the cool, cool, cool of the morning. Not stillness, but it’s not totally out of this picture. So, let’s go to Scripture, because that is College Church.

There’s the go-to Scripture of stillness, “Be still, and know that I am God” (Psalm 46:10). I’ve only ever heard that one line from the psalm. The context is that God can stop the wars that raged against Israel. “He makes wars cease to the end of the earth; he breaks the bow and shatters the spear; he burns the chariots with fire.” (46:9). It can give us some comfort to know that, with all the wars, conflicts and skirmishes happening around the world, God can end those. But Psalm 46:10 tells us to be still; it doesn’t reflect stillness. When there are wars, it’s not still. So where do we find stillness?

he prayed.” It seems he was also an early riser, a morning lark.

However, I cannot limit my Savior to early morning prayer. He also stayed up all night, like a night owl. Luke 6:12 says, “In these days he went out to the mountain to pray, and all night he continued in prayer to God.” A thing that is noteworthy to me, in both examples, Jesus “went out” to find the stillness. My walks and drives are not intentional efforts to seek God and pray to him. I have sought him in those times but that wasn’t the intent.

During my morning walk, after having written some of the above, I tried my hand at prayer. But my mind easily wanders.

I prayed about this article, but I don’t think it lasted but a few steps, before my mind was off in another direction and didn’t return to prayer on that walk. But tomorrow’s another day and I’ll try my hand at prayer again during my solitary walk. And solitary is a common theme with Jesus and his stillness. In Matthew 14:13, after his cousin John the Baptist was murdered, it says, “Now when Jesus heard this, he withdrew from there in a boat to a desolate place by himself.” In Luke 5:16 it says, “But he would withdraw to desolate places and pray.” In Matthew 14:23, “And after he had dismissed the crowds, he went up on the mountain by himself to pray. When evening came, he was there alone.”

I find stillness in the morning. I’m an early riser and the house is quiet. I often go for morning walks when it’s still dark and quiet. I find stillness in the cool, cool, cool of the morning.

I also find stillness, strangely enough, when I drive. I do some good thinking and mental writing when I drive. I can drive by rote. Have you ever arrived someplace and wondered how? You made it safely because you know the roads. You don’t have to think about how to drive, you just get there. I do that frequently.

But it’s not an intentional effort to find stillness.

Where can you find a solitary place in Wheaton? We don’t have a lot of mountains. And there isn’t much in the way of desolation. Two options that I already mentioned are staying up late or getting up early. You can enjoy the stillness in your home and pursue God. And we might not have mountains, but we do have forest preserves that we can enjoy from dawn to dusk to walk in the woods. At Blackwell Forest Preserve, if we can disregard that “Mt Trashmore” is an old landfill and climb the side that isn’t a toboggan run, we can get alone on that socalled mountain.

It’s important that we find stillness in our lives. I know this because Jesus sought stillness. In Mark 1:35, regarding Jesus, it says, “And rising very early in the morning, while it was still dark, he departed and went out to a desolate place, and there

My challenge to you and to me is to seek stillness this winter and spend time praying. It might seem like silliness to hunker down on the side of Mt. Trashmore but I fully expect that God will honor the effort to seek him despite the setting.

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JANUARY 2026 CONNECTIONS

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CHURCH LIFE JANUARY HIGHLIGHTS

SUNDAY MORNING WORSHIP SERVICES

SUNDAY EVENING SERVICE

5 p.m. in Commons Hall

Everyone welcome.

NEW EVENING SERMON SERIES:

Join us at 8, 9:30 and 11 a.m.

You can watch it at college-church. org/livestream

BETTER: How Jesus Is Better than Anyone and Anything Else THE BOOK OF HEBREWS JANUARY 4: No evening service JANUARY 11: Hebrews 1:1-4, Pastoral Resident Matt Heaton preaching JANUARY 18: Hebrews 1:5-15, Pastor Josh Maurer preaching

JANUARY 4: Taking Hold of That Which Is Truly Life, 1 Timothy 6:17-19, Senior Pastor Josh Moody preaching. Two Services at 9:30 and 11 a.m. We will celebrate Communion this Sunday

JANUARY 25: Hebrews 2:1-4, Pastoral Resident Jacob Samuel Raju preaching

NEW MORNING SERMON SERIES:

FORUM 15 Sundays 8 a.m.

Commons Hall (C104F)

ADULT COMMUNITIES Adult Communities will not meet on January 4

• Teachers: Bruce Main, John Maust • Study: Jonah/Nahum GREEK EXEGESIS Sundays 9:30 a.m. in the Board Room

THE TRUTH ABOUT JESUS a five-week series, Senior Pastor

• Teacher: Jon Laansma • Study: 1 John

JANUARY 11: Jesus Is Intellectually Credible, Matthew 13:53-58

• Description: reading and discussion of the Greek New Testament. Knowledge of Greek is not required for this class.

JANUARY 18: Jesus Is Morally Compelling, Matthew 14:1-12

LIFE TOGETHER Sundays 9:30 a.m. in Commons Gym

JANUARY 25: Jesus Is Materially Satisfying, Matthew 13-21 6:16-18

• Teacher: Teaching Team

Josh Moody preaching

• Study: Various Topics • Description: short teaching with small group discussion. Authentic biblical community for adults, ages 25-40.

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LIVING WORD Sundays 9:30 a.m.

Commons Hall in C104A & C104C • Teachers: Felipe Chamy • Study: The Gospel of John • Description: A “community within a community,” where we share, pray and learn together.

