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Close your eyes, breathe, and clear your mind. Be still. Center your scattered senses on God’s presence.

SCRIPTURE: Matthew 2:1-2

After Jesus was born in Bethlehem in Judea, during the time of King Herod, Magi from the east came to Jerusalem and asked, “Where is the one who has been born king of the Jews? We saw his star when it rose and have come to worship him.”

CHRISTMASTIDE REFLECTION

Epiphany, the Festival of Light, commemorates the day the wise men arrived to worship the baby Jesus. The twelve days from Christmas to Epiphany are not derived from the Bible directly, but Epiphany and Christmas arose together (particularly in the Eastern Church), to commemorate the coming of Christ into the world. Epiphany does not just happen to follow Christmas, but, rather, it completes it: Christ enters into the world and is then proclaimed to it. The shepherds are the first to receive the Good News of the Messiah on Christmas night, followed by the wise men on Epiphany. The wise men symbolize Christ manifested to all the nations, Jew and Gentile. Traditionally the holiday is celebrated with a suitable and increased display of lights. In many cultures it is also a time of blessing of the home, where lintels have the cross of salvation, together with the indication of the year and the initials of the Magi (Caspar, Melchior, and Balthasar (CMB) written in chalk. Children, accompanied by parents, process through the neighborhood, expressing the blessing of Christ through the intercession of the three wise men, and gather offerings for charitable and missionary purposes.  Dating from a time when calendars were not readily available, Epiphany also served as the traditional day where the date of Easter, and other liturgical celebrations without a fixed day, were announced for the year.

COLLECT:  Written by Collects are short general prayers used in Christian liturgy to draw our focus of worship.  The collect today is from the PC-USA Book of Common Worship.

Eternal God, by a star you led magi to the worship of your Son. Guide the nations of the earth by your light, that the whole world may see your glory; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. Amen.

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MUSIC VIDEO:  Morman Tabernacle Choir: As With Gladness Men of Old

IMAGE: El Greco: Adoration of the Magi

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Close your eyes, breathe, and clear your mind. Be still. Center your scattered senses on God’s presence.

SCRIPTURE: 1 Timothy 3:16

Beyond all question, the mystery from which true godliness springs is great: He appeared in the flesh, was vindicated by the Spirit, was seen by angels, was preached among the nations, was believed on in the world, was taken up in glory.

CHRISTMASTIDE REFLECTION

Twelfth Night (Epiphany Eve) is a traditional Christian festival on the last night of the twelve days of Christmas. While in our American culture, we have often already put Christmas behind us, traditionally Christmas culminated on this night. Christmas was marked by midnight mass and family meals, but Twelfth Night was comprised of more public events and social gatherings.  It has been celebrated for hundreds of years and known as a night of food, wine, hijinks, plays, and king cake. The king cake was placed in the center of a table. Everyone would take a piece of the cake and whoever had a slice with a hidden bean would be royalty for one day, no matter their position.  While the Christmas season is ending, we shouldn’t be gloomy or unhappy – Twelfth night is the last hurrah of Christmas. We should remind ourselves of the joy of the Christmas season – in giving, in gathering with family and friends, and in the glory and wonder of the God incarnate. For one more night, it can still be Christmas.

COLLECT:  Written by Collects are short general prayers used in Christian liturgy to draw our focus of worship.  The collect today is from a collection of contemporary collects in the Book of Common Prayer

Eternal God, a thousand years in your sight are like a watch in the night. As you have led us in days past, so guide us now and always, that our hearts may learn to choose your will, and new resolves be strengthened; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. Amen. 

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MUSIC VIDEO:  Portland Choir and Orchestra: Ding Dong Merrily on High

IMAGE: Robert Herrick: Twelfth Night (King and Queen)

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Close your eyes, breathe, and clear your mind. Be still. Center your scattered senses on God’s presence.

SCRIPTURE: Psalm 72:18-19

Praise be to the Lord God, the God of Israel, who alone does marvelous deeds. Praise be to his glorious name forever; may the whole earth be filled with his glory. Amen and Amen.

CHRISTMASTIDE REFLECTION

As we continue in our celebration of the incarnation of Christ during Christmastide, we can identify with the angels who proclaim “Glory to God in the Highest.” Celebrating Christmas as an extended season can help us reflect on the meaning of Jesus’ life, our understanding of God, and the Kingdom message God sends Emmanuel (God With Us). God proclaimed his glorious arrival to the shepherds as they went about their normal routine, watching their flocks at night. During this season, ask God to open your eyes to seeing the grace of God at work in the world – perhaps through natural wonder, or perhaps through the lives of others. How can we see and worship the glory that Christ has brought to the world in our daily lives?

COLLECT:  Written by Collects are short general prayers used in Christian liturgy to draw our focus of worship.  The collect today is from the Book of Common Prayer.

