JEFFREY SWAINSTON, CHAPLAIN
872 S. Waverly Road
Eaton Rapids, MI 48827
(616) 405-6921
revjeff82@gmail.com

JANUARY/FEBRUARY​ 2026 GRANGE NEWS

​From Christmas Light to Winter Faith
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The glow of Christmas does not vanish when the decorations are put away. The candles may be extinguished and the carols grow quieter, yet the light of Christ continues to shine, especially as we enter the long, cold weeks of winter.
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Winter has a way of slowing us down. The days are shorter, the nights longer, and the pace of life often turns inward. In Scripture, some of God’s deepest work happens in such seasons. Seeds lie hidden beneath frozen ground, unseen but very much alive. So it is with our faith. After the joy and celebration of Christmas, we need to nurture what God has planted in us.
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The season after Christmas reminds us that Christ is still being revealed. The story did not end in the manger. Jesus grew, taught, healed, and called ordinary people to follow him. During winter, we too are called to keep walking with Christ, even when the path feels quiet or the days feel heavy.
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For many, winter can be challenging. Illness lingers, loneliness can deepen, and the cold can feel relentless. This is a season to be especially attentive. We need to check on one another, to offer warmth in practical ways, and to remember that God’s presence is not dependent on sunshine or celebration. The Emmanuel of Christmas is still “God with us” in January and February.
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Winter also offers us the gift of time. Time to pray more deeply, to read Scripture more slowly, to listen more carefully for God’s voice. Just as the shepherds pondered what they had seen and heard, we should be carrying the message of Christmas into our everyday lives, into our homes, our work, and our relationships.
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As we move through the cold months ahead, may we trust that God is at work even when we cannot see it. Beneath the frozen ground, new life is forming. In God’s time, it will rise again.
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Until then, we should walk together in faith and keep the light of Christ burning brightly in our hearts.

NOVEMBER/DECEMBER 2025​ GRANGE NEWS

From Gratitude to Grace
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Thanksgiving is right around the corner and that means Christmas can’t be far behind. As we move from the season of Thanksgiving into the joy of Christmas, we’re reminded how gratitude and grace are deeply connected. Thanksgiving invites us to pause and count our blessings, to see God’s hand in the harvest, in our homes, and in the hearts of those we love.
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But as we lift our eyes toward Bethlehem, gratitude turns into awe. The same God who provides our daily bread now gives Himself, the Bread of Life, to a hungry world. Thanksgiving teaches us to say, “Thank You, Lord, for all You’ve given.” Christmas invites us to say, “Thank You, Lord, for coming Yourself.”

​As Paul wrote in 2 Corinthians 9:15, “Thanks be to God for his indescribable gift!” That gift began in a manger, but it leads us to the cross and the empty tomb, to grace upon grace.

​So, as we set our tables and later gather around our trees, may our gratitude deepen into worship. Let our Thanksgiving joy become Christmas praise.

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