LOGOS 9:30 a.m. Commons Hall in C104E • Teachers: James Seward • Study: The Book of Hebrews • Description: a caring community centered around interactive Bible teaching and prayer, spanning a range of ages and family situations THRIVE Sundays 9:30 a.m. in Crossings-Clapham Main Area • Teachers: Joe Becker • Study: The Gospel of John • Description: a vibrant group, ages approximately 40-60, committed to growing with Jesus and his church through Bible-based teaching, small group discussion, common prayer and fellowship.

VERITAS Sundays 9:30 a.m.

Commons Hall in C104B & D • Teacher: Dr. Gregg Quiggle • Study: Christian History since the Reformation • Description: a teaching class with active discussion and interaction.

Most attendees are middle to upper age.

WOMEN’S MINISTRIES MOM2MOM JANUARY 12: 9:30-11 a.m., Large Group Gathering: rest & trust in Commons Hall JANUARY 19: 9:30-11:30 a.m., Playdate Meet-up in Commons Gym

JANUARY 2026 CONNECTIONS

JANUARY 26: 7:30-9 p.m., Mom’s Night Out, Allison Bonga’s house WOMEN’S BIBLE STUDY Wednesdays, January 21 through April 29. We look forward to studying the Book of Daniel together and we’d love to have you join! Register on our website.

MORNING: 9:30-11 a.m.

EVENING: 6:45-8:15 p.m.

CHILDREN’S MINISTRIES (KIDS’ HARBOR)

MIDDLE SCHOOL (KINGS MESSENGERS)

SUNDAY MORNING Nursery (0-2) at 9:30 and 11 a.m.

SUNDAY MORNINGS 9:30-10:30 a.m. in KMs Room

Bible school (preschool-third grade) at 9:30 a.m.

WEDNESDAY NIGHT 6:45-8:15 p.m. in the Crossings

At the 9:30 hour, fourth and fifth graders begin with their families in the service (or an Adult Community) until dismissed for Bible school.

HIGH SCHOOL (HYACKS)

WOMEN’S CONFERENCE What is your experience with fear?

Is it a helpful tool or do worries keep you up at night? What does it look like for fear to be in its right place? What role should trusting God play in the midst of fear?

Wonders of Worship “WOW” (K-third grade) dismissed during second half of 11 a.m. service

We hope you will join us Friday & Saturday, February 20-21 at College Church as we welcome Kristen Wetherell to help us understand more about fear in light of God’s character and his promises to us when we are afraid. Learn more and register on our website.

SUNDAY EVENING Nursery will resume on January 11.

MEN’S MINISTRIES MEN’S BIBLE STUDY Wednesdays, January 21-April 29, at 6:45-8:15 in Commons West. Join us for Men’s Bible Study as we dive into the Book of Daniel. Evenings include teaching, table discussion, fellowship and a light meal.

MEN’S BASKETBALL Thursdays at 8 p.m. in Commons Gym MEN’S WINTER RETREAT is February 6-7 at the DoubleTree

by Hilton in Oakbrook, IL. Dr Paul House will speak on the Book of Zephaniah. Register on the College Church website.

Children’s church (older preschool) during second half of 11 a.m. service Children’s church (younger preschool) at 11 a.m.

God’s Children Sing will resume on January 11.

Children’s Choirs will resume January 11 WEDNESDAY EVENING Kids Korner 9:30-11 a.m. will resume January 21.

Evening Programs 6:45-8:15 p.m.

Clubs will resume January 21 KH EVENTS • Family Open Gym, Saturday, January 25, 9-11 a.m.

HYACKS will resume on January 11 SUNDAY MORNING HYACKS meets at 9:30 a.m. in the Crossings. Enter through the door across the street from the Chase ATM. Baxter will be teaching on the Book of Hebrews. Afterwards, you are welcome to walk over to the Sanctuary with us for the 11 a.m. church service and sit together.

WEDNESDAY MORNING 6:30-7:30 a.m. Men and Women of Courage groups meet every other week Women meet in Welsh Hall and men meet in the Crossings conference room. A time of Bible reading, prayer, worship and Scripture memorization. Will resume on Wednesday, January 21.

WEDNESDAY NIGHT 7-8:30 p.m. Large group gathering (in Crossings) and small group gatherings (location varies per group) alternates weekly. Will resume on Wednesday, January 14.

COLLEGE GROUP

• God’s Good Design Class, open to fourth and fifth grade students and their parents, Sundays at 9:30 a.m. on January 19, 26, February 2, 9, Registration required.

(for college-age young adults)

• Following Jesus Class, Tuesdays at 3:45-5 p.m. on January 21, 28, February 4, 11 for fourth and fifth grade students, registration required.

WEEKNIGHT LIFE GROUPS Tuesday and Thursday nights; Life Groups meet in homes.

SUNDAYS Rooted at 12:15-1:30 p.m. in the Crossings. Will resume on January 18.

continued on next page

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JANUARY 2026 CONNECTIONS

STARS DISABILITY Children/Adult/Multi-Generational Sunday classes meet at 9:30 and 11 a.m. starting January 4.

Family Game Night, January 9, 6:30-8:30 p.m. in CL01 STARS Choir resumes on January 18 Praise in Action resumes on January 21.

Friday Night Fun, January 23, 6:308:30 p.m. on Commons gym level

ARTSPACE

Details on page 9.

their situation alone. To learn more or book an appointment, visit the website or call toll-free 855-818-4554.

ABOUT US LUNCH Are you new to College Church or would you like to learn more about us? If so, you’re invited to a special lunch on Sunday, January 18, at noon in the lobby outside the Sanctuary.

Come and meet pastors and staff, learn about College Church, and find out how you can get involved. Lunch is on us!

RSVP to help us plan.

SIGNS OF LOVE

BECOMING ONE

BUILDING BRIDGES: on January 4 and 18, 3:30-5 p.m. in the Crossings conference room, On January 18, Building Bridges will welcome comedian Brad Klein.

is a class for engaged couples.

