Spirtitual Tool - Prayer

As Christians we often fall into a time of sloth when it comes to spiritual devotions. In order to stay spiritually fit we need to have a well used ‘tool box’. This is the first of a series of articles on ways to spend a little time with God.

When I lived in the Benedictine Monastery (that’s a story for another time) I first learned of “Contemplative Prayer”. This practice of meditative prayer is as old as the Early Fathers of the church and was valued in writing as far back as the 4th century.

This spiritual skill is a kind of prayer that involves neither spoken works nor images. It is sitting in silence, eyes closed and thinking on or resting with a word. This word is one chosen by you for your time in ‘unknowing’ or silence to see the word as a sacred word. As you ‘think’ on this word, turn yourself totally to God. Just breathe and think on your word – if you should wander, it’s ok, just return to thinking of nothing other than your word. You can try words such as ‘love’, ‘peace’, or ‘joy’. You could try more difficult words such as ‘embrace’ or ‘wisdom’. Take about 20-30 minutes twice a day for this exercise.

It is important to realize that the benefits of centering prayer are usually not found in the time during the prayer, but instead they are found in the day to day activities of your life after the prayer.

Joseph G. Sandman wrote:
“Those who regularly practice centering prayer have identified additional benefits. These include: greater access to God’s own wisdom and energy; a significant increase in creativity; a decrease in compulsive behavior; a reduction of painful emotions and negative thoughts and greater freedom to respond positively to them when they do arise; a greater ability to accept difficult situations with peace and joy; an expanded capacity to accept others on their own terms without judging them or desiring them to change; an ability to love others more selflessly; and a greater awareness of the presence of God in every person and situation we encounter.”

I pray that you center your life in God and that you add this tool to your ‘faith box’!

See you in church,
Pastor Lynnae

Spiritual Tool Box

My Tool Box has been getting a lot of attention since I moved into the new house. I have a hammer, standard and ‘other’ screw driver. I have pliers and I even know what a Molly bolt is! But, just knowing what the tools are doesn’t mean that I’m good or even comfortable using them. To do that – to be good and comfortable with my tool box, I have to use the tools. I have to consistently swing the hammer, drive the screw and lock the pliers.

What if we had a ‘Spiritual Tool Box’ - tools that actually help us SPIRITUALLY? Tools like; centered prayer, journaling, and expressive art. These kinds of tools keep us ‘hanging straight’ and ‘put together’ well. We all need to use such techniques in order to be spiritually strong. We need to have a Spiritual Tool Box.

I am going to begin a series of articles about the tools that can help us grow spiritually. Next newsletter I’ll share some ideas on Centered Prayer as a way of enhancing your life with Christ and with others. I hope you’ll join me in putting together a good Spiritual Tool Box.

See you in Church!

Change

When the trees start to change their colors – even in Austin, TX where the average temperature is still mid 80’s – we know its autumn. Autumn is a season of change. The leaves change color because they aren’t taking in as much water and eventually they die and fall off the tree. The tree isn’t dying – just the leaves. It is about the changing seasons. Our lives ebb on through the changes and we know the seasons of our own days. Birth to growth, decay to death. But, something lives on. We are a community of faith, a church that lives because of change.

Do you pray for change? Mostly, I like to keep things organized and the same. But, I believe we should pray for change. Change is really growth. Spiritual growth is about taking risks, stepping out of our comfort zones and stepping into change.

Autumn is one of the most beautiful seasons! May the colors of fall lead you to pray for change.

“Opening the Book of Faith”

“Opening the Book of Faith” – the new initiative from national church-wide offices of the ELCA is encouraging all Lutherans to get into the Bible!

I have met quite a few ‘non-denominational’ Christians that are really good at memorized proof texting – you know, they can quote anything from any book but they are not knowledgeable about the over all message of scripture. They have a questionable understanding of the big picture.

On the other hand, I have met quite a few Lutherans who know the overall message of the good news, but they don’t really know where it’s found in scripture.

We need to get back to the basics of bible study. I’ve met quite a few people who say, “I wish I knew the Bible better” and I say “Well, great! Let’s do something about that!.” Join us for bible study! We meet almost every day of the week at Abiding Love for one study or another! Sunday mornings – everyone has the opportunity to get into the Book of Faith!

See you in church!

Pastor Lynnae

“But as for me and my household, we will serve the LORD." — Joshua 24:15

Pastor Lynnae has moved from her apartment into a house!

A house blessing party is to be announced in the near future.

