At the beginning of the year, we responded to the needs in the community after the Eaton Fire.
2025 Year-End Letter
December 9, 2025
Dear Chapel Family,
As we come to the close of 2025, I want to pause and thank God for His great goodness to our church this year. The Lord has been so gracious to us! Every December, I’m reminded that God often works in small, steady ways—a constant presence, week after week—that only becomes visible as we look back. And this year has been no exception. We have much to celebrate, much to give thanks for, and much to look forward to.
Looking Back on God’s Faithfulness in 2025
This year was filled with moments where God’s grace was unmistakably at work among us—moments where He challenged and encouraged us together as a family. This started right at the beginning of the year when our congregation was profoundly impacted by the Eaton Fire. Several of our members lost their homes and others were displaced for extended periods. It was one of the most challenging moments for our church and the community in which God has placed us! It was amazing to see God’s grace as we worked together to respond to the fires and help those affected by it.
On Sundays and in our community groups, we walked through the Scriptures together, finishing a long series through the book of Isaiah and exploring Paul’s letter to the Ephesians.
Although it was bittersweet, this was also a year of departures, as several of our faithful friends and leaders moved away from Pasadena. We said goodbye to two of our elders and their families as well as a number of other families we will deeply miss.
Yet despite these departures, our ministries continued to strengthen and grow. Our children’s ministry, youth ministry, men’s and women’s ministries, and community groups all reached meaningful milestones this year. And we shouldn’t forget the simple, meaningful moments: meals shared, prayers answered, and the quiet faithfulness of volunteers who help us accomplish our mission in so many ways. These are signs of life and grace in a church.
This fall, the Men’s and Women’s Retreats created community for people at The Chapel in a special way.
These gatherings developed friendships and gave people practical application for walking with Jesus today.
Significant Moments Worth Celebrating
A few highlights from the year:
- We transformed our Fellowship Hall into a donation center for food and equipment for people affected by the fire. We also created a new fund to help people in our congregation and outside of it who had been displaced.
- We celebrated Easter together in April with a potluck and a large combined service. We met outdoors in our parking lot, welcomed many friends and extended family, and rejoiced together in our resurrected Savior.
We gathered to worship the resurrected Christ on Easter Sunday.
- Our Vacation Bible School in July was a wonderfully encouraging week as we welcomed a record number of children, both from within and outside our congregation. Many volunteers gave countless hours as our little chapel was transformed into a miniature landscape.
We hosted kids for a week of summer VBS,
where they learned about God’s power and creation.
- In September and October, we held our first men’s and women’s retreats since before the pandemic. The enthusiasm and high turnout showed the depth of relationship and the heart for community present in our church.
- In September, we reached another milestone as we hired a second full-time pastor to help develop our community life as a church. Pastor Dave has already been a tremendous blessing to our congregation, and we are excited to see how God will use him in 2026 as we seek to reach more people with the gospel of Jesus Christ.
We welcomed Pastor Dave and his family.
All of these moments remind us that God is building His church—not quickly, not dramatically, but steadily and faithfully.
Looking Ahead to 2026
As we enter a new year, I’m excited for what lies ahead. My prayer is that 2026 will be marked by renewed commitment to our vision: to revive believers, reach friends, and reflect Christ.
Here are some of the areas we hope to grow in:
- Strengthening discipleship pathways for both new believers and longtime members.
- Expanding our community group ministry so that everyone has a place to belong and be known.
- Investing in the next generation by continuing to build up our children’s and youth ministries.
- Increasing our missional engagement, both in Pasadena and beyond.
- Preparing for future growth, including improvements to our Sunday morning worship, ministries, and infrastructure.
In all these things, our desire is simple: to make disciples of Christ and to grow as a loving, gospel-centered community.
We are hopeful and excited for the future of our community!
A Year-End Opportunity
As we finish the year, I want to invite you to consider a year-end financial gift to The Chapel. This year we took a step of faith in expanding our pastoral team and working to increase our impact for the gospel, both locally and around the world, and our confidence in God’s leading—supported by the generosity of our church—made that possible. Your giving fuels every ministry, every outreach effort, every sermon preached, every child discipled, and every missionary supported. We are praying for a strong finish to 2025 so that we can enter 2026 ready to move forward in the work God has given us.If the Lord has used our church in your life this year, would you prayerfully consider giving above and beyond your regular commitment? Every gift—large or small—helps us continue the ministry God has entrusted to us.
You can give online, by mail, or in person. Thank you for your faithful support and partnership in the gospel.
Grateful for You
Chapel family, I am truly thankful for each of you. Serving as your pastor is one of the great joys of my life. I’m praying that this Advent season fills your heart with the hope, peace, joy, and love that Christ brings—and that 2026 will be a year of deep spiritual fruit for our whole church.
With gratitude in Christ,