Epiphany, Sunday, Jan. 6, 2019
Some
words of introduction/explanation: There’s
been quite a gap since I’ve blogged Worship Words and Reflections. For the past
30 months, I’ve had the blessing of leading worship at Windhaven Psychiatric
Hospital in Prescott Valley, Arizona. The hospital is operated by my employer,
but the worship leading is a volunteer position – a labor of love. The
community has ranged from one person to as many as 11 on any given Sunday – it
is a 16-bed unit and the Sunday morning worship/inspirational group is
optional. Typically, the patients stay three to seven days – occasionally a
patient will be there multiple Sundays.
The participants identify almost any spiritual
background imaginable: Christian of various denominations or
non-denominational, Mormon, Jewish, Pagan, Wiccan, Native American, Ba’hai,
Buddhist, mixed spirituality, agnostic, atheist. Weekly worship participants,
those who haven’t attended a worship service in years, and those who have never
had exposure to a faith group. Yet, something drew them to the worship that
morning – perhaps a desire for community, or curiosity, or a desire for some
sense of hope or peace. The service leans on the Revised Common Lectionary
cycle, but I reserve the license to choose from any of the lessons or go
off-cycle if the message of the lessons strays far from the Christian central
thread of love, hope, peace, justice, compassion, healing and hospitality. I
may use all, some or none of my reflection in the actual message that day,
depending on the needs of the community.
I thank God who uses me to try to provide
whatever these hurting souls need on any given Sunday, and the patients (and
staff!) who often give me more in return than my words give them.
WINDHAVEN WORSHIP
The Day of Epiphany, Jan. 6, 2019
Opening Song “The First
Noel” Traditional
The first
Noel the angels did say,
Was to
certain poor shepherds in fields as they lay:
In fields
where they lay keeping their sheep,
On a cold
winter's night that was so deep.
[Chorus]
Noel, Noel, Noel, Noel
Born is the King of Israel.
They
looked up and saw a star
Shining
in the east beyond them far:
And to
the earth it gave great light
And so it
continued both day and night. [Chorus]
And by
the light of that same star
Three
wise men came from the country far;
To seek
for a King was their intent,
And to
follow the star wherever it went. [Chorus]
Welcome
Invocation
Opening Litany (based on Isaiah
60:1-6)
L: Arise, shine, for your light has come!
C:
Look up and get ready – things are about to change.
L: Maybe we don’t see it through the
world’s bleakness,
C:
Especially those of us who are alone, feeling empty and cold.
L: But the Lord’s goodness will shine
brightly in our lives,
C:
Warming the frozen places, filling us with joy.
Confession & Absolution
L: Blessed be the holy Trinity, one God,
who forgives all our sin, whose mercy endures forever.
C:
Amen.
L: Let us confess before God and one
another:
C: Merciful
God, I confess that I have sinned in thought, word, and deed, by what I have
done and by what I have left undone.
(silent reflection)
L: Here is Good News: On that first
Christmas, the Almighty became one with us, removing all distance between God
and God’s people. Love itself became human to show us nothing – absolutely
NOTHING you can do will keep you from the One who calls you Beloved Child. All
your sin is forgiven. In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the
Holy Spirit,
C: Amen.
Greeting & Prayer of the Day
L: The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ,
the love of God, and the communion of the Holy Spirit be with you all.
C:
And also with you.
L: We pray together,
C:
Ever-guiding God … You brought the Magi from distant lands to seek and
worship the Savior. Fill us with that kind of desire, curiosity and faith to
keep following you, wherever you may lead us. Amen.
Gospel: Wise Men Seek Jesus Matthew 2:1-12 (NRSV)
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.
Reflection: Literary License
If ever
there was a passage of scripture that has taken on a life of its own, it is
today’s lesson about the caravan that arrived after Jesus’ birth. After a few
years of Christmas plays, my younger brothers’ Christmas pageants, my son’s
Christmas roles, a couple of years of guiding people on a “Walk Though
Bethlehem” and assorted songs, messages and writings, I had to go back to
Matthew’s text to see what the text actually said – and more importantly,
didn’t say – about these visitors.
Kings, wise men, Magi
It’s
unlikely these were kings. No doubt that Matthew, the only Gospel writer who
provides this account, would have called these people kings if they were indeed
kings. Matthew, who starts his Gospel with 17 verses of the genealogy of Jesus,
was a stickler for details, especially names. Had these been kings, they would
have been named, along with their kingdom locations, and perhaps details about
people in their entourage. But the text calls them Magi, which points to early
astrologers. Astrologers in the Messiah’s birth account? The early church
wasn’t fond of astrology, fortune-tellers, sorcery or other practices of the
occult, so the visitors became wise men. Three, a dozen or a whole caravan?