Ritual : Identity : Self-definition

In his book, Moving the Furniture, Dr. William Seth Adams writes, “Rituals provide memory, identity and community-vision for their participants.” I continue to be amazed that in a world where everyone is running around with Blackberry’s, laptops and ear-phones, some people in the church question a person’s need for ritual.

We seem to have become an over-organized society! Organization requires ritual. Yet isn’t it interesting that ritual becomes a habit of the heart. Ritual gives meaning, symbol and memory to action. Lighting the candles in church offers no purpose other than ritual which leads to a symbolic action of inviting the light of Christ into our midst. We know Christ is here whether we invite him or not, but the burning wick offers us a visual remembrance of his presence.

If ritual also brings identity and self-definition then our rituals help us to know who we are as disciples of Christ. Our Christian heritage gets wrapped up in our sense of ritual in worship, prayer and devotional life, even service.

We need ritual in order to know who we are. Even our ‘contemporary’ ways are full of ritual. We do things in a certain way because that is who we are. To know yourself is to recognize the importance and place of ritual in your life.

Be a part of the ritual at Abiding Love. See you in church.

We Support Greatness!

September 2nd

As I came to church this morning I met several weepy mothers and a few disoriented fathers. They were busy, looking down and walking quickly to their cars. It is the first day of school at the ‘part time’ program, a ministry of our Children’s Center.

I’m thinking there were probably a lot of crying toddlers as they were dropped off for their first day. Separation anxiety is one of our first and greatest fears. We learn how to handle separation when we are little, and those life lessons go with us for our lifetime. What a comfort to know that a place like Abiding Love is helping to teach the lessons of love and care. The 100 plus children that come here everyday learn about trust, grace and of course, love.

We are participating in the development of the future. Who knows what greatness is found among these children! I’ve heard a story about one of Martin Luther’s first day of school. The teacher, upon entering the classroom, bowed and said, “I bow because I know that one of you is going to be great!” I give thanks for the ministry that we support and encourage at the Abiding Love Children’s Center. We support greatness!

"The Work of the People"

I love liturgy. Liturgy, in Latin, means “the work of the people” and I love the work of the people. The liturgy is the work that we do to worship our God. Personally, I love traditional liturgy. I especially love the Kyrie. ‘Kyrie Eleison’ means “Lord have mercy”. I love the Kyrie because it helps me to start worship accordingly. To start worship asking for God’s mercy upon me, my community, my world – it just seems to be right. Then I found out a little bit about the history of the Kyrie. While the words ‘Lord have mercy’ are ancient, even pre-Christian, the long complicated melodies (of the middle ages) were basically begun to add length to the start of the service so that the priests could have plenty of pomp and circumstance as they entered the long center aisles of the old European churches.

Suddenly, I didn’t like the Kyrie anymore. It wasn’t about God. It was about men wanting attention. So, I’ve had to rethink the Kyrie. I decided that after all, I still love it. I especially love Setting 8’s Kyrie. It has a great Latin beat. I still like beginning worship by reminding myself how much I NEED God’s mercy. No matter how hard I try to do “the work of the people”, I will never do enough for the supreme being. I need God’s love and mercy, and I need the Kyrie.

“Kyrie Eleison, on our world and on our way, Kyrie Eleison, every day.
For peace in the world, for the health of the church, for the unity of all;
For this holy house, for all who worship and praise,
Let us pray to the Lord, let us pray to the Lord.”

Book Club Discussion!

Dear friends,

Summer is for reading. It is for reading fun books and mysteries, love books and your Bible, and books that accompany your Bible.

I just finished reading a book. I cried! It was thought provoking and beautiful, well written, and there were only a few things that I theologically disagreed with. One reason I cried is out of the sadness that no one at seminary knew how to put it like this! I too believe that faith is all about our relationship with God in the persons of the Creator, Jesus, and the Holy Spirit. It’s a hard book to read because it faces some of the hard parts of life. It is an easy book to read because it is full of “aha!” moments! “Aha!” I knew what I thought could be right!
So, I’ve found all these other people who have also read – The Shack, by William Young, and we want to have a book discussion!

Mary Fetter and I will host a book club discussion on Wed, Sept. 10, 7:00 P.M. in the classroom in Worship Center.

You have a whole month and a half to read it – and it’s a quick read. Some of you may want to read it again, this time for the ‘thought’ of it instead of the ‘joy’ of it!

Also: see msnbc.com - go to ‘books- and click on “Shack” to see an interview of the author.