It provides a biblical perspective on topics such as the covenant of marriage, roles of husbands and wives, finances, intimacy, communication and conflict resolution. Becoming One will be Saturday, January 31, 2026, from 9AM – 4PM. It includes one daylong session with other couples, plus two personal sessions with a mentor couple. Cost is $50 per couple for the online premarital assessment, lunch and expenses.

If you have questions or would like to register, please contact Christy at marriage@ college-church.org.

KEENAGERS Join Keenagers on Friday, January 16. Kevin Applegate, Director of Church Partnership at Caring Network, will share about their mission to save two lives at a time— both mother and baby. He connects churches across Chicagoland with Caring Network and the ministries they provide that support their nine women’s clinics across DuPage and Cook counties. The evening begins with a reception at 5:30, dinner at 6, and program at 7 p.m.

Reservations are required

by Tuesday, January 13.

COLLEGE CHURCH’S LEGAL CLINIC will be held Saturday, January 17, 9 a.m. – 12 p.m. For only $30, book a 45-minute appointment with an attorney to discuss your legal situation, explore options, and decide on a plan. Our center volunteers are present to welcome, support and encourage clients with the knowledge that God cares for them, and they don’t need to face

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STEPS OF FAITH Steps of Faith such as believers baptism or confirmation, and infant baptism or dedication are important signposts in our lives.

If you are interested in pursuing one of these for yourself or a family member, contact Christy at baptism@college-church.org.

Looking Ahead MEMBERSHIP Ready to participate fully in the life and ministries of College Church?

Come find out about College Church’s history, core beliefs, ministries and what it means for you to be a member. Join us on Sunday, February 8. We will start with lunch at noon, and then the class will run from 12:30-4:30 p.m.; registration is requested.

For more info, contact Christy at membership@collegechurch.org, or register using the QR code.

WOMEN’S CONFERENCE FEBRUARY 20-21 VENUE: College Church SPEAKER: Kristen Wetherell, author of Fight your Fears TOPIC: “Take Refuge: Releasing our Fears & Resting in Him”

MEN’S RETREAT FEBRUARY 6-7 VENUE: Hilton Doubletree Inn, Oakbrook, IL SPEAKER: Dr. Paul House TOPIC: “Our Story Ends with God Singing”: A study on the Book of Zephaniah

BUILDING BRIDGES SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 1 3:30-5 p.m. in the Crossings conference room Join us as we hear from Deaf panelists.

JANUARY 2026 CONNECTIONS

Under the Radar

Facilities

DOWNTOWN WHEATON

SHOW REMOVAL

Cocoa & Coffee Crawl for the whole family January 10 from 12-3 p.m.

For tickets, go to www. visitdowntownwheaton.org/events

WHEATON COLLEGE Opera MainStage: “A Sip of Elixir and HMS Petit Four: Abridged versions of the Elixir of Love and H.M.S. Pinafore” January 14-17 from 7:30-9 p.m.

Armerding Center for Music and the Arts Concert Hall. For information, call: (630) 752-5010

SYMPHONY Elmhurst Symphony Orchestra: Appalachia Spring January 18 at 3 p.m.

Elmhurst Christian Reform Church For tickets: elmhurstsymphony.org/ appalachian-spring

MORTON ARBORETUM Seed Swap Share and take home seeds at this free event (included with Aboretum admission) January 31, advance registration required. Call (630) 719-2468

FACTS

What is the snow removal square footage for the College Church properties?

The answer: 345,600 square feet, which is equivalent to six football fields. That is the amount of snow removal that College Church must be prepared to remove every time it snows! This is an enormous unpredictable task that College Church tackles every winter. To save the church thousands of dollars, a volunteer team was created to help provide safety for those who attend College Church.

You can make a difference by joining the Snow Support Crew to help remove the snow and ice during the winter months. Just text SNOW to (630) 394-5180 and we will contact you. This service is vital to helping our ministries here at College Church continue without interruption.

Attention Members of College Church: The Nominating Committee is sending you a letter to start the nominations process.

Watch your mailbox in early January for their letter.

OPPORTUNITIES FOR PRAYER Call the church office or email info@college-church.org for details on these prayer meetings.

SUNDAY MORNING PRAYER: 8:15-8:40 a.m., meets in the Commons board room MONDAY MORNING PRAYER: 6:15 a.m., meets in C104A MIDWEEK PRAYER MEETING: Wednesdays at NOON via Zoom JANUARY 7: Caleb & Marissa Duttweiler, Faith & Learning (East Mountain), discipleship in South Africa JANUARY 14: Jonathan & Kathy Haley, WorldVenture, discipleship in Spain JANUARY 21: John & Leila, church planting in Asia JANUARY 28: Paul & Mary, discipleship and training in Asia PRAYER FOR THE PERSECUTED CHURCH: Fridays, 12-1 p.m., Commons board room AARON-HUR PRAYER FELLOWSHIP will meet on Thursday, January 8, at 7 p.m. at the home of Ruth Diffin, 1917 Ardmore Lane, Unit B, in Wheaton (630) 291-2437.

Please join us.

BARNABAS PRAYER FELLOWSHIP hears from Kalli Hill about her work at local colleges with CRU at the group’s January meeting on January 20 at 1:30 p.m. We will meet in the Patio Dining Room of Covenant Living at Windsor Park.

Both men and women are welcome to visit or join the prayer group.

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A

s quietness descended upon our home after the hustle and bustle of the holiday, I began to reflect on what a year it had been to date . . . but right now, I am in the hustle stage of decorating the house for Christmas, baking Christmas cookies, and purchasing Christmas gifts. My husband and I are attending our oldest granddaughter’s first high school Christmas choir concert, spending a weekend of memory making with granddaughters four and give, and squeezing in my annual eye exam.

