A Note From the Pastors
Hi friends! Happy 2023! We made it to a new year, and we pray the first several days have offered a bit of fresh perspective for you.
Today is a special, wonder-filled day in the Church year, a day called Epiphany. An “epiphany,” in it’s simplest sense, is a sudden realization of something - of it’s meaning or it's clarity; a moment where it all, or even a slice of something, makes some kind of sense. In the Christian tradition, “Epiphany” is the day when we celebrate the coming of the Magi, distant astrologers, who are pulled with such magnetism to the Christ child. They paid close attention to the sky and were filled with the wonder it provided them, stirring up curiosity and a sense of urgency. When they reach Mary, Joseph, and the baby, they offer gifts as if to royalty - gold, frankincense, and myrhh. Must have been a strange experience for Mary and Joseph, right? They didn’t expect these visitors, nor their extravagant gifts. But for the Magi? Epiphany. A moment of clarity that led to awe and peace.
You might be wondering - why is this important? Some outsiders coming to see this baby? And, what kind of baby shower was this? The gold was probably helpful, but what about the frankincense and myrhh? What would they need with these natural resins or oils?
In this moment in Jesus’ story, before he really has any agency or reason, there is a revealing about who he is and what his life means: a human manifestation of God, an act of revealing God’s very self in the form of a helpless child. And this manifestation was not only for the tribe of the particular people he was born into, but to the world - to people of other nations, those who weren’t “one of us.” This incredibly “natural” human event of childbirth was also holy, something sacred, carrying with it the very presence of God, and that presence of God was witnessed by those from the far reaches of the world. Glory!
We will be exploring this story some more on Sunday, but as we begin a new year, together as this growing seedling faith community, may we open ourselves to that same magnetism of the Christ child that pulled the Magi towards him. Let us see this year with new eyes, not by closing or dimming our eyes, but with eyes wide open with clear eyes that allows us to see the very presence of God among us. It is all around us - look and see!
Happy New Year, friends. Merry Epiphany! May you know your belovedness, always, and may this Epiphany reveal to you the light of Christ. We are looking forward to following Jesus with you into what’s next!
Grace and Peace,
Pastor Nichole
