As I write this, the month of January is closing out in recovery mode after a winter wallop of snow, ice and frigid temperatures. Our own area, along with many others, was hard hit. But my wife and I escaped this, so please don’t hate us! We already had plans to travel to Florida, leaving on January 26 – the day after the big storm. Heeding the advice from meterologists, and realizing that in all probability we wouldn’t be able to get out for some days afterward, we were able to reschedule our flight for January 24. And so we did indeed escape the worst of it all. In my defense, there is a long track record of bad weather following us wherever we go on vacation. But this time, we beat the storm. As one of our daughters put it, “You beat the Meehan travel weather curse!” Hurray and thank you, Lord!

In these winter days, I am thinking ahead to the days of spring. I have Easter Vigil on my mind. This beautiful worship service, which bridges the darkness of Good Friday with the brightness and joy of Easter Sunday, begins outdoors with lighting the new fire of Easter. Then the whole congregation - carrying lighted candles – processes into the darkened sanctuary. As we move along, the cantor who is carrying the large Paschal candle stops several times and chants, “The light of Christ!”, and we all respond by singing, “Thanks be to God!” This is what’s ahead of us in early April at the close of the Lenten season and the end of Holy Week.

In the Gospel lesson for one of the Sundays in February, Jesus tells us: “You are the light of the world. A city set on a hill cannot be hid. No one after lighting a lamp puts it under the bushel basket, but on the lampstand, and it gives light to all in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven” (Matthew 5:14-16). So, in a very real sense we are the light of Christ! That’s pretty exciting stuff. Do people around us, when they see our good works done in Jesus’ Name and for his glory, sing out (like that Easter Vigil procession), “Thanks be to God?” Whether they do or not, we can rejoice knowing that the light of Christ is shining in us and through us. We don’t take credit for this, of course. It’s not our own doing, but the work of the Holy Spirit who “has called me by the Gospel, enlightened me with his gifts, sanctified and kept me in the one true faith,” as Luther puts it in his Explanation of the Third Article of the Creed (Luther’s Small Catechism by Dr. Martin Luther). We are not the source of this light; we merely reflect it in our words and actions. The source of the light that we reflect comes from the One who said this: “I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will not walk in darkness, but will have the light of life” (John 8:12). Jesus is the Light of the world.

Day by day, the light of Christ shines brightly out through our individuals lives and our life as a congregation to the world around us. Here are just a few examples:

• English as a Second Language Classes – Did you know that in the Fall 2025 ESL session, there were some 150 adult English learners in both online as well as in-person classes? Spring 2026 classes will begin on February 10, and you can let your light shine by serving as an ESL teacher. Training is provided. Go to St. John's Lutheran Church: Alexandria, VA > English Classes to learn more.

• Helping Others – On the first Sunday of each month, we have what we call “Share Sunday.” This is an ingathering of non-perishable food supplies for Koinonia, our local Food Pantry And Clothing Closet, Emergency Financial Aid With Counseling - The Koinonia Foundation, inc. - Alexandria, Va. But, we are also collecting gently used men’s casual clothing for Koinonia, as well as new underwear for men, women and children that will benefit New Hope Housing - Northern Virginia- Solutions for homelessness. Our annual Super Bowl of Caring helps support agencies that address hunger needs in our community (What is Souper Bowl of Caring — Tackle Hunger: Home of the Souper Bowl of Caring). Thank you to everyone for letting your light shine and for your generous support in helping others!

• Renovation and Expansion Plans – Our plans for renovation and expansion of church facilities are in process. Our zoning amendment application is being reviewed at the Fairfax County zoning office. Our consultants are hopeful we can keep our current parking lot configuration so as not to have to do any further expansion of the project’s scope. They believe the current parking lot is sufficient to handle our needs and was approved many years ago by the County. They also believe the small increase in our building footprint should not require any extra water runoff retention issues. We continue to hope for a springtime zoning hearing so as to move forward with construction permitting and ultimately to collect bids for the work itself. Meanwhile, we remain in contact with our lender to make sure we are ready to provide financial information when it becomes time to set up our loan from the Lutheran Church Extension Fund (LCEF). We give thanks to God for the leadership of our planning team overseeing this project. The overall goal of this project is to help St. John’s shine the light of Christ more brightly into our community.

• Search Process for New ECEC Director – One of the signature ministries of St. John’s is our Early Childhood Education Center (ECEC), which has been shining the light and love of Jesus into the lives of children and families of our congregation and community for more than 40 years. Amanda Parks, our current ECEC Director, has announced that she will be leaving her position here as her family relocates to her native Pennsylvania in mid to late-summer. We are so grateful for Amanda’s leadership, and wish her and her family every good thing from the Lord’s hand. Under the leadership of our ECEC Board of Operations, we are now moving into a search process for a new Director. We are trusting that the Lord will raise up the right person with the right gifts at the right time. I ask for your prayers for wisdom and guidance from the Lord to lead us in this very important work.

In all of this and more, the focus is not on ourselves, but on Jesus the Light of the world. In every season, in every situation and setting, may this Light shine in us and through us.