Sound familiar?

But back to the quietness descending.

After all, it is January.

It is the day after Christmas, and that is as far as I can get because I cannot predict the future, but I can reflect on the past, because I keep a pretty detailed calendar of all family events and activities (individually and group). So here goes.

Grab a cup of coffee or hot cocoa and come with me, while sitting in your favorite chair in your favorite room.

I promise not to bore you.

A Time of Reflection PAT CIRRINCIONE

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The beginning months of 2025 in our home were filled with the usual: take down the Christmas tree and house decorations, Bible Study which resumed for the new year on January 8, as did the routine of picking up our third granddaughter from school each Tuesday (which at age six she gets pretty excited about, unlike our granddaughter one, at age 14, who would be mortified, unless she specifically requested our personal Lyft services for some reason).

Excitement began to mount in February as Marmion Academy began to win, win and win in wrestling. They achieved a monumental achievement when they became State Champions on March 1.

Why the excitement? Our oldest son is the head coach, and our younger son an assistant coach, who both are now sporting state champion rings. It was an achievement only God could attain for

JANUARY 2026 CONNECTIONS

them, by allowing his gifts of athleticism to soar for all involved.

Following that excitement was a round of dance competitions for four of our five granddaughters (yes, our sons are “Dance Dads”), followed by a few trips to Wisconsin and New York. Am I boring you yet?

Now for the good stuff! Although the beginning was fun, the one thing that stood out to me the most, yes, even above a state championship, was watching my family and prayer groups reveal what our hearts truly needed. Our prayers exposed where our satisfaction might be found. As Paul Tripp says in his book Everyday Gospel: “Your true hopes and dreams are embedded in your prayers. Prayer can be a battle for what we want or what God wants for us.”

This is a constant reality in my family as we pray that God will place his healing hands upon us all, but especially our six-year-old granddaughter who suffers from seizures, one so bad that we were told if they persisted, she could end up in a vegetative state. We pray constantly for miracles concerning her health, and this year God bestowed one on us.

During the summer she had her usual three-month check-up and EEG, and the worst of the worst was ninety percent gone! Her doctor had to make sure he had the right patient before he told her parents because he could not fathom what he was seeing, but we knew what had happened. God had answered our prayers. This amazing gift brought us to our knees in praise and thanksgiving for his blessing and gift, and for those at church, in prayer groups, and family and friends who have not stopped praying for this little one’s full recovery. (We thank you). We live in continual prayer, and the hope for a complete cure if it be God’s will while we enjoy the precious moments we have together on this earth.

Our family (exclusive of one hold out we are praying for) has become dependent on God this year as we went through several crisis. We have moved from independence to dependence and are embracing the vertical. We realize through all the good and bad times that we are not isolated or selfsufficient. According to 1 Corinthians 12:4-13: “we are all dependent, one body with many members, all with a variety of gifts but the same spirit which should make us stronger, kinder and full of hope…”

Paul warned us in Colossians of the constant struggle “to not be held captive by philosophy and empty deceit according to human traditions..”(Colossians 2:6), but “to put on the new self and set your minds on things that are above, not on things that are on earth” and “to work heartily as for the Lord and not for man” (Colossians 3:23), and “to continue steadfastly in prayer, being watchful in, and with thanksgiving (Colossians 4:2). Oh, so easy to read, but so hard to do when things aren’t going well. It is why, as I reflect, the Bible has become my guide for life. This year is the first time I have, almost, read it cover to cover (which will be done, God willing, by the time you read this).

of others, then you are not investing time in examining your own heart and life, in confessing what has been revealed, in seeking God’s forgiveness, and in surrendering yourself once more to Him. You are harming your spiritual growth and worship.” (Everyday Gospel) So, with January upon us, and our hibernation time begins, let us rest, be at peace and remain calm. A profound inner peace and trust in God will carry you through life’s trials and chaos.

I end with something I saw in one of my piles of notes and ideas I keep: Four ways to experience God’s peace during life’s storms: 1. Focus on faith. We have to constantly remind ourselves that God is bigger than any obstacle we are up against.

2. Determine to trust God. Trust in his love continually and don’t lean on your own understanding.

3. Meditate on the Word of God. 4. Pray for peace.

May God bless this year with his love, which surpasses all, and keep us safe and quiet in his arms.

And one more thing as I bring this time of reflection to a close (okay, maybe a few more things): I learned that social media was no longer a place to mind my own affairs, but that it was making me mind other people’s business. As my favorite author for the year (Paul Tripp) says: “It tempts you to follow battles and weigh in on controversies, becoming part of the dissatisfied and angry mob. It gives you the false impression that you are a part of something, when in reality, your involvement is just a bunch of keyboard clicks!” (Everyday Gospel) Mr. Tripp goes on to say: “…if your attention is dominated by the business 21

Casting Bread on Czech Waters

REFLECTIONS ON THE NOVEMBER 2025 STAMP TRIP TO CZECH REPUBLIC

JON SMALLEY

T

he Czech Republic is considered one of the most secular countries in the world. Approximately 48% of the population identifies as irreligious, which includes atheists and agnostics. There is a significant distrust of traditional religious institutions, and many Czechs are non-religious or indifferent towards religion. Overall, the country has a high degree of atheism, making it a largely secular nation.

Mentioning the Czech Republic likely conjures up images of Prague, the capital, known for its medieval architecture and vibrant cultural scene. Famous for its historic sites combined with rich history and affordability, the city is a major tourist destination. However, there is another Czech Republic far less travelled and largely ignored but nonetheless significant reflecting similar characteristics but in an understated and easily overlooked manner.

