"Wisdom and Belief"

Matthew 2:1-12

The visitors from the East are referred to in a couple of different ways.  Some call them the Wise Men from the East, some call them Three Kings.  What we know about them is that they were likely astrologers who were interested in the patterns of light and stars in the sky. The were perhaps an early form of scientists, trying to explain and make sense of the universe.

This Sunday we celebrate the arrival of the Wise Men, the Kings, at the house of the child Jesus. We call this day Epiphany Sunday. The actual day of the Epiphany is January 6, known in many countries as Three Kings Day and a day of celebration and eating of King's Cake. A celebration that will go on leading right up to Carnavale, or Mardi Gras, which this year is February 9.

Perhaps as we celebrate the arrival of the three Wise Men or Kings or astrologers, we should take one last look at the theme of belief we focused on during Advent.  What does it mean to truly submit to God's love in your life and believe?  And, this week, let's add to that the role that wisdom, true wisdom, plays in belief.  How do belief and wisdom go hand in hand? Do you believe that wisdom and belief do intersect one another, and if not, what ways do they seem to be opposites to one another?

In today's post-christendom world, we have a lot of cynicism and disbelief. We also have a lot of folks talking a lot about, and writing and reading a lot about, inner wisdom. How you have to rely on your own inner wisdom to get you through life.  I am interested in the way our 'inner wisdom' might just be the voice of God and very closely related to our ability to believe.

In the Wise Men's story, they were told by King Herod to report back to him the Christ' child's location, yet when they saw the Child, they were overcome with joy (belief) and decided to 'go home by another way,' rather than reporting back to Herod.  They relied on a gut reaction, an inner wisdom, to send them a different direction.  They saw the child and believed and then found the inner wisdom to respond appropriately to what they now believed.

Interesting stuff... this intersection between belief and wisdom.  What are your thoughts?  Email me at peverhart@niwotumc,org or comment below.

Christmas Week Notes

TONIGHT December 14 at 7 pm. is the Blue Christmas Service. Reflective, meditative service focusing on the darkness we often feel during the midst of holly jolly holidays.  Music by Pat Koh will be soulful, mournful and reflective, yet hopeful.  Readings and prayers will be led by Rev. Pam Everhart. Join us.


Scripture for Dec 20: Psalm 98

December 20 at 10:20 sharp is our choir cantata "The Winter Rose," directed by Dave Marvin. We look forward to the joyous message of Christ's birth in song. Following the service, there will be a farewell reception for Dave. We are grateful for his time here as our music director, and will miss his talent and his energy.

Scriptures for Dec 24: Isaiah 9:2, 6-7, Isaiah 11:1-6, Luke 2:1-20, John 1:1-14

Thursday, December 24 at 7 pm is our Christmas Candlelighting Service.  The sermon is entitled "The bell still rings for me as it does for all who truly believe" and is based upon Luke 2 and The Polar Express by Chris Van Allsburg. Here are some notes:

Once the little boy receives 'the first gift of Christmas,' the bell from Santa's sleigh, he promptly loses it, but then gets it back again through the magic of Santa.  The message that is driven home for him is how important it is to believe. Things may not always go your way, but believing is key.

Just like Mary... who must have had to use every ounce of belief  in God's plan for her to think that birthing a baby away from the comforts of home...
Just like Joseph... who must have found it hard to believe Mary... and later the voice of God through the angel... in telling him that he was called to raise "Emmanuel. God with us."
Just like the shepherds... who probably were a bit dazed and confused by the lights and voices in the sky above leading them to a stable... and to a King.
Just like the Wise Men... following Herod's advice and the star, but trusting in the angel who tells them to go home by a different way.

How could this story have ever happened (no matter how it all actually happened) without the convictions of the principal players?  Without their trust and belief in the God who sent his Son to be our King.

Scriptures for Dec 27: Isaiah 52:7-10; Hebrews 1:1-6

December 27 at 10:20 is Christmas Sunday.... and a Christmas Carol Sing-a-long that you don't want to miss!

Come be part of his joyful season.  We will all explore together the message once again of the Birth of Christ and consider how life can be transformed if we only believe.

"The First Gift of Christmas"

Luke 1:68-69, 76-79 New Revised Standard Version (NRSV)

⁶⁸ “Blessed be the Lord God of Israel,
    for he has looked favorably on his people and redeemed them.

⁶⁹ He has raised up a mighty savior for us
    in the house of his servant David,

⁷⁶ And you, child, will be called the prophet of the Most High;
    for you will go before the Lord to prepare his ways,
⁷⁷ to give knowledge of salvation to his people
    by the forgiveness of their sins.
⁷⁸ By the tender mercy of our God,
    the dawn from on high will break upon us,
⁷⁹ to give light to those who sit in darkness and in the shadow of death,
    to guide our feet into the way of peace.”

This week we celebrate the birth of Christ in our annual Impromptu Christmas Pageant. We don't rehearse. We don't know yet who will play what part... well, except for Baby Jesus... we DO have a special precious baby to play Baby Jesus. But the rest of the parts in the nativity story are up for grabs.  What part do you want to play this year?

Join us, all ages, at 10:20 this week as we have a festive and also holy and sacred time remembering the story from Luke and Matthew.  The story of God coming down to us...  arriving in the form of a baby.

A baby who will be called "mighty savior," a baby who will be the "prophet of the Most High," a baby who will "give light to those who sit in darkness" and who will "guide our feet into the way of peace."

We could not need this baby more in this year of unrest. Come, thou Long Expected Jesus.

Do you have a favorite memory from a nativity pageant from your childhood? Or your children or grandchildren's nativity pageants?  Share it with me by email at peverhart@niwotumc.org or comment below.