The season after Christmas and before Lent can often seem like a “down” time in the church year—as if we’re simply marking time while waiting for another grand celebration. Whether it is because people are suffering from holiday fatigue or influenced by gloomy winter weather, the season of Epiphany can go by unnoticed and unheralded.

This year we hope that is not the case.  We hope that we can simultaneously continue some of the feelings of the Christmas season, and the challenge that comes from keeping the Christ child even beyond the Christmas tree and the lights, while also giving due importance to the season of Epiphany; Epiphany is the celebration of God’s presence breaking through to shine as a light in the darkness.

This year on Epiphany Sunday (January 7) each person who comes to church will receive a "star gift."  A star gift is simply a card with a picture of a star and a word printed on one side, and a scripture on the other side.  Whatever that word you receive on that card, you are invited to reflect on that word for the coming year.  You will be invited to ponder what significance this word might have on your lives, and how God might be speaking to you through that simple message.

​The star gifts will be passed around to the congregation using the same offering plates that we use in worship to receive our tithes and offerings.  As we help ourselves to a star gift (without looking - just reach in and grab!), the significance cannot be lost.  In this moment you are not being asked to give, you are being invited to receive.  In this moment we are reminded that this is always the order of things in God's realm - God always gives first, and then we are invited to respond with our gifts and ourselves.

The magi who traveled great distances to offer their gifts to the newborn Christ-child were responding to the gift first given to them.  They received God's gift, then offered their gifts to God.  As we commemorate the arrival of the Magi this coming Sunday, in Matthew 2, and remember their offerings, we delight in this paper reminder that symbolizes God's generosity in our lives.  

Everyone who receives a star gift is encouraged to take it home and hang it up where they are sure to see it every day. It may be on the bathroom mirror, or next to the computer screen. Some may keep the star gifts from year to year; gradually accumulating a virtual constellation of wise words and encouragement displayed as a reminder of God’s presence in our lives.

No matter how you treat this card, allow your word to speak to you. Maybe start by looking the word up in the dictionary so that you are clear on its meaning; we hear the word grace all the time, but what exactly does it mean? A word that seemed unclear at the beginning may gain new meaning as the year goes on.

Perhaps your word will seem very timely, as if it was indeed designated specifically for you the recipient in this exact time. It is this sense of serendipity and wondering how God might be working through this simple process that keeps us engaged. 

Epiphany is the celebration of God’s presence breaking through to shine as a light in the darkness. Each year our congregation rejoices in the reminder of our generous, giving God—this year, one star gift at a time.

Scripture:

Matthew 2:1-12 (Common English Bible)
After Jesus was born in Bethlehem in the territory of Judea during the rule of King Herod, magi came from the east to Jerusalem. They asked, “Where is the newborn king of the Jews? We’ve seen his star in the east, and we’ve come to honor him.”
When King Herod heard this, he was troubled, and everyone in Jerusalem was troubled with him. He gathered all the chief priests and the legal experts and asked them where the Christ was to be born. They said, “In Bethlehem of Judea, for this is what the prophet wrote:
You, Bethlehem, land of Judah,
        by no means are you least among the rulers of Judah,
            because from you will come one who governs,
            who will shepherd my people Israel.”
Then Herod secretly called for the magi and found out from them the time when the star had first appeared. He sent them to Bethlehem, saying, “Go and search carefully for the child. When you’ve found him, report to me so that I too may go and honor him.” When they heard the king, they went; and look, the star they had seen in the east went ahead of them until it stood over the place where the child was. When they saw the star, they were filled with joy. They entered the house and saw the child with Mary his mother. Falling to their knees, they honored him. Then they opened their treasure chests and presented him with gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh. Because they were warned in a dream not to return to Herod, they went back to their own country by another route.

​Isaiah 60:1-6 (The Voice)
Arise, shine, for your light has broken through!
    The Eternal One’s brilliance has dawned upon you.
See truly; look carefully—darkness blankets the earth;
    people all over are cloaked in darkness.
But God will rise and shine on you;
    the Eternal’s bright glory will shine on you, a light for all to see.
Nations north and south, peoples east and west, will be drawn to your light,
    will find purpose and direction by your light.
In the radiance of your rising, you will enlighten the leaders of nations.
Don’t be shy; don’t be doubtful; lift up your eyes and look around.
    They have gathered all around you, eager to come and be close to you.
And your children will come back to this land:
    your sons from the farthest places of wandering,
    and your daughters gently carried home.
And when you see it, your face will glow;
    your heart will race and be filled with joy;
For great ships will arrive with gifts from across the sea,
    and the wealth of nations will make their way to you.
Herd after herd of camels will cover the land,
    caravans arriving daily from south and southwest: Midian, Ephah,
Even Sheba with gifts of gold and frankincense.
    They will announce for all the world to hear, “The Eternal be praised!”

This morning at my yoga class we had a substitute instructor whom I had never experienced before, but for whom I am so thankful.  At the end of class we always have time for relaxation in a particular pose that allows you to both relax, and to open yourself to the blessings of the universe, and that God is sending you.  Because it is also a small class, the instructor will come around and touch you in a certain spot while you're in this pose, either your forehead, or your hands, or maybe your feet.  They will offer this healing touch with some essential oils, and also by paying attention to where you may need release.  This morning the instructor touched my forehead and said, "such a furrowed brow."  At the end of class she offered me a hug, because she said she could tell I was carrying a lot with me this morning.