At the northeastern corner of the country, adjacent to the border with Poland, lies the Moravian-Silesian Region with its own rich history. More importantly, this is where College Church missionaries Nathan and Vera Beck together with their family, serve with Greater Europe Mission (GEM)).

Through the Becks, College Church has had the opportunity to send both World Impact and STAMP teams with the purpose of creating “beachhead” opportunities for the local 22

READY TO MEET STUDENTS OF GYMNÁZIUM CIHELNI

JANUARY 2026 CONNECTIONS

church to reach young people with the gospel. As a means of reaching young people, the teams have been welcomed into local schools for the purpose of providing conversational English to students. In sitting and talking with students, there is then the potential for “gospel conversations” and extending invitations to connect with and participate in the local church and its youth group.

So, what does all that have to do with bread and water? When I hear these two words, my tendency is to think about ponds and ducks, and the fond memories of the many locations where I have been able to relax, whiling away the time, either alone or with family, feeding apparently starving waterfowl of all shapes and sizes. But I believe that the Preacher’s mind was far-removed from going down to the duckpond to get rid of stale bread when he wrote, “Cast your bread upon the waters, for you will find it after many days.” (Eccles. 11:1) To “cast our bread upon the waters” speaks to the importance of both generosity and faith despite the apparent unlikelihood of immediate results. However, the prospect held out by the Preacher is that there is the potential for unexpected returns perhaps when that act is forgotten and even lost in the past.

Driven as we are by living within time and space, there is a tendency to limit our expectation for how God is working through us and our service. But his actions and answers are governed by his purposes and will rather than by us and simply how good we are at asking. In light of this reality, we live and serve in faith believing that in some way at some time, the Lord will respond in a manner that not only reflects who he is, but also encourages us that he does hear and answer in ways which are above and beyond our imagination. So, we go, we pray, we serve in faith persuaded that our labor in the Lord is not in vain.

With all this in mind, the latest STAMP team from College Church headed to the Czech Republic with the opportunity to “cast bread” in an unlikely setting. Having prayed in the preceding weeks in partnership with missionaries Nathan and Vera Beck, we anticipated a new and exciting opportunity.

Through connection with Pastor Lukáš Nyzio of Církev Bratrská (Church of the Brethren) ministering in the town of Frýdek-Místek, an invitation was extended to visit a local high school (Gymnázium Cihelni) for the purpose of helping students with conversational English.

The team entered classrooms and met with 450 students to engage them in conversation and seeking opportunity for gospel opportunities. At the end of each conversation, we gave out invitations to join the local church’s youth group on Friday evening for an American party. The objective was straightforward and our vision easily stated. As a team, we were prepared and primed to encourage focused conversation

with the underlying objective of getting to the bottom line of proclaiming the gospel. In a way, we were taking bread to feed the ducks, but increasingly throughout the week it was clear that the Lord’s call was to cast the bread on the waters. Not every conversation lived up to expectations; many conversations were going deeper but the clock cut them short; some conversations moved quickly to spiritual topics; a few conversations made it to the bottom line. In our daily debriefs, there was a mixture of positives and negatives and the question running through back of our minds about how successfully we were doing.

GOSPEL PRESENTATION TO STUDENTS AT YOUTH GROUP

The students’ responses to the invitation for Friday evening was underwhelming, to say the least. On Thursday, only four indicated they planned to attend. As we prepared for the party, the response crept up to eleven, but optimism was tempered with caution. Seven o’clock came and only a few students arrived as the party got underway. Then more students trickled in and, as the party got going eventually, there were more than thirty students from the school who came. What encouragement; what an opportunity; what a relief; what a praise!

The team led an ice-breaker activity in English which had everybody laughing and enjoying each other, especially when we served Chicago-style hot dogs and other fingerfoods. To say that the hot dogs were a hit would be an understatement based on the level of noisy appreciation and the number of returns to the line. As everybody enjoyed their food, Pastor Lukáš gave a gospel presentation followed by a time for questions. The remainder of the party was simply conversations with the students—with many conversations more directly related to spiritual matters and open invitations to join the youth group for Bible study and ongoing activities.

Much later in the evening, we reluctantly said that it was time for us to return to our hotel, and the last of the students still there left with stomachs fed and minds filled. We then said continued on next page

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GREETING THE LOCAL CHURCH CÍRKEV BRATRSKÁ

our farewells to our new church family and their pastor with familial affection and singing the Doxology in English as our parting blessing to them.

After enjoying a little downtime as a team the following day, we returned to Chicago bringing with us the memories of our experience—the sights and sounds still very near to each of us.

Reflecting on the trip, it is easy to focus on and quantify the degree to which we achieved our purpose for going. However, it is far more God-honoring to think of what he might achieve through our going. We have cast the bread on Czech waters and now we wait prayerfully seeking that the Lord would cause it to be found in ways that are above and beyond.

Considering the many touchpoints we experience on our trip, please join in praying for these specific requests for gospel opportunities and proclamation, the pieces of bread cast on Czech waters.

• The Czech people living in the wake of communism and national atheism • College Church missionaries Nathan and Vera Beck serving with GEM • Pastor Lukáš and his wife, Markéta, ministering in the city of Frýdek-Místek • The Church of the Brethren reaching Frýdek-Místek with the good news of Jesus 24

• The students of Gymnázium Cihelni needing to know the love of Christ • The school faculty who observed us having such a positive impact on their students • The Iranian couple reading the Bible for the first time who met two our team members, opening their eyes to the reality of being part of a truly global family • The hotel staff who we were able to bless with a token of our love • The STAMP team that we continue to grow in our witness and gospel service We are grateful for the Lord’s promise to bless our faithful service, and we look with anticipation for how our trip will be used for his glory and the establishing of his kingdom.

