Shepherd's Heart 11/28/25
It was early December of 2009, and I was teaching 5th grade at River Woods Elementary in Naperville. One afternoon, while settling in after school to map out lesson plans, it hit me: because of the way the calendar fell that year, we’d be teaching straight through December 23. At the same time, my family calendar was overflowing with events and commitments. And for someone like me—someone who needs space to slow down, breathe, and prepare my heart for Christmas—the thought of squeezing spiritual stillness between constant activity felt impossible. I longed to rise above the noise and fix my eyes on the great gift of Jesus.
In the midst of my internal struggle, God gave me one of the clearest visions I’ve ever experienced. Suddenly I could see a group of people gathered in the middle of our Worship Center—voices singing Christmas carols with an acoustic guitar and a few simple instruments. It felt so vivid, so real, I actually wondered if I was remembering something instead of seeing it for the first time. I hurried straight to Pastor Glen’s office and spilled out everything I had just seen. I must have sounded manic with excitement, but when I finished, Glen simply leaned back and said, “Well, who are we to ignore what God’s stirring? Let’s do it.”
Twelve days later—barely enough time to get the word out—we held the very first Encounter Christmas. About 130 people showed up, curious and hungry for something simple and sacred. As everyone lifted their voices to sing the carols we all cherish, the room filled with a kind of joy and faith that was undeniably the presence of Jesus. When the last song faded, Glen stepped back up and said, “Looks like we’ll have to do this again next year,” and the whole room erupted in affirmation.
That vision was exactly what my overwhelmed heart needed—and it turned out to be what many others needed, too. Encounter Christmas was never meant to compete with the noise of the season; its purpose has always been to carve out holy space. A moment to unplug from the cultural rush, breathe deeply, and refocus on the greatest gift we’ve ever received—the Source of our peace, Jesus Christ.
For this 16th year of Encounter Christmas, God has brought us to the story of Mary’s faithfulness. Luke 1: 46-55 is known as ‘The Magnificat,’ and roughly translates to “My soul magnifies the Lord.” Mary’s faithful obedience to God’s will is an inspiration to us all, but she takes it even further by unpacking the ways of living within God’s Kingdom. Mary celebrates a God who lifts the lowly, humbles the proud, feeds the hungry, remembers mercy, and keeps covenant. This magnificent vision manifests in the very person of Jesus, our Messiah.
I hope you and your friends and family take the opportunity to join us on either Thursday, December 11 at 7:00PM or Friday, December 12 at 7:00PM. It is sure to be another powerful year of experiencing the deep peace found in the Christmas Story through fixing our eyes on the birth of Christ.
In the midst of my internal struggle, God gave me one of the clearest visions I’ve ever experienced. Suddenly I could see a group of people gathered in the middle of our Worship Center—voices singing Christmas carols with an acoustic guitar and a few simple instruments. It felt so vivid, so real, I actually wondered if I was remembering something instead of seeing it for the first time. I hurried straight to Pastor Glen’s office and spilled out everything I had just seen. I must have sounded manic with excitement, but when I finished, Glen simply leaned back and said, “Well, who are we to ignore what God’s stirring? Let’s do it.”
Twelve days later—barely enough time to get the word out—we held the very first Encounter Christmas. About 130 people showed up, curious and hungry for something simple and sacred. As everyone lifted their voices to sing the carols we all cherish, the room filled with a kind of joy and faith that was undeniably the presence of Jesus. When the last song faded, Glen stepped back up and said, “Looks like we’ll have to do this again next year,” and the whole room erupted in affirmation.
That vision was exactly what my overwhelmed heart needed—and it turned out to be what many others needed, too. Encounter Christmas was never meant to compete with the noise of the season; its purpose has always been to carve out holy space. A moment to unplug from the cultural rush, breathe deeply, and refocus on the greatest gift we’ve ever received—the Source of our peace, Jesus Christ.
For this 16th year of Encounter Christmas, God has brought us to the story of Mary’s faithfulness. Luke 1: 46-55 is known as ‘The Magnificat,’ and roughly translates to “My soul magnifies the Lord.” Mary’s faithful obedience to God’s will is an inspiration to us all, but she takes it even further by unpacking the ways of living within God’s Kingdom. Mary celebrates a God who lifts the lowly, humbles the proud, feeds the hungry, remembers mercy, and keeps covenant. This magnificent vision manifests in the very person of Jesus, our Messiah.
I hope you and your friends and family take the opportunity to join us on either Thursday, December 11 at 7:00PM or Friday, December 12 at 7:00PM. It is sure to be another powerful year of experiencing the deep peace found in the Christmas Story through fixing our eyes on the birth of Christ.