Rev. Michelle's Message January 1, 2026

Happy New Year’s everyone! I truly hope that 2026 will be a wonderful year for all of you, filled with hope, joy, connection, love, and peace!

As we begin this new year, a time when many people make new year’s resolutions, or begin new habits, or set intentions for the new year, may I remind you that there is nothing you need to do to make yourself better, more worthy, or more lovable.

Every year author, minister, and public theologian, Nadia Bolz-Weber, posts the same reminder:

“There is no resolution that, if kept, will make you more worthy of love. You, as your actual self and not as some made up ideal, are already worthy.”

So I will add to that—to remind myself as well—that you don’t need to lose weight or give up certain foods or do certain exercises or learn a new language or get more organized or improve yourself in any way to be worthy of love. You don’t need to spruce yourself up or re-invent yourself or create a “new me for the new year.” Your life is not a self-improvement project. Showing up as your current, authentic, messy, imperfect self is enough.

If you feel like adopting healthy new habits or intentions, you are free to…..but none of these will make you a more valuable person because you are already valuable, lovable, and worthy just as you already are. 

You are already 100% worthy of God’s love, grace, and goodness, just as you are. You are welcome to make any changes to your life that you feel will make you happier and more peaceful, but you don’t need to change anything about yourself.

You are perfectly imperfect just the way you are in all your messiness, in all your flaws, in all your humanness.

So I invite you to begin this new year with a practice of deep acceptance, love, and compassion for yourself, just the way you are. Give yourself grace. Receive God’s grace and infinite love.

New Year’s Blessings,

Rev. Michelle