Legend gives us three – Caspar, Melchior and Balthazar, from Persia, India and
Arabia, a convenient trio matched with the three gifts of gold, frankincense
and myrrh. But the eastern Christians suggest more, often a dozen. Chinese
Christians believe one Magi was from China. Did these wise ones start together,
meet on the road, or arrive separately? Did they convince more people to join
them to seek and worship the Savior? Your guess is as good as mine.
A star, a supernova, a celestial alignment or a
comet?
All of
these explanations for the star they followed have been proposed, with no
definite answers. Since the Christ Child likely didn’t arrive on Dec. 25, 0000,
timing the birth against heavenly events is nearly impossible. Various
celestial events occurred within a half dozen years either way of this date.
The alignment of prophecy as well as an unknown celestial event may have
started their pilgrimages.
Arrived on camels on the 12th day
Since we
aren’t sure about the origin of the visitors, their method of travel is also
unknown. Matthew doesn’t mention their animals. Depending on their
origin, camels are plausible, but so are horses, pack animals or a walking
caravan. Since they came from “the east,” spotting the star and following it
places them in Bethlehem sometime after the birth and before Herod’s death --
at least weeks, maybe months or years after Jesus arrived. They may have met
the Holy Family as it fled to Egypt, or tracked the family down upon its return
to Nazareth, or at several times and locations if the wise men did not travel
as a single group.
And why?
As we
wonder about the who, what, when, where and how of this piece of Matthew’s
birth narrative, finally we pause to consider the why. What caused these
learned folks to move beyond Messianic observations and predictions to go and
search for themselves? Scientific curiosity among these wise observers of the
celestial happenings? Were they perhaps advisers to rulers, who upon hearing
the news, sent them to confirm their calculations and bring appropriate
kingdom-to-kingdom gifts? Or, was the journey initiated by something that set
their hearts ablaze, a Spirit-guiding that led them to the Holy Family, much
like the dream that led them to go home without tipping off Herod? Again, no
confirmations.
So, draw
your own picture – three wise people together on camels, or groups of pilgrim
bands from different areas of the East following a star and a soul-yearning to
locate this Messiah and pay him homage.
Oh, yes,
don’t overlook that word – “homage.” Its definitions range simply from respect
to deep reverence, comparable to the absolute loyalty pledged by feudal tenants
to their lords. These visitors did not just deliver gifts and have a quick chat
with Mary and Joseph before they headed home. The narrative said upon finding
Jesus, they fell to their knees in worship. Finding this child changed
everything – their plans, their priorities, their futures.
How has
this annual pilgrimage to the manager to seek Emmanuel – God with Us – changed
us?
Song “What Child Is This?”
Traditional
What
child is this, who laid to rest,
On Mary’s
lap is sleeping?
Whom
angels greet with anthems sweet,
while
shepherds watch are keeping?
This,
this, is Christ the King,
Whom
shepherds guard, and angels sing.
Haste,
haste, to bring him laud,
The babe,
the son of Mary.
So bring
him incense, gold and myrrh,
Come,
peasant, king, to own him.
The King
of kings salvation brings;
Let
loving hearts enthrone him.
Raise,
raise, the song on high,
The
virgin sings her lullaby.
Joy, joy,
for Christ is born,
The babe,
the son of Mary.
Closing Prayer
L: We pray together,
C:
We give you thanks, gracious God, for the leading of wise ones from distant
lands, who felt the call to seek out the newborn King and worship him as their
Savior. Guide us to keep following the true Light of the World, Jesus Christ
our Lord. Amen.
The Lord’s Prayer (feel free to use whatever language or words you regularly use for this
prayer. This is one version.)
Our
Father, who art in heaven, hallowed be thy name. Thy kingdom come, thy will be
done, on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread. And
forgive us our trespasses as we forgive those who trespass against us. And lead
us not into temptation but deliver us from evil. For thine is the kingdom, and
the power, and the glory, forever and ever. Amen.
Blessing
Sharing of the Peace
Individual Prayer (as desired)
Blessings on your time
at Windhaven
May it be a time of
rest, of renewal, of healing.
Praying for you, for
the staff at Windhaven,
and for the God of many
chances
to be real and present
to you, today and always.
