Covenant Member Update: December 2025

Dear Church Family,

Jesus is the Light of the World.

Not only does this truth imply that there is an inherent darkness to remedy, it also testifies to one of the most stunning qualities of Jesus’ presence—He illuminates everything else simply by showing up. C.S. Lewis once quipped, “I believe in Christianity as I believe that the sun has risen: not only because I see it, but because by it I see everything else.” What a gift it is to receive Jesus, our Immanuel, God With Us. He came and “turned on the lights” in our souls, as well as in every square inch of the creation He came to restore.

How are you doing with the illuminating presence of Jesus? It’s easy to prefer the darkness to the light. When the light comes on, it exposes what’s there, in the unmitigated honesty of, “Hey, I’m just calling it like I see it.” Except—in the case of His light—it’s the all-knowing God who declares it. Let the discomfort ensue! But when we begin practicing surrender to the revealing presence of our Lord, our vulnerability becomes our avenue to peace because the Light of the World came to snuff out the darkness. In the end, the darkness cannot overcome the light (John 1:5), no matter how bleak the temporary battle may feel. So let us turn and turn again to the newborn King who showed us what power is for by leveraging His life for the salvation of many. He who is Light, the God of truth Himself, purposed His earthly life to be the very means of our reunion with the Father, right here in the depths of the darkness.

During Advent, I’ve been reading a collection of John Newton’s homilies, which were given in the late 18th century as a reflective tribute to Handel’s Messiah. I’d like to leave you with a snippet from one of those:

That so many persons who would tremble at the thought of being in a ship, driven by the wind and waves, without compass or pilot, should yet think it desirable, if it were possible, to be assured that in a world like this, so full of uncertainty, trouble, and change, all things were left at random, without the interference of a supreme governor. But this enmity, these dark apprehensions are removed, when the Gospel is received by faith. For it brings us the welcome news that there is forgiveness with Him; that God is reconciled in His Son to all who seek His mercy. In this sense, likewise, MESSIAH is Immanuel, God with us, on our side, no longer the avenger of sin but the author of salvation.”

What a beautiful place from which to round out our year and enter a new one. God is with us, not in some ethereal, disconnected sense, but in a gritty and grounded way that orients—if we allow it—our every moment. It’s from this place that I invite you to read the updates and invitations below. It is a joy to journey through life as part of the church family with you all.

INVITATION TO END-OF-YEAR GIVING

Last May, we embarked on our two-year vision, together pursuing our four strategic priorities. To stay on track with the financial component of that vision, we are asking our church family to help us reach a goal of $1.4M by the end of the calendar year. This will allow us to enter 2026 with financial strength, especially as we look to break ground on Phase One of our building project in mid-Spring.

Here’s where we are right now:

• EOY Goal: $1.4M
• Received: $516,311 (37% of total)
• Remaining: $883,689 (63% of total)

Will you prayerfully consider an additional end-of-year gift to Park Church to help move the needle toward our goal? As a reminder, here are the current ways you can give towards the mission of Park Church:

• Online: Log in to your Gyve account or set one up.
• In-Person: Deposit cash or a check in the “Giving” boxes near the back of the foyer and side gallery.
• By Gifting Stock: Please email john@parkchurch.org.
• Cryptocurrency: Please use our Engiven platform.

General information about giving to Park Church can be found at parkchurch.org/give.

UPCOMING GOODNESS:

CHRISTMAS EVE SERVICES

Wednesday, December 24 • 2:30, 4, & 5:30pm

“And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us…” (From John 1:14 ESV)

On Christmas Eve, we gather to celebrate the breathtaking news that God is with us—right in the midst of our ordinary lives. Jesus came as the Light of the World, shining into our darkest places. Join us for a candlelight service as we sing, remember, and rejoice in the gift of Emmanuel.

Christmas Eve services will be family services, where children will worship together with their families (activity bags will be provided!). Additionally, as with all our services, the Downstairs Event Space will be open with a video feed of the service and space for kids to roam.

As we’re aware, people typically unaccustomed to church are more open to and even pursuing a Christmas Eve service to attend. Who are the handful of people you could extend an invitation to this week? These could be coworkers, neighbors, family, or friends. Let’s be praying as a church for those who do not yet know the God who is Immanuel, our ever-present Savior to redeem us.

Learn more about Advent 2025 happenings, artwork, and more at our Advent 2025 landing page.

JANUARY SERMON SERIES: FOLLOW HIS WAY OF LIFE—WORK

This January, we are engaging in a four-week series exploring the goodness of work as God designed it, the brokenness of work in a fallen world, the redemption Christ brings into the frustrations and idols of work, and the way our vocations participate in God’s mission of renewal in the world.

Work fills most of our waking lives. We work in offices, classrooms, kitchens, coffee shops, job sites, hospitals, studios, and homes. We work to provide, to build, to create, to serve, to care for others. For many, work is a source of purpose and joy. For others, it is a place of stress, exhaustion, frustration, or confusion. And nearly all of us struggle to understand how our daily work connects to our faith in Jesus.

This series aims to help people see their work — in all forms — as an essential part of Christian discipleship. Our work is not a distraction from spiritual life; it is one of the primary places where the Spirit forms us, where we love our neighbors, and where we join Jesus in His mission to renew all things.

LEADER EQUIP COURSE 2026

Seven Tuesdays: January 20, February 3, 10, & 24; March 10; April 7 & 21 • 6–9pm • Downstairs Event Space • $45/Adult (Covering Meals & Materials)

Leader Equip is a community-based, practice-oriented training designed to help us become more like Jesus and to guide others toward the same vision. Together, we’ll explore six overlapping aspects of how we understand people grow and are transformed over time in the way of Jesus.