Perhaps you, like me, may find yourself this Advent season struggling with the twin demands of a busy calendar and a soul that longs for time to connect deeply with God; peace in the midst of struggle.  Last week we began to prepare our hopeful hearts for the coming of Christ into our lives, both as a tiny babe, but also in the many ways in which we wait for and yearn for Christ.  This week, we add a layer of peacefulness to our hope.  Peacefulness that is welcome, and yet elusive, during such a busy season.

This week's scriptures of Isaiah 40:1-11 and Mark 1:1-8, point to making a pathway for peace in the midst of struggle.  As one prayer puts it, "As water is restless until it reaches its level, so the soul has not peace until it rests in God" (Sudar Singh, UMH 423).

God's peace comes to us even in the midst of our busy journeys and our rocky paths.  Won't you come join us on Sunday morning as we explore how we have seen God's comfort and peace at work in our world, our community, and in ourselves?

ALL are welcome!  #allmeansall - ALL are welcome to join us for worship at 10:30am on Sunday mornings.  You can also check out some of the many ways to be involved within our church community, to help prepare yourself for the coming of Christ, by visiting our Advent & Christmas worship page.

​We hope you have a peaceful week, and to see you soon!

Can you believe that tomorrow begins a new church year?  As we observe the beginning of Advent, we too observe the beginning of our church calendar, which begins with Hanging of the Greens.  Won't you join us tomorrow morning for Hanging of the Greens?

Please check out all the things happening during Advent and Christmas, by visiting that worship page here, as well as check out the "Social Media Advent Challenge" below in which you are invited to participate all the way through the Christmas season.

Regardless of how you participate this Advent season, we hope to see you soon, to worship and serve together, in God's great name!

Since Easter we’ve spent the last few weeks using the books of Acts and Galatians to remind us of the very foundations of our faith, and how the early community of believers came to be known as the church.  Next week, June 4th is Pentecost, in which we celebrate the birthday of the church, when God's people were given the Holy Spirit.  
Two weeks ago we were reminded that there is tension inherent in living out a faithful life.  We should not be afraid of tension or disagreement that might happen in a community of faith, because it is natural and innate in the life of a faith community.  It is the very life of faith that is both spiritual and human, a tension that we all experience; so to have tension within a faith community is not something of which we should be afraid. (I also want to be clear that I’m not insinuating there is tension or disagreement in our church, rather, this is a lesson we can learn from the early church about what it means to be the church together.)
Last week we talked about grace.  We reminded ourselves that there's nothing you can do to earn God's grace, it is a gift. There is absolutely no rule or law, or path in which you can follow in order to earn God's grace, so we need to avoid being bogged down with a legalistic way of approaching God's grace, because it causes us to miss the point.  
This week we continue to talk about God's grace and it's presence in the creation of the early church.  Galatians 3 reminds us that God's grace is not just for a certain few.  God's grace was present in the very beginning, when God promised Abraham and Sarah, and God continues to share that grace without respect of gender, ethnicity, status in society or the like.
As we remember that Jesus sent us out into the world to share God's love and make disciples of all nations, we have much to learn from the early days of the early church.  We can learn from their mistakes, from their growing pains, and from their successes.  Above all, we come together to learn how we can more faithfully love and serve the God of love who's presence and grace is with us through it all.
Won't you join us on Sunday morning at 10:30am for worship?  We look forward to welcoming ALL as God has welcomed ALL to this table of grace and love - you are welcome here!

​He forgives them and frees them, welcomes them and changes them. He has been anointed to bring freedom from sin and freedom from sinful structures. He has been anointed to create a new community that breaks down the barriers between insider and outsider, Jew and Gentile, rich and poor. In him, all flesh shall see God’s salvation. – Judith Jones

Luke 4:14-30 (The Voice)
Jesus returned to Galilee in the power of the Holy Spirit, and soon people across the region had heard news of Him.  He would regularly go into their synagogues and teach. His teaching earned Him the respect and admiration of everyone who heard Him.
 
He eventually came to His hometown, Nazareth, and did there what He had done elsewhere in Galilee—entered the synagogue and stood up to read from the Hebrew Scriptures.
 
The synagogue attendant gave Him the scroll of the prophet Isaiah, and Jesus unrolled it to the place where Isaiah had written these words:
 
The Spirit of the Lord the Eternal One is on Me.
Why? Because the Eternal designated Me
    to be His representative to the poor, to preach good news to them.
He sent Me to tell those who are held captive that they can now be set free,
    and to tell the blind that they can now see.
He sent Me to liberate those held down by oppression.
In short, the Spirit is upon Me to proclaim that now is the time;
    this is the jubilee season of the Eternal One’s grace.
 
Jesus rolled up the scroll and returned it to the synagogue attendant. Then He sat down, as a teacher would do, and all in the synagogue focused their attention on Jesus, waiting for Him to speak. 
​
He told them that these words from the Hebrew Scriptures were being fulfilled then and there, in their hearing.
 
They were all saying: “Wait. This only the son of Joseph, right?”
 
He said to them: “You’re about to quote the old proverb to Me, “Doctor, heal yourself!” Then you’re going to ask Me to prove Myself to you by doing the same miracles I did in Capernaum.  But face the truth: hometowns always reject their homegrown prophets.
 
Think back to the prophet Elijah. There were many needy Jewish widows in his homeland, Israel, when a terrible famine persisted there for three and a half years. Yet the only widow God sent Elijah to help was an outsider from Zarephath in Sidon.
 
It was the same with the prophet Elisha. There were many Jewish lepers in his homeland, but the only one he healed—Naaman--was an outsider from Syria.
 
The people in the synagogue became furious when He said these things.  They seized Jesus, took Him to the edge of town, and pushed Him right to the edge of the cliff on which the city was built. They would have pushed Him off and killed Him, but He passed through the crowd and went on His way.”