Almighty God our heavenly Father, you declare your glory and show forth your handiwork in the heavens and in the earth: Deliver us in our various occupations from the service of self alone, that we may do the work you give us to do in truth and beauty and for the common good; for the sake of him who came among us as one who serves, your Son Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever.  Amen. 

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MUSIC VIDEO:  Kings College Choir: While Shepherds Watched Their Flocks by Night

IMAGE: Tiffany Studios:  While Shepherds Watched

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Close your eyes, breathe, and clear your mind. Be still. Center your scattered senses on God’s presence.

SCRIPTURE: Psalm 98:1-3

Sing to the Lord a new song, for he has done marvelous things; his right hand and his holy arm have worked salvation for him.The Lord has made his salvation known and revealed his righteousness to the nations. He has remembered his love and his faithfulness to Israel; all the ends of the earth have seen the salvation of our God.

CHRISTMASTIDE REFLECTION

The Advent and Christmastide seasons provide a unique opportunity for us to proclaim God’s kingdom far and wide. We are called to bear witness to the Gospel.  What better time of year than this to do so? While we may have already begun putting away the “trappings of Christmas” – the tree and the lights and the holiday decorations – the goal is to embrace the fullness of Christ incarnate in our daily lives.  Through the saving and redeeming work of the Incarnation of Christ, we receive the magnificent gift of salvation.  And this is a gift that we are called to share with all we know and love.  Reflect today on how we can allow the light of Jesus to lead us in His way as we approach a new year. 

COLLECT:  Written by Collects are short general prayers used in Christian liturgy to draw our focus of worship.  The collect today is from the 1928 Episcopal Book of Common Prayer.

Almighty God, who has poured upon us the new light of your incarnate Word; Grant that the same light enkindled in our hearts may shine forth in our lives; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

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MUSIC VIDEO:  Audrey Assad: Lead Kindly Light

IMAGE: Alina-Kurbiel: Bethlehem

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Close your eyes, breathe, and clear your mind. Be still. Center your scattered senses on God’s presence.

SCRIPTURE: James 3:13-18

Who is wise and understanding among you? Let them show it by their good life, by deeds done in the humility that comes from wisdom. But if you harbor bitter envy and selfish ambition in your hearts, do not boast about it or deny the truth. Such “wisdom” does not come down from heaven but is earthly, unspiritual, demonic. For where you have envy and selfish ambition, there you find disorder and every evil practice. But the wisdom that comes from heaven is first of all pure; then peace-loving, considerate, submissive, full of mercy and good fruit, impartial and sincere. Peacemakers who sow in peace reap a harvest of righteousness.

CHRISTMASTIDE REFLECTION

Basil (329-379), Bishop of Caesarea, was influential in development of monasticism in the Eastern Orthodox church. Gregory of Nazianzus (329-390), known as “The Theologian” by the Greeks, served as the Archbishop of Constantinople.  Gregory had significant impact on Trinitarian theology and the doctrine that Jesus was fully God and fully man.  They were both born in the area of Cappadocia, Turkey and studied together in Athens. They were friends throughout their lives and, under the guidance of the Holy Spirit, developed the backbone of Eastern Orthodoxy and monasticism during a period of doctrinal struggle and confusion. They are also honored in the Western church. Basil famously wrote:  “The bread which you do not use is the bread of the hungry; the garment hanging in your wardrobe is the garment of him who is naked; the shoes that you do not wear are the shoes of the one who is barefoot; the money that you keep locked away is the money of the poor; the acts of charity that you do not perform are so many injustices that you commit.”  Basil’s words exemplify the wisdom that Jesus practiced in his life on this earth.  During this Christmastide, we should reflect upon where we seek wisdom. Is our notion of wisdom based on God’s goodness, mercy, and joy or more on the secular worldview of wisdom?  How does following Jesus help make us wiser, more peace-loving, considerate, humble, and merciful.

COLLECT:  Written by Collects are short general prayers used in Christian liturgy to draw our focus of worship.  .  The collect today is from the Church of England Book of Common Worship.

Eternal Lord, our beginning and our end: bring us with the whole creation to your glory, hidden through past ages and made known in Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

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MUSIC VIDEO:  Anthem Lights: Go Tell It On The Mountain

IMAGE: Jeanie Truitt: Go Tell It Over the Mountain

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Close your eyes, breathe, and clear your mind. Be still. Center your scattered senses on God’s presence.

SCRIPTURE: Luke 2:15-21

When the angels had left them and gone into heaven, the shepherds said to one another, “Let’s go to Bethlehem and see this thing that has happened, which the Lord has told us about.” So they hurried off and found Mary and Joseph, and the baby, who was lying in the manger. When they had seen him, they spread the word concerning what had been told them about this child, and all who heard it were amazed at what the shepherds said to them. But Mary treasured up all these things and pondered them in her heart. The shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all the things they had heard and seen, which were just as they had been told. On the eighth day, when it was time to circumcise the child, he was named Jesus, the name the angel had given him before he was conceived.

