A Call to Self-Examination at the Threshold of Judgment and Grace Greetings to brothers and sisters across the world. May the mercy, patience, and truth of God rest upon us all. We have reached the end of the civil year and also the close of the ecclesiastical year. This Sabbath, 27 December 2025 , stands as the final Sabbath of this year—a sacred threshold between what has been lived and what awaits us. The sermon The sermon offered a deep and sobering comparison between two biblical accounts. On one hand was the Virgin Mary, who conceived Jesus by God’s will without intimacy. Her pregnancy placed her in a painful and risky position, exposing her to misunderstanding and possible rejection, yet she remained obedient and trusting in God. On the other hand was King David, who slept with a married woman, caused her pregnancy, and then ordered the death of her husband in an attempt to hide his sin. This contrast showed that obedience, even when costly, fulfills God’s purp...