For this first Sunday after Christmas, our own Vica Jones lead the congregation through service, complete with compelling sermon. She preached from Matthew 2:13-23, which picks up immediately after the wise-men's visit. Having been woken up from a frightening dream, Joseph and family pack and head for Egypt to escape Herod's murderous plan. After they were told that it was safe, they returned to Nazareth. This scripture was able to focus us on Jesus as Plan A.
There is nothing that God does not foresee and cannot work for good.
The wise-men had visited and brought to Jesus the weirdest gifts someone could bring for a small child. Though, God knew what they would be needed for. The gifts were light in weight and would have been worth years of wages for Joseph and family. This gave the family money for travel, to live off of while in Egypt, and travel back to Nazareth. Money they needed in order to follow the ordinances they received through Joseph's terrifying dream.
We also looked at a piece of art from Sister Grace Remmington from the Mississippi Abbey in Iowa (pictured above). The picture is of Eve and Mary interacting with each other. Ultimately, where Eve disobeyed, Mary obeyed. Eve's first born was killed because of jealousy, Mary's first born was killed because of perfect love. Eve's yes brought sin into the world, and Mary's yes brought about the Savior who would defeat sin for good.
As we go into a new year, I challenged everyone to step with faith that God is, was, and ever will be in control even in the midst of chaos. Will you say yes even if it's the middle of the night like Joseph?
The children learned through the book "Refuge." It is a book about the Nativity story from an uncommon perspective, that of the donkey. It follows the family from the birth of Jesus through their frightful flight to Egypt as refuges.
Service was completed through the recitation of the Covenant Prayer of Wesleyan Tradition:
I am no longer my own, but yours.
Put me to what you will, place me with whom you will.P
Put me to doing, put me to suffering.
Let me be put to work for you or set aside for you,
Praised for you or criticized for you.
Let me be full, let me be empty.
Let me have all things, let me have nothing.
I freely and fully surrender all things to your glory and service.
And now, O wonderful and holy God,
Creator, Redeemer, and Sustainer,
you are mine, and I am yours.
So be it.
And the covenant which I have made on earth,
Let it also be made in heaven.
Amen.