CHRISTMASTIDE REFLECTION

According to Jewish tradition, a baby was circumcised eight days after his birth and was the occasion where the child was formally given his name. The circumcision of Jesus has traditionally been seen as the first time the blood of Christ was shed, and thus began the process of the redemption of man. It was also a demonstration that Christ was fully human and showed obedience to Biblical law.  In more recent decades, the feast day has focused increasingly on the day that Jesus was named. Jesus’ name in Hebrew was “Yeshua” which translates to English as Joshua. When Yeshua was translated into Greek (the language of the New Testament) it becomes “lesous,” which in English is Jesus. So often today the loving name of Jesus, which is so powerful and tied to salvation, is invoked casually and often in vain.  Honor the name of Jesus, who is the King of Kings.  Honor His name, this day and throughout the year.

COLLECT:  Written by Collects are short general prayers used in Christian liturgy to draw our focus of worship.  The collect today is from the Book of Common Prayer

Almighty God, your blessed Son fulfilled the covenant of circumcision for our sake, and was given the Name that is above every name: Give us grace faithfully to bear his Name, and to worship him with pure hearts according to the New Covenant; who lives and reigns with you, in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. Amen.

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MUSIC VIDEO:  Hillsong Worship: What a Beautiful Name.

IMAGE: Albrecht Durer:  The Circumcision of Christ

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Close your eyes, breathe, and clear your mind. Be still. Center your scattered senses on God’s presence.

SCRIPTURE: John 8:12

When Jesus spoke again to the people, he said, “I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness but will have the light of life.”

CHRISTMASTIDE REFLECTION

This day traditionally celebrates Sylvester I, who served as Pope of the Western Church from 314-355. Medieval legend made him responsible for the conversion of emperor Constantine. This day commemorates the day of his death.  During Sylvester’s rule as Pope several large churches were founded and built, including the Basilica of St. John Lateran, Basilica of the Holy Cross in Jerusalem, Old St. Peter’s Basilica, as well as several churches built over the graves of martyrs.  The day was traditionally marked by church attendance at a watchnight service (midnight mass), as well as fireworks, partying, and feasting.  The holiday is still celebrated to commemorate Sylvester by several countries in Europe. 

Our thoughts this day are on the approaching new year. This gives us an opportunity to think about how time passes in such a mysterious way – in some ways too quickly and in other ways very slowly. We can also reflect on the many blessings and graces God has bestowed upon us this year – even amid the pandemic and politics.  It is also a time to reflect upon and confess the sins and short fallings we have had throughout the year.   As we end the tumultuous year of 2020, let us think about the long history of a growing church, and consider how we might, in 2021, help participate in spreading the Word of the Gospel to all people we know and meet. Perhaps this will be in new ways we have never experienced before!

COLLECT:  Written by Collects are short general prayers used in Christian liturgy to draw our focus of worship.  The collect today is from the PC-USA Book of Common Worship.

Eternal God, a thousand years in your sight are like a watch in the night. As you have led us in days past, so guide us now and always, that our hearts may learn to choose your will, and new resolves be strengthened; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. Amen.

Click on the link to see and hear the music video.

MUSIC VIDEO:  Maeve MacKinnon and Pipers of the World: Auld Lang Syne.  Scot’s Version

IMAGE: A 1247 fresco of Pope Sylvester I and Constantine

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Close your eyes, breathe, and clear your mind. Be still. Center your scattered senses on God’s presence.

SCRIPTURE: Colossians 3:12-17

Therefore, as God’s chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience. Bear with each other and forgive one another if any of you has a grievance against someone. Forgive as the Lord forgave you. And over all these virtues put on love, which binds them all together in perfect unity. Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, since as members of one body you were called to peace. And be thankful. Let the message of Christ dwell among you richly as you teach and admonish one another with all wisdom through psalms, hymns, and songs from the Spirit, singing to God with gratitude in your hearts.And whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.

CHRISTMASTIDE REFLECTION

We know practically nothing about the first years and the boyhood of Jesus. We do know the family travelled to Egypt to escape Herod, they then returned to Nazareth, and that the family travelled to Jerusalem for Jewish celebrations.  This Sunday, in celebrating the family during Christmastide, we look to Scripture to find how to live together in peace and love.  Paul tells us that the people of Christ should be wearing compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience in all they do. This isn’t simply a list of virtues we might want to aspire to. This is a list of how Christ lived. How can we exemplify these virtues in our day to day interactions, first with our family and also with all we interact with? How can God guide our relationships to live in right, loving relationship with Him and each other? Take time to celebrate your family today.

