Go Tell the Whole Story!

As we step toward a new year, the familiar refrain of “Go Tell It on the Mountain” still rings in our hearts. But the message we carry is bigger than a manger scene. The hymn calls us not only to celebrate His birth — but to proclaim the whole story of Jesus Christ.  

A New Year of Proclaiming the Whole Gospel  

The shepherds ran to tell of a baby born in a manger, but we live on the other side of the cross and the empty tomb. We don’t just tell that He came — we tell that He lived among us, He healed, He taught, He forgave, He suffered, He died, and He rose again. Our calling is to carry the fullness of this good news into every place God sends us.  

A New Year of Joy Rooted in His Life  

The joy of Christmas is only the beginning. Our joy deepens because the child in the stable became the Savior of the world and he rose on Easter morning, conquering the grave. Friends, the risen Lord walks with us still. May our joy in 2026 be anchored not only in His birth, but in His ongoing presence and power.  

A New Year of Hope Shaped by His Mission  

“Go Tell It on the Mountain” was born out of a longing for freedom and deliverance — and Jesus embodied that mission. He lifted the oppressed, welcomed the outcast, confronted injustice, and brought hope where hope had died. As we enter the new year, we follow Jesus in this same work, telling not just the story of His arrival, but the story of His liberating love – through our food pantry, affordable housing initiative, and all of our mission and ministry together.  

A New Year of Living Like Jesus  

The shepherds were ordinary people entrusted with extraordinary news. We, too, are ordinary people entrusted with the story of a Savior who changed everything. This year, may we not only speak His story — may we live it:  

A New Year of Sharing the Story Together  

The songs of the season that we have explored this Advent and Christmas are meant to be sung in many voices, not just one. The gospel is meant to be carried by a community, not a single messenger. As we move into the new year, may we strengthen one another as storytellers of the whole gospel — from Bethlehem to Calvary to the empty tomb on Easter. Our stories, woven with Christ’s story, can encourage one another and are powerful to bring about transformation. Let us be bold and go forth ready to witness to our faith in Christ’s love!  

Reflect on the Word

^1-3 Every person who believes that Jesus is, in fact, the Messiah, is God-born. If we love the One who conceives the child, we’ll surely love the child who was conceived. The reality test on whether or not we love God’s children is this: Do we love God? Do we keep his commands? The proof that we love God comes when we keep his commandments and they are not at all troublesome. 

The Power That Brings the World to Its Knees  

^4-5 Every God-born person conquers the world’s ways. The conquering power that brings the world to its knees is our faith. The person who wins out over the world’s ways is simply the one who believes Jesus is the Son of God. 

^6-8 Jesus—the Divine Christ! He experienced a life-giving birth and a death-killing death. Not only birth from the womb, but baptismal birth of his ministry and sacrificial death. And all the while the Spirit is confirming the truth, the reality of God’s presence at Jesus’ baptism and crucifixion, bringing those occasions alive for us. A triple testimony: the Spirit, the Baptism, the Crucifixion. And the three in perfect agreement. 

^9-10 If we take human testimony at face value, how much more should we be reassured when God gives testimony as he does here, testifying concerning his Son. Whoever believes in the Son of God inwardly confirms God’s testimony. Whoever refuses to believe in effect calls God a liar, refusing to believe God’s own testimony regarding his Son. 

^11-12 This is the testimony in essence: God gave us eternal life; the life is in his Son. So, whoever has the Son, has life; whoever rejects the Son, rejects life.

1 John 5:1 - 12 (Message)

Prayer for the New Year

Lord, as we begin the new year in 2026, help us to proclaim not only the wonder of Your birth, but the fullness of Your life, Your love, Your sacrifice, and Your victory over sin. Give us courage to tell the whole story, joy to live it out, and a oneness in spirit to share this good news story together. Send us out to “tell it on the mountain” — not just that You came, but that You save us for a life of meaning and purpose. Amen.

Listen to the Carol

Here, the Crosby Family’s rendition of Hark! The Herald Angel's Sing brings a warm, acoustic, almost front‑porch feel to the carol and reminds us that all of us -- children, youth, and adults -- have gifts to share as we proclaim the whole story together! It’s tender, organic, and surprisingly intimate for such a triumphant hymn.  

As we sing with the angels, let us enjoy this last carol of our Advent Devotional, written by none other than Charles Wesley, brother of Methodism's founder Rev. John Wesley.  

Happy New Year!