Dear Caldwell,
As the sun falls on this Day of Epiphany, I hope the Light of the world has shined on you today, illumining your way. On Sunday, I quoted one author who said Epiphany, the “manifestation” of God in the Christ child we welcomed in Christmas, invites us to “perceive and participate” in what God is doing. The Magi certainly did, going home by another way.
As we travel from Sunday to Sunday this week, surely encountering at least your share of the world’s daily demands, we do so with a plan to try to keep an “Epiphany State of Mind” at least through next Sunday (if not longer). It can indeed give us an entirely new and needed perspective – on our identity as disciples (learners), as children of God and as the hands and feet of Christ.
One of my daily devotion resources shared this quote for today:
“Fifth-century monk and bishop Paulinus of Nola wrote, “We have no right to our possessions; they have been entrusted to us for the good of all. Let us then invest with the Lord what he has given us, for we have nothing that does not come from him; we are dependent upon him for our very existence. And we ourselves particularly, who have a special and greater debt, since God not only created us but purchased us as well; what can we regard as our own when we do not possess even ourselves?”
How’s that for an Epiphany perspective on who and whose we are?
Don’t forget tonight’s offerings:
Yoga at 6:30 in Upper Price; and,
At 7 p.m., Theology on Tap at the home of Jesca Yisca-El. Contact Lucy Barber at lucb202@gmail.com for the address. All are welcome. Why not make Theology on Tap a new spiritual practice in 2015?
If you are able to help Caldwell host the Elizabeth Communities of Faith Lenten Series of worship services every Wednesday at noon for 7 weeks starting Feb. 18, we’d love to have you at an initial planning meeting tomorrow at noon in the Shelby Room. Let me know if you want pizza – pastor@caldwellpresby.org
And don’t forget that the sign-up date for the Guatemala mission trip is coming up. Email team leader Elissa Hunt NOW to sign up or with any questions, at ehunt103@gmail.com or call her at 704-996-2362.
Finally, we’re thankful for successful surgery for Charlie Brown (cataract) yesterday and Bill Hicks today and we pray with John Crowell and Robert Broome as they return to the NIH for more post-op review.
Look for CTW Friday.
Yours in Christ,
John