Members of the Czech STAMP team were Rebecca Brush; Georgina Johnson; David Johnson; Jon and Kristie Smalley and Amanda Willmeth

COMING JANUARY 11

Shepherding Sundays

A

t College Church, we have a problem. We don’t have a good grasp of who makes up College Church. There are people we think are part of our family who we’ve later learned are no longer connected.

And we have a host of people who attend whose names we don’t know.

All this is typical of larger churches. But at College Church, we feel the weight of God’s call to shepherd the flock. We want to look after the one that wanders from the ninety-nine. We don’t want anyone to fall through the cracks. We don’t want anyone to be overlooked.

Stated positively, we want everyone to be loved, known and connected. We want to foster a culture of mutual love and caring hospitality that extends to the unbeliever. We want to be known by our love. When people experience College Church, we want them to be overwhelmed by our familial love.

One small but crucial step in that is getting a handle on who is here.

Back in July, I sent a video out to the church asking for your help with this. Since then, I’ve had lots of good conversations. After much prayer and interaction, we have a plan that we’re calling Shepherding Sundays.

The plan begins this month on January 11. Once every three months, we’ll

have a Shepherding Sunday that will replace what we’re currently doing with our weekly Connect QR code. On that Sunday: 1. Most significantly, there will be a time in the service for you to let us know you are part of this family so that we can shepherd you. We’re not shopping for your personal information. We just want to know you’re here.

2. You’ll have opportunity to request more personal shepherding. You can request a pastoral visit. You can share a prayer request—and our leaders will have a prayer meeting that week to pray for all submitted requests.

3. We will encourage people to ask everyone their names that Sunday, including family members and friends. We’ll have fun with it, plus it’s an easy way to ask for a name you should have remembered.

I don’t think Shepherding Sundays hold the key to unleashing a culture of mutual love and hospitality. These Sundays are only one small component.

But I wanted you to know change is coming, and, more importantly, I wanted you to know the heart behind it. Our heart is to shepherd and care.

If you have any questions, don’t hesitate to reach out: jamesseward@collegechurch.org 25

Practically Pro-Life BANK ON THE BABY BANK KARA BETH VANCE

January is considered Sanctity of Life month in the United States which began in response to the Roe v. Wade Supreme Court decision that legalized abortion in the U.S. and was issued in this month in 1973. The Roe v. Wade decision was overturned in June 2022, and this pushed abortion laws back to the states. While some states already had life-affirming laws on the books or sought to pass new ones to protect unborn human life, Illinois has tried to position itself as an abortion destination. According to Guttmacher Institute, in 2024, 39% of abortions performed in Illinois were for women who came from out of state. Almost 25% of women who cross state lines for an abortion come to Illinois. There is so much work to do in our state to see human lives legally protected at every stage.

to around 8,000 diapers every other week or 16,000 diapers per month! That is a lot of diapers!

One super practical way to promote the value of every human life is to support under-resourced moms and families so that they feel empowered to choose life.

• Diapers (size newborn through 6) • Baby wipes • Baby shampoo • Baby lotion • Diaper rash cream • Formula (Similac yellow and purple are most requested)

Have you walked by the white crib in the narthex on the first Sunday of each month and in the Commons the other Sundays of the month? Since October 2022, College Church, in coordination with our long-time partner ministry Caring Network, has come alongside families by helping to stock our local Baby Bank.

Women that might want to choose life sometimes consider abortion when they can’t see how they will be able to provide for another child. When women come to a local Caring Network pregnancy center with those concerns, the staff is able to share how churches are standing in the gap and helping to provide for the practical needs of another baby through baby care items that they can acquire at their local Baby Bank.

Caring Network has multiple bank locations strategically placed to target different regions where its clients and centers are located. Our local Baby Bank is located at Church of the Resurrection (just down the road!) and is a beautiful space for families to come.

When our local Baby Bank first began, it served about 25 families every two weeks. Now it serves over 60 families every two weeks with more than 100 children in diapers. That translates 26

In addition to providing for the physical needs of the clients at the Baby Bank, volunteers also ask clients how they can pray for them and their families and look for opportunities to share about the hope found in Christ. Some families have visited a local church after meeting Christians at the Baby Bank and continue to have spiritual conversations.

Please consider whether you can add any of the following items to your weekly shopping trip and bring any of the following items with you to church on Sundays to put in the Baby Bank Donation Crib.

There is also an Amazon Wish List so that you can select to have items sent directly to the Baby Bank.

Please reach out to us at sohl@college-church.org if you have questions or want to discuss options to be more regularly involved in this. We’re also still looking to add to our team of volunteers who would take items from the Baby Bank donation crib at College Church to the Caring Network Baby Bank location at Church of the Resurrection.

Scan this QR code to read the October 2024 Connections article with more insight into how the Baby Bank is helping to support life in our community.

JANUARY 2026 CONNECTIONS

SANCTITY OF HUMAN LIFE ANNOUNCEMENTS 40 DAYS FOR LIFE PRAYER Join the Sanctity of Human Life Task Force at 40 Days for Life’s year-round peaceful prayer vigil.

Meet on Waterleaf pregnancy center’s property across from Planned Parenthood Aurora.

Questions? Email sohl@college-church.org for dates and time.

40 DAYS FOR LIFE FALL PRAYER CAMPAIGN DUPAGE RECAP Over 650 people participated in prayer outside Aurora Planned Parenthood. On the first day of the Downers Grove vigil, a pregnant abortion client stopped to speak with the sidewalk counselor. She said she knew it was wrong, so she changed her mind, got off the operating table, and left the clinic.

