It’s a question that haunts even the best gift-givers this time of year: What do you get for the person who has everything?
We all know someone like that. Maybe they’re retired and downsized, or maybe they just don’t want more stuff. I kinda feel that way myself. And yet, there’s something deep inside us that still wants to give, though, right? Giving gifts are opportunities to connect, to bless, to offer something meaningful.
Of course, that’s what makes the holidays so special. They’re not just about things wrapped up. It’s a season about the kind of gifts that don’t show up on store shelves at all. And it’s about the kind of gifts we give as a church.
If you’ve walked down Third Street this fall (and many years prior), you’ve likely noticed a giant sign, right on the Courthouse Lawn, glowing in the dark like a beacon. Four red, bold letters: H-O-P-E.
This year, UMCG helped sponsor that display. It’s part of the Geneva Chamber’s annual “Inspiration of HOPE” project. The artist who created the HOPE sign designed it with deep intention: “The letters themselves are open,” she writes, “allowing light to pass through them and cast shadows and reflections, which is an intentional metaphor.” That light is meant to change us and, through us, change the world. That’s the kind of gift we want to give. Because HOPE isn’t just a sign on a lawn. It’s a way of living. A way of shining God’s grace in every corner of our community.
Of course, HOPE isn’t something we can wrap and put under a tree. At the same time, one doesn’t have to look far to see the other gifts our church is offering this season.
- At our Whoville Bash, nearly 100 guests, most of them intergenerational families with children, joined us for games, snacks, crafts, and the joy of hearing the tale of The Grinch. Our costumed crew made every child feel seen and loved. And our new Advent Spiral on December 21 will gift peace to our communities as we become overwhelmed with the season
- We hosted Steeple Walk, opening our beautiful sanctuary to music lovers and concertgoers from all over the region. We offer our space at no cost to the arts community and in doing so, help raise funds for the arts while also inviting people into something deeper. As attendees walked through our doors, many received an invitation to our Christmas Cantata, a musical gift of hope and joy that our choir offers year after year.
- Our Advent Service & Tea (in its 4th year open to everyone, not just women!) gave people a gentle, reflective way to start the season not with chaos or consumerism, but with carols, scripture, community, and quiet joy.
- Our candlelight services, including one before December 24, are designed to make the light of Christ accessible to as many people as possible: regardless of schedule, background, or musical taste. Whether it’s traditional carols, classical guitar, bright brass or kid-friendly chaos, the heart of it remains the same: Jesus is the Light of the World.
Geneva, and the Tri cities area, is a community blessed with much. We have good schools, lovely shops, strong nonprofits, and dedicated neighbors. But even here. No, especially here, the need for light remains.
People still carry grief they don’t talk about. Kids still need safe places to wonder and grow. Young adults still wrestle with anxiety. Families still long for connection. And all of us, no matter how put together we may seem, still need reminders that God is with us, that we are not alone, that there is more to the story than headlines and heartache.
That’s where the Church comes in. We may not offer the flashiest gifts. We don’t have the biggest youth group or a professional worship band. But what we give? It lasts.
We give hope, not hype.
We give music, not noise.
We give welcome, not judgment.
We give light, not darkness.
We give Jesus.
So, What Do We Give the People Who Have Everything?
We give them exactly what we all still need.
We give them a sign on the lawn that whispers through the cold: “There is still hope.”
We give them space to sing and cry and laugh and worship.
We give them belonging, even if they’re not sure they believe.
We give them the light of Christ, candle by candle, face by face.
And in doing so we give them, and ourselves, the most meaningful gift of all:
A community illuminated by God’s grace,