COLLECT:  Written by Collects are short general prayers used in Christian liturgy to draw our focus of worship.  The collect today is from a collection of contemporary collects in the Book of Common Prayer.

O God, who were pleased to give us the shining example of the Holy Family, graciously grant that we may imitate them in practicing the virtues of family life and in the bonds of charity, and so, in the joy of your house, delight one day in eternal rewards. Through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son, who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.

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MUSIC VIDEO:  The Collingsworth Family: Home for Christmas

IMAGE: Raphael: The Holy Family

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Close your eyes, breathe, and clear your mind. Be still. Center your scattered senses on God’s presence.

SCRIPTURE: 1 John 2:3-6

We know that we have come to know him if we keep his commands. Whoever says, “I know him,” but does not do what he commands is a liar, and the truth is not in that person. But if anyone obeys his word, love for God is truly made complete in them. This is how we know we are in him: Whoever claims to live in him must live as Jesus did.

CHRISTMASTIDE REFLECTION

Thomas Becket (1119-1170), Archbishop of Canterbury, was murdered in his cathedral by the soldiers of King Henry II on this day in 1170. Because of the great shock and sensation that his martyrdom caused at a time when all of Europe was Catholic, the Roman church, in the 13^th century, assigned the celebration of his feast within the privileged days of Christmastide. During the Middle Ages, the shrine of St. Thomas Becket at Canterbury was the third most important shrine in Europe, after Rome and Santiago de Compostela. His death resulted in a rallying of enormous pressure against the king. Becket became a symbol of liberation against tyranny, a symbol of the integrity and independence of the church from an oppressive government. In the words of Rozann Lee, a contemporary Christian writer, “The grace, strength, and courage that defined this and all other martyrdoms throughout church history is not a virtuous and bold act of bravery made in a single moment. It is the fruitful manifestation of a willful decision to accept the grace of Christ and painfully allow it to transform one’s life.”

COLLECT:  Written by Collects are short general prayers used in Christian liturgy to draw our focus of worship.  The collect today is from The  Episcopal Church Book of Common Prayer.

O God, our strength and our salvation, you called your servant Thomas Becket to be a shepherd of your people and a defender of your church; Keep your household from all evil and raise up faithful pastors and leaders who are wise in the ways of the gospel; through Jesus Christ, the shepherd of our souls, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.

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MUSIC VIDEO:  BBC Radio: St. Thomas Honour We.  From BBC program “Britain’s Cathedrals and Their Music” This is a medieval song that honors Thomas Becket.

IMAGE: 13^th century illumination depicting Thomas Becket’s assassination

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Close your eyes, breathe, and clear your mind. Be still. Center your scattered senses on God’s presence.

SCRIPTURE: Matthew 2:13-18

When the magi had departed, behold, the angel of the Lord appeared to Joseph in a dream and said, “Rise, take the child and his mother, flee to Egypt, and stay there until I tell you. Herod is going to search for the child to destroy him.” Joseph rose and took the child and his mother by night and departed for Egypt. He stayed there until the death of Herod, that what the Lord had said through the prophet might be fulfilled, Out of Egypt I called my son.  When Herod realized that he had been deceived by the magi, he became furious. He ordered the massacre of all the boys in Bethlehem and its vicinity two years old and under, in accordance with the time he had ascertained from the magi. Then was fulfilled what had been said through Jeremiah the prophet: A voice was heard in Ramah, sobbing and loud lamentation; Rachel weeping for her children, and she would not be consoled, since they were no more.

CHRISTMASTIDE REFLECTION

The Latin Church instituted the feast of the Holy Innocents at a date now unknown, sometime in the 4^th or 5^th centuries.  The feast was to commemorate the small children of the neighborhood of Bethlehem who were put to death by Herold, who was seeking to kill Jesus. They were the first Christian martyrs.  These innocent victims bear witness to Christ in a world which would not receive Him.  Our hearts are filled with compassion for these innocent children, who shed their blood to satisfy the cruelty, vanity, and pride of a tyrant.  Unfortunately, the suffering of innocent children is still a scandal for our human hearts.  Pray for today’s children who are victims of famines, epidemics, wars, murder, abuses, bullying, trafficking, abandonment, persecution, terrorism, and injustice of any kind. God is still angered by the suffering of innocents.

COLLECT:  Written by Collects are short general prayers used in Christian liturgy to draw our focus of worship.  The collect today is from a Lutheran Collect for the Holy Innocents, Martyrs.

Almighty God, the martyred innocents of Bethlehem showed forth Your praise not by speaking but by dying.  Put to death in us all that is in conflict with Your will that our lives may bear witness to the faith we profess with our lips; through Jesus Christ, our Lord, who lives and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. Amen.

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MUSIC VIDEO:  King’s College Cambridge: Coventry Carol

IMAGE: Classic Orthodox Icon: Holy Innocents of Bethlehem

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