Love Pastor Lynnae

The Camp Experience!

Dear friends,

I have just returned from a week of camp with 17 confirmation students. I’m exhausted – exhilarated and so impressed with the young people of Abiding Love. I’m certain that our youth were the best ones at Ebert Ranch Camp! (Besides our 17 there, we had two at Camp Chrysalis!) Christian camping has a long heritage among our Lutheran Church. Almost every pastor you talk with will have had a significant camping experience from their youth. Somehow, the out of doors, the intense expressions of love, the excellent leadership, music and worship all seems to touch the very spirit of all who gather.

Just ask Ben about the leap of faith – or Audrey about the high ropes. Better yet, talk with Josh about the horses or Emma about the meal prayers. There are so many stories to tell! Give thanks to God for our camping association, Cross Trails Ministry and for our excellent youth! It’s going to take me a year to recover, but I can’t wait till next summer!

As always,
Love Pastor Lynnae

Bring Your Neighbor to Church!

"Then someone came to him and said, “Teacher, what good deed must I do to have eternal life?” And he said to him, “Why do you ask me about what is good? There is only one who is good. If you wish to enter into life, keep the commandments.” He said to him, “Which ones?” And Jesus said, “You shall not murder; You shall not commit adultery; You shall not steal; You shall not bear false witness; Honor your father and mother; also, You shall love your neighbor as yourself.” (Matthew 19:16-19 NRSV)

This Sunday we Celebrate Bring Your Neighbor to Church, but actually EVERY Sunday is Bring Your Neighbor to Church! And, every Sunday is a Celebration. While it may be a bit uncomfortable and even down right scary to invite your neighbor – since you are Lutheran and all, it is really quite easy. The postcard invitation that we’ve handed out the last two Sundays - makes it really easy. All you really have to do is to share your excitement about the life you have and the church you belong to. Tell your story. That’s really all you have to do. Start with a sentence like…

“I love Abiding Love because….”

Or “I have learned through my life that I need Abiding Love because…”

There are many people who know God but don’t know of a church home that they can belong to. Don’t be afraid to share your story!

See you in church!

Pastor Lynnae

Cool, Clear, Water

We had a nice rain yesterday. It wasn’t a great amount, but it watered the grass and cooled the temperatures. We need rain, yet we still have water at our tap, pools to jump in and sprinkler systems that work.

I had a small taste of what it might be like without water. While in Ethiopia, I journeyed through land that had no rain for over three years. Their rivers are dried up and they have never had running water or sewer systems or even seen a swimming pool. Each morning our tour group was given a big plastic bottle of water. We brushed our teeth with it, drank it, washed our eyes with it and when the bottle was empty our driver would hand it out the window to one of the children running beside the bus – who gladly took even an empty water bottle.

There is a real tension for me, as I don’t want to give up my easy access to water. I was jubilant over the bubbling water of the tap at my apartment and even over powerful flush toilets! But I do want to share, to help the poor and to see everyone live a standard life, such as I have. I know that it doesn’t make sense to send water to Ethiopia, but I could do something to help make water flow. I’m going to continue to tell of the things that I experienced on my trip and I hope that together we will find ways to live out the gospel in all lands, our own and away.

I pray that God will use me to tell the story, to share of the need and to dream of a vision of change. Pastor Fetter had this bible verse on his day calendar:
“When the poor and needy seek water, and there is none, and their tongue faileth for thirst, I the LORD will hear them, I the God of Israel will not forsake them. I will open rivers in high places, and fountains in the midst of the valleys: I will make the wilderness a pool of water, and the dry land springs of water.” Isaiah 41:17-18

Pastor Lynnae

Pray for Rain, and Clean Water!

From Pastor Lynnae’s blog—
www.triptoethiopia.blogspot.com

Friday, June 6, 2008

Dear All,

What a wonderful trip we are having. It has rained every day but one, and that is so good. The poverty that we see is overwhelming. I cannot believe how much they need clean water! We are in Gondar and have visited many different places; churches, castles, hospitals, seen the Galeda baboons!!! and so much incredible scenery! I've taken gobs of pictures!

Please continue to pray for the people of Ethiopia - for rain and for clean water. There have been many problems with electricity and even with running water in the different hotels so I am not sure when we will be able to write again!

