January 2008

Greetings in the Season of Epiphany!

Epiphany is the season in which we celebrate the coming of Christ to the Gentiles - meaning all others beyond the Hebrew peoples. It is manifested in the arrival of the Magi, Gentile people coming in search of the Christ child, the long awaited Messiah who promised a new realm of life bringing light into the darkness of the time. In those days survival from famine, disease, poverty, oppressive leaders and new conquerors were the way of life. The Messiah promised justice and peace, healing, a new world and more.

Imagine discovering that YOU are part of God's beloved promises! Imagine that God knows YOU and loves YOU! Unfortunately all of the above conditions still exist in today's world. Unfortunately we are not always waiting that good news as much as when Jesus was born. The world tells you how to have it all. Do we need God as much? Yes! Perhaps even more!

When life is going well God is, all too often, on the back burner. We are farther away than ever, from giving thanks for every little blessing! We work harder and harder to achieve all that the world promises and we fool ourselves into thinking we are in control of most aspects of our life.

It is in the dark days and even darker nights, that we turn to God ... or we assume that God is not there and find justification to not believe in God's promises. What would it mean to begin as the new year begins, to understand that we are on a journey in search of God? We are the Magi, trusting in God and the beloved Son, Jesus, to light our path. How was it that this star of Bethlehem led the Magi but Herod, who was closer, couldn't see it? Could it mean that the light was all around him and he ignored the signs? Or could it mean that the Star took a dedicated seeker on the road in search of the Christ child? I believe that it was both and it is still both for us! God is present all around us and within us. We don't believe what we don't see but we also don't trust ourselves in believing what we do see! AND it takes commitment and a willingness to go on the journey to discovering the Christ child within us and around us!

I am grateful for the ways we have fed each other spiritually this year. I look forward to the promises and challenges of 2008 as we travel together on our journeys to discovering what it is that God is calling us to do as individuals and as a church!

Wishing you safe travel on the road to discovering something new and meaningful this year! Blessing and Peace,

Pastor Pam