great commission

Good morning brothers and sisters,
This morning I'm running in the Flower City Half-Marathon and then heading off to a conference/retreat for newer ministers. It's a great conference and I'm grateful to be able to Go. I'll still have access to email, and if you need me, feel free to call. I'll be back in town Thursday evening.

Today's passage is known as the "Great Commission" because in it, Jesus gives the disciples (and thus, the church) their mission for the rest of history. This is still a good way to think about what the church's job is. Not only do we claim Jesus' calling to make disciples and teach to the ends of the earth, we also claim his promise to be with us forever. What a great promise to put our faith in.

God bless,
Sam

Matthew 28:16-20

¹⁶Now the eleven disciples went to Galilee, to the mountain to which Jesus had directed them. ¹⁷When they saw him, they worshiped him; but some doubted. ¹⁸And Jesus came and said to them, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. ¹⁹Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, ²⁰and teaching them to obey everything that I have commanded you. And remember, I am with you always, to the end of the age.”

Epiphany

Good morning/evening friends,
Today is the festival of Epiphany or Three Kings Day when we celebrate the arrival of the wise men to welcome Jesus. We see too that Christ's birth is a political event: King Herod immediately feels threatened by the announcement that a king has been born. While Herod's response is fear, the wise men respond with worship, worship for a child who will change the world. At Epiphany we are invited to consider the gifts God has given us. How can we use our gifts: our skills and passions as well as our treasure, to worship and serve Jesus today?

God bless,
Sam

Matthew 2:1-11

In the time of King Herod, after Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judea, wise men from the East came to Jerusalem, ²asking, “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.” ³When King Herod heard this, he was frightened, and all Jerusalem with him; ⁴and calling together all the chief priests and scribes of the people, he inquired of them where the Messiah was to be born. ⁵They 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.’”

⁷Then Herod secretly called for the wise men and learned from them the exact time when the star had appeared. ⁸Then 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.”

⁹When 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. ¹⁰When they saw that the star had stopped, they were overwhelmed with joy. ¹¹On 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.

in a manger

Good morning brothers and sisters,
Tonight is our last night of the living nativity from 6-8pm. If you've never seen it; it really brings the story of Jesus' birth to life. Come and bring a friend. In addition to the characters it would be great to have a couple of people helping Mike with hospitality. We'll be setting up hot drinks and cookies in the narthex beginning about 5:30. The evening is a great chance to welcome people to our church and, more importantly, to the story of Jesus.

That story is our reading for this morning. It's a familiar story for many of us, but it never stops amazing me. As you read, open your heart up and try to welcome Jesus into your life in a new way.

God bless,
Sam

Luke 2:1-7

¹In those days a decree went out from Emperor Augustus that all the world should be registered. ²This was the first registration and was taken while Quirinius was governor of Syria. ³All went to their own towns to be registered. ⁴Joseph also went from the town of Nazareth in Galilee to Judea, to the city of David called Bethlehem, because he was descended from the house and family of David.

⁵He went to be registered with Mary, to whom he was engaged and who was expecting a child. ⁶While they were there, the time came for her to deliver her child. ⁷And she gave birth to her firstborn son and wrapped him in bands of cloth, and laid him in a manger, because there was no place for them in the inn.