This week we have the pleasure of welcoming Lawrie Gardner back into the pulpit. Lawrie has served two terms as Clerk of Session, with her current term finishing this summer. She is an active member of choir and bell choir, passionate about mission projects and a tireless minister to the children and families of our church. On this Martin Luther King Day weekend, we will hear how God has inspired her reading of scripture through the lens of his vision for justice and peace.
New Epiphany Sermon Series begins today!
Help my Unbelief: An Exploration of the Apostles Creed
What do Christians believe? What might that matter to you, to your life, to your spiritual practice? The Apostle’s Creed is one of the most ancient creeds of the Christian church, accepted by almost every denomination within our faith. But what does it say, and more importantly, what does it mean? Do I have to believe it to be a Christian? We’ll be exploring these questions and more during this 6-week exploration of this foundational document for the Christian faith.
I believe in God, the father almighty, creator of heaven and earth (TODAY’S TOPIC)
I believe in Jesus Christ, his only Son, our Lord.
He was conceived by the power of the Holy Spirit and born of the Virgin Mary.
He suffered under Pontius Pilate, was crucified, died, and was buried.
He descended to the dead.
On the third day he rose again.
He ascended into heaven and is seated at the right hand of the Father.
He will come again to judge the living and the dead.
I believe in the Holy Spirit,
the holy catholic Church,
the communion of saints,
the forgiveness of sins,
the resurrection of the body,
and the life everlasting.
Amen.
This first Sunday of the year is Communion Sunday, Epiphany Sunday AND the day that we receive our star words for 2025. They are picked randomly but prayerfully and meant to act as a guide for the coming year, akin to a North Star. Life can get so full and busy that sometimes we need something more simple to focus our attention on. If you are unable to receive a star word in worship this morning and you would like one mailed to you, please email Pastor Jessie.
Today’s Epiphany focus will be on these mysterious visitors to the baby Jesus. Why would such wise and illustrious and worldly people want to travel so far just to see a baby? What does this interaction mean for the our larger story of the Gospel? In what ways does Epiphany challenge us to make room for “strangers” who might have wisdom to share with us?
The Christmas story is not over yet. By now Joseph was used to angels. And now he needed their timely warnings more than ever. Jesus was barely a toddler and His trouble with the Roman Empire had begun. Jesus, the Savior of Humankind becomes a refugee — forced from home by oppression and violence. We ask ourselves how we might usher in #morelife in the face of that which feels destructive. One last time in this series we hear the message #DoNotBeAfraid to get up and go — leaving those things that weigh us down and moving into the new year with new life.
Over the last four weeks, we have heard of the stories of angel appearances heralding incredible news of the birth of a savior. They didn’t appear to kings and rulers or courts or the privileged of society. They came to an old and barren couple, a young girl barely a woman and to lowly shepherds on a hillside. They came to people like you and me. God worked through ordinary people and did extraordinary things. And so it is that God works through us every time we offer messages of hope, peace, joy, and love to an anxious world. We are called to fly in the face of fear — to be angels among us.
On this holy night, we consider the circumstances of Jesus’ birth and we ask: what do we make room for? In our hearts? In our lives? In our world?
