Sunday, January 1, 2012
Isaiah 60:1-6; Matthew 2:1-12
GOD'S AWESOME DEEDS
Eleanor Epp-Stobbe, preaching


HAPPY EPIPHANY!
Epiphany is about the unexpected: unexpected joys and unexpected challenges. Epiphany is filled with unexpected revelations that change our minds and our ways. It is fitting that our North American Mennonite worship theme for Advent, Christmas and Epiphany is ”Awesome Deeds we do not expect”.

What were some of your epiphanies of the past year – your discoveries of the Holy One in your midst?How did you grow because of these experiences / these discoveries?
What is at the heart of your new year’s prayer?
What is your greatest need for the coming year?
What gifts do you bring into the year before you?

God’s unfailing love and faithfulness journeys with us: for our congregation in this past year as we celebrated our 160 years as a community of faith, our rejoicing in baptisms this past year, giving thanks for the blessing of new life, in our welcome of new attendees, and gratitude for the gift of leaders - pastoral and lay leadership. God’s unfailing love and faithfulness journeys with us: in our grief and loss by the passing of those we hold dear, as we wait with uncertain health matters.

In this new year, in the season of Epiphany, God calls us to wake up to revelation that stretch, surprise, and transform us. May we listen for what God’s Spirit is saying and be ready to take another road, to become a new creation and welcome God’s awesome deeds we do not expect.

Isaiah 60:1-6

Arise, shine; for your light has come, and the glory of the Lord has risen upon you. For darkness shall cover the earth, and thick darkness the peoples; but the Lord will arise upon you, and his glory will appear over you. Nations shall come to your light, and kings to the brightness of your dawn. Lift up your eyes and look around; they all gather together, they come to you; your sons shall come from far away, and your daughters shall be carried on their nurses’ arms. Then you shall see and be radiant; your heart shall thrill and rejoice, because the abundance of the sea shall be brought to you, the wealth of the nations shall come to you. A multitude of camels shall cover you, the young camels of Midian and Ephah; all those from Sheba shall come. They shall bring
gold and frankincense, and shall proclaim the praise of the Lord

Matthew 2:1-12

In the time of King Herod, after Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judea, wise men from the East came to Jerusalem, 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.’ When King Herod heard this, he was frightened, and all Jerusalem with him; and calling together all the chief priests and scribes of the people, he inquired of them where the Messiah was to be born. They told him, ‘In Bethlehem of Judea; for so it has been written by the prophet: “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.” ’ Then Herod secretly called for the wise men and learned from them the exact time when the star had appeared. 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.’ 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. When they saw that the star had stopped, they were overwhelmed with joy. 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. And having been warned in a dream not to return to Herod, they left for their own country by another road.

New Revised Standard Version