December Message from Conference Minister Rev. Dr. Lorraine Ceniceros

Beloved friends, December arrives with its familiar mix of beauty and weight. Advent always asks us to pay attention, to the light that’s slowly growing, to the truths we’ve carried too long, and to the deep longing in our communities for justice, safety, and hope. This year, the season feels especially tender. Many of us are tired from the pace of ministry, the demands on our congregations, and the ongoing uncertainty in our nation. And yet, in the middle of this, Christ comes.

This year gave us so much to be grateful for. In 2025, the Conference came together in spectacular ways, most visibly in your support for General Synod. You showed up with time, talent, and treasure, and your efforts were noticed across the wider church. That spirit continued throughout the year. Individuals gave generously through Friends of the Conference and general giving, offering tangible trust in the work we share. Many of you said yes to serving on the Board, to participating in the Committee on Ministry, and to leading or attending the Holy Conversations that shaped our discernment. Congregations across Kansas and Oklahoma hosted gatherings with hospitality and care. These conversations matter. They help the Board hear directly from you about what is important and what you need. Rather than imposing programs that do not resonate, we have been listening, and you have shown us what matters.

We also encountered challenges that invited us into deeper clarity. Our giving platform suffered a security breach, requiring us to close automatic giving for a short time. The issue was identified and corrected, and we now have multiple safeguards in place to continue to protect your information and generosity. Our transition to a new accounting firm required careful review of systems that had gone too long without close attention. While time-consuming, this work strengthened our financial foundation and positions us well for the future.

Our partnership with EKiBa is also entering a hopeful new chapter. After several years of attempting to revive this relationship, we are now planning shared events for 2026. We look forward to welcoming Bishop Springhart to both Kansas and Oklahoma, sending a small delegation to be hosted in Germany, and creating opportunities for Holy Conversations between our two regions. Our goal is to gather individuals who will covenant to support the long-term sustainability of this partnership and the spiritual and relational richness it brings.

And now, as December invites us into a slower rhythm, we turn toward rest and presence. Advent does not demand perfection or performance. It simply asks us to notice where God is drawing near. I encourage our clergy and lay leaders to make space for rest in the coming weeks. Let something go if you need to. Trust that the Spirit continues to move through your communities even when you pause. We lead more faithfully when we lead from rest, not depletion.

The light grows slowly in Advent, just a candle at a time. But that is how hope works. It does not erase the darkness; it meets it. It holds steady. It refuses to be extinguished. As you move through this month, may you notice the small lights that hold you. May you feel the presence of ancestors who survived more than we will ever know. And may you trust the way of Emmanuel, God with us, who continues to show up on the edges, the borders, and the places we least expect.

Here is a brief prayer as we move together through this holy season:

Holy One,
this Advent season, open us to the places where you arrive,
in the borderlands,
in the in-between spaces,
in the lives of people carrying hope and hardship together.

Christ of the margins,
you were born into a world of displacement and empire,
and you still come to us through the stories of those who live between cultures and borders.
Let your light steady us.
Let your peace calm us.
Let your love draw us toward one another.

May this season awaken hope in us,
and make us ready to welcome you,
the One who comes quietly
and changes everything.

Amen.

Blessings to you, your loved ones, and your congregations this Advent and Christmas season. May joy find you gently, and may peace settle in your bones.

Walking beside you with gratitude and hope,
Rev. Dr. Lorraine Ceniceros
Conference Minister, Kansas-Oklahoma Conference, UCC