May the blessings of God shower upon you,

Pastor Lynnae

triptoethiopia.blogspot.com

Dear Friends,

On May 31st I take off for Ethiopia! The shots are all taken and the passports and visas secured! The scheduled itinerary is posted on my blogspot (triptoethiopia.blogspot.com) and hopefully I will be able to update you of the journey whenever there is electricity – and a computer! I have put together a devotional booklet that you can pick up in the church office if you would like to ‘pray along the way’!

In the book of Psalms there is a prophesy that the “People of Ethiopia will stretch out their hands to God”. Together we stretch out our hands in prayer and friendship.

Please pray for the group and for the people of Ethiopia, one of the poorest countries of the world, as we learn about their faith and their courage.

Pastor Lynnae

“Summer is the growing time of the light, seed, play, and wonder.” Sundays and Seasons, 2008

This past Sunday we celebrated Pentecost. Pentecost is the season of green. Not, ‘green’ as in the popular sense of the word. You know, living green today means living environmentally sound and savvy. Living green in a liturgical sense is also living environmentally sound and savvy and sanctified. We are made holy as we live in ‘ordinary time’. These are the days that we learn of what it means to live out the gospel. It is about learning how to be a disciple of Jesus. At Pentecost the Holy Spirit came and touched the disciples, stirring up in them a longing for the holy and thus began the journey to our completeness. Oh, that we were all green!

Pastor Lynnae

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"Notes for My Family"

Last year I attended a retreat for new pastors. It was one of those mandatory things that I drag my feet and or arrive kicking and screaming to! Anyway, it was an entire three day event on ‘Stewardship’. I was pretty sure that I had ‘been there and done that’! Anyway, what do they know about my personal financial situation? As always, I ended up learning A LOT!

One of the best gifts of the weekend was a little handout, booklet-style, called: Notes for My Family. It was a document that included; funeral plans, important documents, insurance policies, assets lists and a host of other important information. It took me a while to complete, but I finished it and told my parents and my sister of the booklet. If something unexpected should happen to me, my family now knows that contained within this booklet is all the information of where to find everything and just exactly what I would like done at a funeral or memorial service. I keep the booklet in the same place and they know where to look. The booklet can be downloaded from the World Wide Web at:
http://www.elca.org/FO/notes.pdf

If you would like to have even more detailed information for a funeral or memorial service, you can always give the church your ideas/instructions for us to maintain in your family file.

I expect to keep kicking, screaming and dragging to things that are good for me, and I expect to keep learning for a long time, but just in case…..I have Notes for My Family.

Pastor Lynnae

The Beloved Disciple

This Easter season, we continue to read from the Gospel of John, despite the fact that we are in the year of Matthew. Each Sunday we read the poetic pre-cross/resurrection accounts of Jesus life. John seemed to see ‘telling’ accounts of Jesus’ glory and intent in everything he said and did.

The community for which the Gospel of John was written was a very special group of believers. They were among the first to actually understand theologically that Jesus was God. They worked out the presence of God in man or what we would later call ‘incarnation’. Because of their free thoughts of Christ, they were expelled from the synagogues and may have been a bit bitter about their treatment. The gospel is harsh on Jews and in fact can be read as anti-Jewish IF you are not careful. Most probably, the Johannine Community was arguing with their relatives! It was a family squabble.

I believe that the best way to read the gospel is to read yourself into it.

Throughout the book there are references made to the ‘beloved disciple’. The disciple is never named. This disciple could have been any one of the members of the Johannine community – or it could be you! And in just the same manner, we are the ones that shut out the radical, liberal gospel message of a God and man that walks among us. As the season of Easter comes to a close and we move into the ongoing mission and ministry presented to us in the Pentecost, may you be beloved and may you seek to open the doors of your faith to new and ‘resurrecting’ ideas.

Pastor Lynnae

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Beautiful Churches

When I was in seminary I read a book called “Re-pitching the Tent”. It was all about the building of church ‘buildings’. Faith community worship began on a mountain with a stone altar and has developed into the church structures of today. Some of the most beautiful churches that I have ever seen (other than the FULL ones) are churches that are built in a simple style and that have a story to tell.

Some of the most unusual, are “the wooden churches – the majority of which were built in accordance with laws that discriminated against non-Catholics. No other European country has as high a density and great a diversity of wooden churches as Slovakia, so of course, I am partial to them!

Slovakia has the highest density of wooden churches anywhere in Europe. In 1681, the Roman Catholic Austro-Hungarian Emperor dictated that only Roman Catholic churches could use hard materials (stone, metal). Protestant and Ruthenian/Rusyn Greek Catholic churches could only be made of wood and were not allowed to use nails in their construction. They had to be
erected within one year, start to finish, and were not permitted in the center of town.

