Preparing for 2026 by Rev. Christine Emmerling, D.D. 1/4/2026

Today’s talk is titled Preparing for 2026.This is the first Sunday of January. January is named after the Roman God Janus. Janus has two faces, one looking backward and the other forward. His two faces symbolized watchfulness in both directions—past and future, inside and outside. These symbols were often found above an entrance or doorway. Romans believed Janus guarded all transitions, including the physical transition of moving through a doorway. Doorways were considered spiritually vulnerable places, so Janus served as a protector of the household and a guide for safe passage.

The God Janus reminds us that the present is the culmination of the past, and the foretelling of the future. As with the Roman god Janus, we are first looking back at 2025 before we look at 2026.

In the following parable Matthew 13:24-43, Jesus told them: “The kingdom of heaven is like a man who sowed good seed in his field. But while everyone was sleeping, his enemy came and sowed weeds among the wheat and went away. When the wheat sprouted and formed heads, then the weeds also appeared.

The owner’s servants came to him and said, Sir, didn’t you sow good seed in your field? Where then did the weeds come from? An enemy did this, he replied. The servants asked him, Do you want us to go and pull them up?

No, he answered, because while you are pulling the weeds, you may uproot the wheat with them. Let both grow together until the harvest. At that time, I will tell the harvesters: First collect the weeds and tie them in bundles to be burned; then gather the wheat and bring it into my barn. (End)

Here we are being taught about our thoughts and beliefs, and how they can betray or trick us. The right time to separate the false from the truth is when the truth has matured and is deeply rooted within us. Then we can clearly see what is false. Closing out 2025 and beginning 2026 is a transitional period to evaluate our lives and what is best for us going forward.

Last Sunday Rev. Teresa guided us through a process of releasing what no longer serves us. Today’s service is about evaluating the progress we made in 2025. These are our gifts that we will take with us into 2026 and into our future. You may want something at hand for taking notes.

I will be guiding us through a process to access knowledge and wisdom we gained from 2025. We will be reviewing the past year looking at the gifts that it brought to us. It is through both the good times and challenging times that we build character, wisdom and spiritual understanding.

Although, it is mostly through the challenging times that we develop in character; we become stronger and more compassionate. We also have the opportunity to put to practice all that we have learned through spiritual studies and our practices.

We have free will, it is our choice in how we choose to respond to the challenges we live through. We can choose to be fearful and let it hold us back. We can choose to be angry and use it to be hurtful to others and ourselves. Or we can choose to see it differently. To take a new perspective and use it for good. As the saying goes “When life gives you lemons, make lemonade.”

An example from the Bible is told in Genesis chapters 37-50. The following is abbreviated; The story is about Jacob’s favorite son, Joseph. His father gave him a special coat of many colors which made his older brothers jealous. Joseph shared with his brothers a vision he had of ruling over much land and his brothers kneeling down to him. This angered his brothers which led them to capture and sell Joseph as an Egyptian slave.

Instead of Joseph feeling sorry for himself, or begrudge, Joseph chose to find the good and do his best. When in prison he shared his visions which got him free to serve the Pharaoh. He had interpreted the Pharaoh’s dreams as 7 years of plenty followed by 7 years of drought. Joseph developed a plan so there would be plenty of grain during the drought years. This led him to become the pharaoh’s right hand man in ruling Egypt. Then he was a blessing to all of Egypt and the surrounding lands, and even to his brothers who had sold him. Unknowingly, Joseph’s brothers were all part of a larger plan for Joseph to save the lives of people, livestock, and become a leader. Truly fulfilling his life purpose.

Being able to move forward and begin anew requires understanding, to find the good, and have gratitude for our experiences. For these experiences have brought us to where we are today. We can ask “How can I see this differently?” and “What good can I make of this situation?”

We are now going to reflect upon 2025. To find the good and build upon it.

This is a guided meditative exercise to review 2025. I invite us to get comfortable and relax.

Let us begin with some slow deep breathing. Breathing in the very life and breath of God. We turn inward to our holy temple with an open heart and mind, and still our thoughts and listen.

Let us go back in time to the beginning of last month and remember December 2025. How did you feel about the year that was coming to an end? (Pause).

Take a few breaths. Now let us step back in time to the beginning of 2025: remember January, February and March. What was going on in your life at that time, expectations, challenges, decisions, changes? (Pause) How did you handle these? (Pause) What spiritual insights are there? (Pause) Ask Spirit to reveal the deeper inner message. (Pause)

Breathe. Now move forward to April, May and June. What did Spring bring to your life? Any challenges, decisions, changes? (Pause) How did you handle these? (Pause) What spiritual insights are there? (Pause) Ask Spirit to reveal the deeper inner message. (Pause)

Breathe. Now move to July, August and September. What did summer bring to your life? Any challenges, decisions, changes? (Pause) How did you handle these? (Pause) What spiritual insights are there? (Pause) Ask Spirit to reveal the deeper inner message. (Pause)

Breathe. Now move on to October, November, and December. What did autumn bring to your life? Any challenges, decisions, changes? (Pause) How did you handle these? (Pause) What spiritual insights are there? (Pause) Ask Spirit to reveal the deeper inner message. (Pause)

We shall now stand back as if looking down on our life for the whole year from beginning to end, as if viewing a chapter in our book of life. (Pause)

I will now ask the following 6 questions, and you may want to write your answers.

1. What were your major accomplishments or problems resolved in 2025?

2. What was the major theme of issues for 2025?

3. How was your handling of these issues?

4. What have you learned most from 2025?

5. What are you most grateful for in 2025?

6. Seeing the year 2025 as a chapter in your book of life, what title would you give to it?

Let us now give thanks to God, Infinite Spirit, for any insights received.

I thank you for your participation in this exercise and hope you have found it helpful. Happy New Year! May 2026 bring you much love, joy, peace and light.