God Centered Life is an independent, listenersupported ministry that brings the preaching and teaching of Pastor Moody to all corners of the globe. Listeners from more than 200 countries visit the GCL website for resources.

A broadcast listener shared this: “I live and work in Japan. My wife is Japanese and not a believer.

We have two daughters. There has been a lot of pressures, suffering and difficulties. But I am hopeful, holding on to God’s wonderful promises. Thank you, from the bottom of my heart. God bless God Centered Life…”

This global ministry is here for you, College Church. Use it to augment your daily devotions and re-listen to pastor Moody’s sermons throughout the week. Or get it in your email daily. Download the God Centered Life app and listen to the daily podcast, wherever you get your podcasts.

VISION TOUR Join SOHL at an informal, small group Vision Tour on Thursday, January 15, 7-8 p.m. at the Glen Ellyn Caring Network center. Meet Caring Network president, Kirt Wiggins, tour the pregnancy center, hear about how the ministry connects with clients, and enjoy refreshments. www.caringnetwork.com/ events/growing-together/ SAVE THE DATE Illinois Pro-Life March On Thursday, March 19, we will travel via bus together from church to Springfield to stand for life with citizens from around the state!

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JANUARY 2026 CONNECTIONS

community outreach

SPOTLIGHT Key ministry updates and events from the Evangelism & Culture Impact Committee and the Local Ministry Partners of College Church

COLLEGE CHURCH MINISTRY TASK FORCE UPDATES HIGHLIGHT: NAOMI’S HOUSE

OTHER UPDATES

This month, the Evangelism and Culture Impact Committee is highlighting one of our ministry partners, Naomi’s House, in recognition of Human Trafficking Awareness Month. To learn more about the amazing work of Naomi’s House, go to www. naomishouse.org.

Repeat Boutique: Volunteers are needed! Repeat Boutique is looking for volunteers to serve one– two days per week, for two–five hours per day.

Help is needed at the front desk, as well as with sorting and receiving donations. Come be part of something genuinely beautiful and impactful.

In order to get better acquainted with Naomi’s House and human trafficking, Naomi’s House is hosting a special Human Trafficking 101 webinar on January 21st. Register and watch to learn about the impact of trafficking in our community and how you can support survivors at Naomi’s House. Visit naomishouse.org/events to register and follow @naomishouse_ on social media to stay connected.

Prison Task Force, Stateville: Each Saturday morning, a team of College Church volunteers travels to Stateville’s Minimum-Security Unit (MSU) to lead worship and minister to more than a dozen inmates. Please pray specifically for:

Naomi’s House’s is also looking for College Church members and regular attenders to create Outreach bags that provide tangible resources for survivors.

Naomi’s House can provide the drawstring bags and a list of items you can purchase to fill them.

This is a great thing to with others in the church or as a small group! Last January, churches throughout the area provided all the outreach bags Naomi’s House needed to reach survivors for the whole year!

To request the list of items to purchase and the drawstring bags, email info@naomishouse.org.

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TORRANCE for work release and restoration with his family LOGAN for his wife and children, and for reconciliation with an estranged sister ROGER for the guards he interacts with who do not believe in God JORDIN for his grandfather, Alvaro, who is ill JOSÉ for his daughters, Lupe and Mia CHRISTIANO for his parents, siblings, and his son Jarir, that someone would help him learn to read LifeWise Academy: provides biblical instruction during the school day to public school elementary and junior high students off campus. The ministry currently serves students from Longfellow Elementary on Tuesdays at noon in the Crossings and will begin classes this month for students from Franklin Middle School. Transportation is provided, and many of the teachers and volunteers are part of the College Church family.

JANUARY 2026 CONNECTIONS

at the

BOOKSTALL A NEW BOOK FROM JOSH MOODY THE CHURCH HISTORY HANDBOOK: A VISUAL GUIDE THROUGH CHURCH HISTORY

BIBLE VERSES EVERY CHRISTIAN SHOULD KNOW: FOR KNOWING AND FOLLOWING GOD

by Josh Moody The new year offers a fresh start for digging into the Bible. Have you thought about memorization goals, or do you need some ideas?

In this book by Pastor Josh Moody, you’ll find: • 30 reflections on knowing and following God • 270 verses curated by reflection topic • Lined space to aid reflection or memorization Those just beginning to follow Jesus and those who have been on the journey for many years benefit from reading and memorizing God’s Word. With over 250 verses to meditate upon or memorize, Bible Verses Every Christian Should Know paints the big picture of who God is and what it means to follow Him. Pastor Moody draws attention to 15 aspects of God’s character and 15 key elements of Christian practice or discipleship. Together, these 30 reflections help you know God and follow Him. Each topic includes 8 related Bible verses for study.

Immerse yourself in this elegant, full-color handbook that gives you robust summary content, charts, infographics, maps, doctrinal studies, short biographies, and more for every major period of church history. It’s a great way to learn from the past and see how it will shape your walk with the Lord today.

Bookstall Price: $32

SOLOMON SAYS DEVOTIONAL

by Sarah Humphrey and Amy Parker If we could give our tweens one tool to mold them into strong, faithful adults, what would it be?

The wisdom of the Bible.

Bible Verses Every Christian Should Know is a wonderful gift for any Christian seeking to ground themselves in the Word of God. A great baptism gift, birthday gift, Christmas gift, or just-because gift, this devotional will bless the person receiving it. Add it to your daily quiet time and deepen your understanding of who God is so that you can follow Him more closely.

Solomon Says Devotional offers growing, impressionable minds one hundred devotions based on priceless wisdom that is straight from King Solomon himself. This devotional is written for children ages 8 to 12. Head to the bookstore and take a look— your kids will find the layout is really readable and each devotion has a short prayer and simple activity so they can apply the teachings to their own lives.