Builders used ingenious carpentry techniques for joining together pieces of wood to create these lovely churches. Weathered, dark wooden shingles seem to ripple and flow, like snakeskin, over these organic-looking structures.” (from the CometoSlovakia.com web page)

Within the inner sanctuaries of these churches I first encountered ‘painted churches’. I found on the ceilings beautiful scenes of clouds and blue skies, depicted it seemed to be like looking into the heavens. One church had each of their organs wind pipes painted to look like a singing choir of openmouthed angels. Unknown artists worked painfully to grace the simple woodwork with images of the holy.

Upon returning to Texas, I was astonished to find the painted churches of our own areas had Czechoslovak and German immigrant heritage. In the Mid-19th century the immigrants
banded together in small communities on the rolling plains of Texas and churches were among the first structures that they built. Join us on April 17th as we take a tour of the painted churches of Texas and learn a little about our heritage. Call the church office to reserve your
place in the van!

Pastor Lynnae

The Book of Faith

From Pastor Lynnae—
I remember when people used to say that Lutherans were pompous because they knew scripture so well. They could find anything and everything in their well worn bibles and they had well informed opinions on the matters of life. Lutherans were famous for their schools of secondary and post secondary education. Lutherans were founded upon a solid base of God’s holy and living Word. I’m not sure that is so true anymore. What with the right-wing non-denominational churches spouting their manipulation of biblical politics and the so called bible-based churches quoting out of context… we are losing a bit of our own informed biblical heritage. I’m sick of televangelists telling us how to be ‘successful’ or how my dollars will bring about the second coming.

It is time to put our lives back on track. Get out your bibles – Lutherans, because here we GO! Bishop Mark Hanson has launched an initiative to get Lutherans back into Scripture. The Book of Faith initiative of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America invites the whole church to become more fluent in the first language of faith, the language of Scripture, in order that we might live into our calling as a people — renewed, enlivened, and empowered by the Word.

We can’t take it all on at once, so we are taking the first step by getting back to our Lutheran heritage and basics. Starting April 13th I will begin teaching an Adult Confirmation Class at the 9:45 a.m. Adult Sunday School hour in the Activity Center. This will be a chance to review your catechism studies as well as a chance to examine some of the documents of our faith such as the Augsburg Confession, the Large Catechism and the Babylonian Captivity!

Never heard of them? Well, come to the class whether you are a life-long or a new Lutheran. Get started on your personal journey with the Book of Faith.

Pastor Lynnae

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Jesus Christ - Our Playing Coach

We have a ‘playing coach’ in Jesus Christ. I guess it’s no secret that I love basketball. Well, actually not so much any basketball, but NBA – OK really, I just love the Spurs!

It's getting down to play off time so I have been thinking about basketball a lot! I have learned a few things from being a Spurs fan. One thing that I learned is that those coaches who once played in the NBA themselves seem to make better coaches. They know the ropes (or at least the hoops!). They know the pressure and they certainly know the feeling of defeat. Coach Larry Brown is a ‘playing coach’. He can relate to his players. He can understand their fears, their egos and maybe even their fouls, because he experienced them himself when he played in the NBA!

Jesus came to walk on this earth and to experience life as we know it. He knew sorrow and joy, success and defeat. Forgive the comparison, but Jesus is really like a ‘playing coach’. Incarnational theology is the faith understanding that Jesus lives in and among each of us. I thank God that Jesus knows what I am going through. This season of Lent we have a chance to
get to know a ‘playing savior’. Take a time out – listen to the One who really knows.

Pastor Lynnae

I once heard a story...

There was a gentleman that stopped going to church. Many people speculated as to why. Some thought that he was too busy to attend. Some thought that he was angry with God and others knew that he was really just angry with the pastor!

One member did talk with him but the approach was not very comforting. “Why aren’t you coming to church?” Finally, the pastor made a call.

The gentlemen opened the door and the pastor stepped into the sparse yet friendly home. Without speaking, they sat by the fire. For many hours they watched the fire burn. Then the pastor made a bold move, taking a stick and separating one log from the burning fire. It didn’t take much time for the separated log to turn from bright red to black and almost cold. Just before the log went totally out, the pastor pushed the log back into the roaring fire and it quickly reignited. They sat there quietly for quite some time.

Then the gentleman said, “Pastor, you’ve made your point, I’ll see you Sunday.”