Over seven weeks, we’ll gather to share a meal, engage Scripture and theology, discuss what we’re learning, and pursue tangible practices that help orient our lives toward a God-shaped life.

Learn more and register at parkchurch.org/equip.

WELCOME TO THE TEAM!

Tess Koskovich, Communication Coordinator

Tess and her husband, Alec, have been part of the Park Church family for almost a decade. Originally from Sedalia, Colorado, Tess is grateful to be a Colorado local! She loves camping, practicing hospitality, and finding joy in thoughtful gift-giving. She earned her bachelor’s in Communication and Event Planning from Metropolitan State University and later completed her Master’s in Communication at the University of Denver—fueling her love for people, connection, and meaningful communication.

Before joining the team at Park, Tess worked for a non-profit dedicated to water stewardship, and she remains passionate about caring for God’s creation. She’s truly thankful for the opportunity to serve more closely within the community she’s been part of for so many years. Tess is especially grateful to come alongside fellow believers and use her communication gifts to help support and advance the mission of Park Church.

Tony Villatoro, Director of Community

Tony accepted the Director of Community position at Park Church just last week! He, his wife Ruthie, and their twin seven-year-olds are from Houston, Texas, where they grew up and have been faithfully serving the church. Tony has served in local church ministry from his teenage years and over the past 15 years has planted and led two churches. His most recent role was pastoring a local congregation of the Sojourn Houston Network in Spring Branch.

We are deeply grateful for Tony and the Villatoro family to be joining us in the new year. Tony brings a rich pastoral presence, a strategic mind, and a passion to see God’s glory spread through God’s people. Please be praying for them as they begin the relocation process and transition to life in Denver. Tony will begin with a hybrid role as they finish out their time in Houston. Look for him on an upcoming Sunday in the new year!

12 THINGS AT CHRISTMAS

Here are 12 quick hits that you may enjoy around the holidays or the start of the new year! Some of them are more “themed,” and others are just kinda cool and perhaps helpful. Idea sharing is idea caring.

1. Devotional for the New Year: New Morning Mercies and Everyday Gospel
   These are two great options from Paul David Tripp if you’re looking for a simple, pithy, Gospel-centered devotional to help engage with Jesus in the new year. As a counselor, theologian, and pastor, he has a knack for weaving deep truths into the particulars of our lives.
2. A “Worth Your Time” Book to Read: The Reason for the Church by Brad Edwards
   This is less “ecclessiology” and more a winsome articulation of how God’s design for the church is an antidote to our disjointed and angsty cultural moment. It also won Christianity Today’s book of the year. I highly recommend it!
3. Tech-wise Gift for Active Kids: Kids Fitness Tracker
   We searched high and low and a bit sideways to find a wearable activity tracker for our competitive boys that did NOT include games or access to the internet. We finally found one (through a friend). Worth a look if you’re in the market. (And shh, it’s a Christmas gift:)
4. Heartwarming Movie (with substance): Klaus
   It’s been out for a handful of years, so maybe you’ve seen it. Our family keeps coming back to it because of how well the story is told. The storyline pulls in redemptive themes through a playful and “literary license” approach to “the guy in the red suit.”
5. Long-form Podcast on AI: The Last Invention
   Wait, what? This is really good. And told in a compelling way. Andy Mills walks through the origins and current (and ever-evolving) realities of Artificial Intelligence, highlighting the three major camps when it comes to AI: Doomers, Scouts, and Accelerationists.
6. Practical Outreach Idea: Assemble cold weather “packages”
   Here’s a tangible way to love our neighbors who find themselves on the streets that doesn’t involve handing out cash. Whether on your own or with friends/family, tie together a pair of warm socks, a hand warmer, and a soft snack to pass through your window. It gives you the opportunity to ask their name and offer to pray as well!
7. EOY Reflection: Where Are You?
   It’s worth doing a “look back, look forward” around this time each year, whatever that may look like. Here’s one resource we used this past month with our elder and staff teams. Hope it’s helpful!
8. A Quarterly Magazine: Common Good
   There is no shortage of options when it comes to magazines. Here’s one option that does high-level journalism that seeks to integrate the various domains of life in thoughtful and theologically-informed ways.
9. Advent + Christmas Questions: What? and Why?
   If you’re looking for simple ways to drop in the “true meaning of Christmas” (and Advent) during these weeks, here are a few questions you can try out in a sort of call-and-response kind of way. “What are we waiting for during Advent?” “For Jesus to come!” and “Why do we give gifts at Christmas?” “Because Jesus is the greatest gift!” followed by “What makes Jesus the greatest gift?” “Because he brings us back to God!”
10. A New Playlist: Advent 2025 by She Reads Truth
    We’ve enjoyed this one around our home this season. It pulls from a variety of different artists and genres, and even expands the horizon a bit for what may qualify for such a playlist.
11. Spiritual Practice: Curiosity over criticism
    Here’s one for you, especially as we spend more time with family and the dynamics that can emerge in such contexts: Lean in with curiosity over criticism. Instead of framing your thought as an accusation, flip it into a question of wonder that draws out the other person. How might this open up new vistas of conversation and connection?
12. Christmas Market: Christkindlmarket
    It just got ranked as the 9th best Christmas market in the United States! Whether you’ve been before or not, it’s worth checking it out. They are in a new location, so check the details.

BEFORE YOU GO

You can now RSVP for our next Family Meeting! If nothing else, please mark your calendars for Sunday, February 15, from 1–2:45pm. We will share a meal together and celebrate what God is doing by hearing stories from our church family. We will also dedicate part of our time to share specific updates about the building project, including the timeline and more specifics for Phase One. Please prioritize being there if you are able to.

In striped adult Christmas Pajamas,
Neil Long
Executive Pastor