Originally, because of Communion and the fact that I knew I needed to get to Simpson afterwards, we had rescheduled the "Special Music" at Fort Oglethorpe for after the sermon. But as the praise team was warming up with "10,000 Reasons" and "Spirit of the Living God", something inside said to switch the special music back to its original place before the sermon. So I did. And I'm glad.
It's one of those God things, too. Pamper wasn't sure why God had given her that particular song to begin with as she didn't see how it fit with the service. But, it did. In fact, it was a powerful song and it fit perfectly. Thank you, Pamper, for listening and following through with obedience!
Here is the song that Pamper played and sang:
"Holy Spirit, living Breath of God" by Stuart Townend and Keith Getty
HOLY SPIRIT, living Breath of God,
Breathe new life into my willing soul.
Bring the presence of the risen Lord
To renew my heart and make me whole.
Cause your word to come alive in me;
Give me faith for what I cannot see;
Give me passion for your purity;
Holy Spirit, breathe new life in me.
Holy Spirit, come abide within,
May your joy be seen in all I do.
Love enough to cover every sin
In each thought and word and attitude:
Kindness to the greatest and the least,
Gentleness that sows the path of peace.
Turn my strivings into works of grace;
Breath of God, show Christ in all I do.
Holy Spirit, from creation's birth,
Giving life to all that God has made.
Show your power once again on earth
Cause your church to hunger for your ways.
May the fragrance of our prayers arise;
Lead us on the road of sacrifice,
That in unity the face of Christ
May be clear for all the world to see.
Copyright © 2005 Kingsway's Thankyou Music
For more Getty music, go to their website by clicking here or by typing in the address: https://www.gettymusic.com/.
Here is the sermon from yesterday. Remember that what is written isn't necessarily what is spoken during the service. Things are changed, either added or taken away or simply said differently. But, the general focus of the message is here.
"Honor the New Born King"
January 3, 2016 (Epiphany)
Matthew 2:1-12 (NRSV)
Fort Oglethorpe UMC, Simpson UMC
Matthew 2:1-12
(NRSV)
2 In the
time of King Herod, after Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judea, wise men from
the East came to Jerusalem, 2 asking, “Where is the child who
has been born king of the Jews? For we observed his star at its rising, and
have come to pay him homage.” 3 When King Herod heard this, he
was frightened, and all Jerusalem with him; 4 and calling
together all the chief priests and scribes of the people, he inquired of them
where the Messiah was to be born. 5 They told him,
“In Bethlehem of Judea; for so it has been written by the prophet:
6 ‘And you, Bethlehem, in the
land of Judah,
are by no means least among the rulers of Judah;
for from you shall come a ruler
who is to shepherd my people Israel.’”
7 Then Herod secretly called for the wise
men and learned from them the exact time when the star had appeared.
8 Then he sent them to Bethlehem, saying, “Go and search
diligently for the child; and when you have found him, bring me word so that I
may also go and pay him homage.” 9 When they had heard the
king, they set out; and there, ahead of them, went the star that they had seen
at its rising, until it stopped over the place where the child was. 10 When
they saw that the star had stopped, they were overwhelmed with joy. 11 On
entering the house, they saw the child with Mary his mother; and they knelt
down and paid him homage. Then, opening their treasure chests, they offered him
gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh. 12 And having been
warned in a dream not to return to Herod, they left for their own country by
another road.are by no means least among the rulers of Judah;
for from you shall come a ruler
who is to shepherd my people Israel.’”
THIS IS THE WORD OF GOD FOR THE PEOPLE OF GOD.
THANKS BE TO GOD.
----------------------------------------------------Today is Epiphany Sunday. It is also the 10th day of Christmas and we have just entered a new year, 2016. This Wednesday, we celebrate a special Epiphany service on Epiphany, a bilingual service in the community of Rossville at McFarland UMC. There will be food, fellowship, and worship. All are invited.
In addition to where we are on the calendar as church and society, today as a church family, we have the service of a dear departed one who has gone home to be with the king of kings and lord of lords, Wilma Scott. Though a member at Simpson UMC, she often attended Fort Oglethorpe UMC. If you haven't heard, that service is today at 2pm at Wilson's in Ringgold on Boynton.
How do all these things come together today?