Wherever you’ve been, we’ve missed you. I hope you’re OK and if you need a call (or a push), just let Pastor Fetter or I know!

Pastor Lynnae

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Fasting and Prayer

“Blow the trumpet in Zion;
Sound the alarm on my holy mountain!
Let all the inhabitants of the land tremble,
For the day of the LORD is coming, it is near –
A day of darkness and gloom,
A day of clouds and thick darkness!
Like blackness spread upon the mountains
A great and powerful army comes;
Their like has never been from of old,
Nor will be again after them in ages to come.” —Joel 2:1-2

The Old Testament lesson assigned to Ash Wednesday has Joel calling the people by the blowing of a trumpet to a fast. The Prophet Joel sees the recent ‘bad luck’ of the people as being a direct reflection upon their refusing to follow God, most especially in their worship practices.

I once was at an Ethiopian meal with a group of immigrants. One woman was ‘fasting’ and so she was eating only bread and fruit, maybe some vegetable greens. Being confused by her definition of a ‘fast’ I questioned her. “What does a fast mean to you?” This pious and faithful Christian woman from Ethiopia, who had struggled greatly to come to America and try to start a new life answered, “A fast is when you refuse to eat that which the rich people eat.” I loved that.

My idea of a fast was when you denied yourself. It was a physical fast that, hopefully ends up being a lesson to yourself about your reliance upon God. There are many different understandings of a fast in the Bible. Many times it meant a different diet, but not wholly
denying any sustenance. Always, always, always ‘fasting’ goes hand in hand with prayer. I believe prayer is an active communication. I believe that prayer or communicating with God leads to great and humble acts of faith. This Ethiopian woman gave me a new understanding of fasting. Her fasting was not showy or self centered. It was a statement that aligned her with Jesus, the champion of the poor.

Lent is a time to blow the trumpet. It is a time to sound the alarm about the ways in which we are not covenantal people. It is a time to reflect upon the ways of Jesus and the ways of society. It is a time to fast. Whatever fast you may take on, may it reflect your choice to follow Jesus, for the day of the Lord is coming near!

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Don’t Give Up Anything for Lent…

Lent begins with Ash Wednesday on February 6th, and lasts for 40 days before Easter. Lent is typically a time of soul searching and repentance, but the origins of Lent are found in BAPTISM. The early church used these 40 days to prepare new candidates for baptism. Lent is a time to remember our baptism and to remind ourselves daily of God’s mission in the world.

Many people see Lent as a time of self denial and solemn and stark asceticism. I see Lent as a time of ‘rich simplicity’ (well that’s what Sundays and Seasons Worship Planning suggests— and I agree). Our symbols and rituals should be striking and rich in contemplation. Our theme for this Lenten Season is YOUR NAIL, and will be based on a devotional booklet to be used every day in Lent. You will get your booklet at the Ash Wednesday Worship Service.

Many people ‘give something up’ for Lent. Some give up sweets, sodas, or just chocolate alone, which I’ve heard is really hard to do! I’ve never really been into ‘giving up’ for Lent. Somehow, I think that makes the sacrifice about me and not about God. If baptism is a gift from God, then the only thing we can do as participants in Baptism is RESPOND. We can DO something for Lent – not give something up.

This Lent DO something like: volunteer at the Food Pantry, or on Property Work Day, or at the SAMM Shelter. I don’t know how giving up sweets does anything for Jesus? Instead, Do something that lifts up the sacrifice of Jesus. This year, don’t give up anything for Lent. DO something.

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Epiphany - The Season of Light!

“Shepherds and Kings

Following Hopes and Stars

That take them deep into the night.
How far have they come?
We should really know for certainly
Everyone is a Shepherd and King”.

The Sundays of Epiphany are full of wonder and light! Epiphany is the revealing of the light – Jesus Christ to the world.

The journey of the shepherds and kings is truly our journey. Like those so long ago, we are
searching for Jesus and for the way of our very own lives. Who is Jesus to me? What does Jesus ask of me? How shall I go forward? Who shall I trust? Who shall I rely upon? How will I shine?

In our baptismal service we repeat the phrase, “Let your light so shine before others that they see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven.” How shall we shine? One candle can pierce the darkness, yes, however if there are many lights, well then we light the sky. You can shine alone, but joining your light with those of your family, community and church is an even greater illumination.

Don’t let the cold and dreariness of January keep you away from gathering with us in worship, study and fellowship. Be here. Let your light shine brightly!

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