Bookstall Price: $12

Bookstall Price: $13

Visit the Shepherd Shelf Between the fireside and the bookstall checkout desk, we are building a “Shepherd Shelf,” a curated collection of books our pastors and directors are referencing in their varied counseling and Christian living situations. Be sure to check out this new “Shepherd Shelf.”

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JANUARY 2026 CONNECTIONS

On Declarations WIL TRIGGS

O

n this other side of New Year’s, I have shifted from “best-ofs” to reading of the hopes and predictions for the new year. No one knows what’s going to happen in 2026, so these kinds of lists are much less reliable than the year-end ones that look back on what actually took place.

tion for daily discipline from places as unlikely as the Islamic calls to prayer at dawn, noon, mid-afternoon, sunset and after dark or monastic hours of prayers, which seem to follow similar patterns.

I rebel against much of that formalism and repetition. Maybe my saying that makes me just as self-absorbed as everyone else. Oh well. It’s January.

Last year I spent more time than ever in the land of podcasts. On one I listened to last week the regulars on the show reviewed what they predicted about 2025 a year ago. They had gotten most everything wrong. They laughed about it, and it did seem funny. We humans seem so uniquely gifted at getting these things wrong, and then being impressed with ourselves for trying. So, what did they do next? The exact same thing for 2026.

Why did I listen when they were so off about the last?

But as I look ahead to 2026, I’m not interested in predictions or resolutions. If I lose weight, start swimming, write more, become socially engaged in an issue or election, good for me. But not best for me.

Another podcast debated making resolutions at the beginning of the year. For the most part the participants didn’t own up to making them. But then they confessed to doing their own versions of resolutions, just not tied to January 1.

I noticed, too, that many of them looked to liturgical calendars or selected monastic practices to help give shape and discipline to their days and nights. Though some Christians I respect draw inspira30

And I do want to spend more time praying and in communion with God. While on earth, Jesus withdrew to the quiet place to be alone with God. Jonathan Edwards wrote resolutions for himself as a young man that he reviewed once a week to see how he was doing. It’s a comprehensive list. Maybe I could try for three of my own but what might they be?

Best for me in 2026 is a declaration or a proclamation or two, not about me, not about the world. I want this year to be a year to more clearly and fully declare God. After all, if the heavens declare the glory of God, can’t I, too? Or will I just go on thinking about who is going to win the football game or the election or the newest competition show on my favor-

ite streaming service. The declarations are revealed in the things I do, the words I say, the way I act to the people who are not like me, who may not like me.

My declarations will have to be simple enough for a kindergartener, not graduate school theological phrases that impress the enlightened few. These declarations are for everyone.

God is trustworthy.

God is good.

God is near.

God is here.

Father, Son, Spirit.

Jesus came. He died. He rose.

He reigns.

And this from the Book of James: But the wisdom from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, open to reason, full of mercy and good fruits, impartial and sincere. And a harvest of righteousness is sown in peace by those who make peace.

This is a new year’s declaration I can get behind. It doesn’t matter if I’m in shape or out of shape, keeping my resolutions or already broken them. My life in 2026 can declare this truth, this freedom found only in Jesus.

Let these simple but eternal declarations control me in new ways this year.

JANUARY 2026 CONNECTIONS

JAY C U N N I NG H A M ELDER STATESMAN With January 2026, we introduce a new regular column to Connections that will be located at the end of each issue. Check back each month to get to know a little bit more about one of our elders.

FAMILY INFO:

I’m blessed to be known as Paige Cunningham’s husband!

We have three married children (Kelsey, Jameson, and Joel) and 8 almost perfect grandchildren).

A FAMILY TRADITION I APPRECIATE:

Spending a week each summer with the entire family at Camp of the Woods in upstate, NY. FAVORITE RESTAURANT IN WHEATON:

Well they keep changing it seems, but Ditka’s is pretty consistent.

A SPORT I DON’T PLAY BUT WISH I COULD:

Ice Hockey

WHEN IT COMES TO JUNK FOOD, SAVORY OR SWEET?

Definitely savory—peanut butter-stuffed pretzels FIRST DATE WITH MY BRIDE:

I took her to see “Wait Until Dark” WHILE PRAYING FOR COLLEGE CHURCH, AT THE TOP OF MY REQUESTS IS:

BEST WISE COUNSEL I RECEIVED FROM SOMEONE I DID NOT NECESSARILY LIKE:

that the Lord will stir in the hearts of each person to share the gospel at least one person in 2026 ... if you need pointers I’ll take you to coffee at My Half of the Sky (second favorite restaurant) and tell you how easy it is.

ONE PLACE I WOULD LIKE TO VISIT:

SERVICE I ATTEND AND WHERE I TYPICALLY SIT ON SUNDAY MORNINGS:

“MBWA” Management by walking around—being present to those you lead develops trust and respect. only one? Let’s see…today it would be Iceland.

LAST BOOK I READ:

years ago we were 8 o’clockers, but as we help with Living Word class we now go to The Eleven (as it’s called), typically on the right side (the correct side) near the back.

ONE OF THE BEST TUNES FROM THE 1970S:

WHAT I’D LIKE PEOPLE TO PRAY FOR WHEN THEY THINK OF ME:

A Gentleman in Moscow by Amor Towles, a riveting book that I was sorry had to end. Read the book, the movie is only so-so. there are many but “Mr. Blue Sky” by the Electric Light Orchestra always makes me smile.

that I will always remember that my first love is Jesus and to trust him with everything.

SPORTS TEAM I SECRETLY ROOT FOR:

Philadelphia Phillies. I grew up cheering them on and later, after moving to Chicago it was easy to switch to the Cubs.

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