Friday, January 8^th, 2021
A weekday e-mailer from
Matt Matthews
 
* * *
 
The story of Epiphany inspires us. 
 
A star reveals the light of God’s love in Jesus the Christ. Heavenly might is cradled in vulnerable love lying in a manger. Magi bearing gifts risk a dangerous trek across a foreboding dark dappled in star-light. Add imperial treachery in the form of Herod and his advisors, and we have a story for the ages. 
 
We see sin and treachery in the pages of both ancient scripture and the morning news. On Wednesday we saw it when domestic terrorists swarmed our U.S. Capital while sympathetic on-lookers and the Herods of our own generation egged them on. We were terrified and sickened.
 
Our steady love of God and neighbor and a resolve to abide by the rule of law in the face of lawless mobs and baseless lies will, by the grace of God, heal our nation. We will reach across the fences that divide us. We will deepen friendships, work towards reconciliation with the ones we have too long called enemy, seek the stranger, break bread together, discover common ground, listen, make amends, grow, care about the other’s well-being, rebuild, laugh, mend. We will hold one another accountable. 
 
Given God’s amazing love for us revealed in the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus, we have every reason to believe God’s grace will abound.
 
Treachery of every age will always lurk in shadows, but evil doesn’t have to rule the day if we dare to stand up to its terrible sneer in this hour of grave darkness.
 
During this Season of Epiphany, we ponder the Magi who made an uncertain passage across a perilous wilderness. By God’s grace, we can, too. And, of course, we must. Even in an age of pandemic, may we figuratively join hands as we set out.
 
May God help us.
 
* * *
 
Let’s pray together on this Sunday at 9:00, okay? 
FirstPres.Live 
 
* * *
 
The Work of Christmas
by Howard Thurman 
 
When the song of the angels is stilled,
When the star in the sky is gone,
When the kings and princes are home,
When the shepherds are back with their flock,
The work of Christmas begins:
To find the lost,
To heal the broken,
To feed the hungry,
To release the prisoner,
To rebuild the nations,
To bring peace among people,
To make music in the heart.
  
* * *
 
Let’s be the church
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cBHJobmBdK0
 
 
P E A C E ,
Matt Matthews
First Presbyterian Church Champaign
A (cool) congregation of the PC(USA)
Church: 217.356.7238; Cell: 864.386.9138
matt@firstpres.church