First, let's talk about what Epiphany is-- "Epiphany is the day and season in the church when we patiently wait and listen as God is quietly revealed before us once again. [...] Contemporary observances of Epiphany include the coming of the wise men with gifts for the Christ child and the baptism of Jesus. The season concludes with Transfiguration Sunday. Epiphany is the time when the church gathers to remember and reflect upon the mighty acts of God in the birth of Christ." (67, A Guide to Prayer for All Who Seek God)
In today's passage, the wise men from the East went to Jerusalem and asked about the child who was born. They had seen the star rise and followed it thus far to find the child. Word got to King Herod and the King summoned the men. Herod used his resources to determine where the baby likely was born, met with the wise men, and sent them out to find the child and then return to him because he too would like to pay him homage. If King Herod really wanted to pay homage to the Christ child, why didn't he take what he learned from his advisors and travel himself?! But, this king of the country is feeling threatened by the newborn child that was prophesied to become king. Notice how he behaves as he feels that his position is no longer secure.
The wise men get their directional path in Jerusalem and continue their journey to honor the new born king. When they left Jerusalem and headed toward Bethlehem, the star they had previously seen was there for them to follow.
Verses 9-11 "9 When they had heard the king, they set out; and there, ahead of them, went the star that they had seen at its rising, until it stopped over the place where the child was. 10 When they saw that the star had stopped, they were overwhelmed with joy. 11 On entering the house, they saw the child with Mary his mother; and they knelt down and paid him homage. Then, opening their treasure chests, they offered him gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh."
The star stopped over where the child was. Child. They were overwhelmed with joy. They had made it to their destination. They entered the house. Notice "house". Not stable. Then they opened their treasure chests and offered the gifts they brought him.
How many wise men are there? It doesn't say, does it?! Historically we have narrowed it down to three, based on the three gifts that are given to the Christ child, but we really don't know how many there were. And, we tend to focus on them more as "wise men" than "magi" too.
After the wise men / magi presented their gifts, they went home by a different route because they had been warned in a dream that Herod's intentions weren't so noble.
Besides realizing that we tend to condense the entire nativity scene all into one every year, what can we learn from today's passage?
Each of us may have a different take away today. Maybe we are to pay attention to creation, to what the Creator tells us in creation. Maybe we are to listen to our dreams and trust our instincts. Maybe we are to be filled with joy along the journey, especially when we reach milestones of certain destinations.
At Epiphany, we celebrate that the wise men travelled to honor the new born king and that they brought gifts. These gifts were valuable items: frankincense--incense or perfume; gold-- a precious metal to represent the title of king; and myrrh--an anointing oil was used in burial preparation.
As we begin a new year, we recognize that we start anew. We start fresh with our lives with Christ, with one another, and with everything. We have the opportunity to allow our relationship with Christ to grow deeper. How will we honor the new born king?
Maybe one way to honor Christ this year in our churches will be to prepare for our dreaming and visioning sessions this month in January. Read the questions and pray. Come prepared to share where you see God at work in the community and how you think we can honor Christ in serving him.
John Wesley wrote a Covenant Prayer that he used with his people. Please turn in your hymnals to #607 and read with me: (As we read these words, let's be intentional in our reading and focus and allow them to penetrate our hearts, minds, and souls.)
Wesley Covenant Prayer (A Covenant Prayer in the Wesleyan Tradition)
I am no longer my
own, but thine.
Put me to what
thou wilt, rank me with whom thou wilt.
Put me to doing,
put me to suffering.
Let me be employed
by thee or laid aside for thee,
exalted for thee
or brought low by thee.
Let me be full,
let me be empty.
Let me have all
things, let me have nothing.
I freely and
heartily yield all things
to thy pleasure
and disposal.
And now, O
glorious and blessed God,
Father, Son, and
Holy Spirit,
thou art mine, and
I am thine. So be it.
And the covenant
which I have made on earth, let it be ratified in heaven. Amen.
In closing today, hear these words by Dr. Howard Thurman, an influential African American author, philosopher, theologian, educator and civil rights leader:
"The Work of Christmas" by Dr. Howard Thurman (from The Mood of Christmas)
When
the song of the angels is stilled,
When the star in the sky is gone,
When the kings and the princes are home,
When the shepherds are back with their flock,
The work of Christmas begins:
To find the lost,
To heal the broken,
To feed the hungry,
To release the prisoner,
To rebuild the nations,
To bring peace among brothers,
To make music in the heart.
When the star in the sky is gone,
When the kings and the princes are home,
When the shepherds are back with their flock,
The work of Christmas begins:
To find the lost,
To heal the broken,
To feed the hungry,
To release the prisoner,
To rebuild the nations,
To bring peace among brothers,
To make music in the heart.
May it be so.
Amen.
---------------------------------------------
Blessings on your journey,
Debra
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