Worship Sundays at 9 am
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Epiphany is discovery, not just an “aha” moment but also the persistent dawning and awakening to something new. In Epiphany the star guides the magi to the child born King of the Jews, but there they discover the working of God in new and unexpected ways. The light of God is coming to all people.
One of the main ways we see God active in our lives is in the gifts that the Spirit of God gives. When these gifts arise in our lives we have a better view of what God is really up to. Their light reveals God’s presence and care. These gifts are the fruit of the Spirit that Paul talks about in Galatians 5:22-23. They are love, joy, peace, forbearance (patience), kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control.
Last Epiphany Sunday I drew “gentleness” from the basket of stars. For a year now I have been reflecting on the gift of gentleness in my life. Mostly, that has come with Sara. As I am gentle with her, she learns to be gentle. I have discovered we are most gentle with those things that are precious to us. Also, in my life this year, I have been gently corrected and found myself in appreciation of the care with which those enlightenments have come. God really is working in our lives through these kinds of gifts that come from God’s activity, from us to others and from others into our lives.
This year on Epiphany, we will invite people to talk about these kinds of discoveries they have made about God’s activity and the spiritual gifts. We will also draw stars as an invitation to focus on that spiritual gift in the coming year. How will this gift play out in our lives in the coming year?
–Pastor Mitch