Worship was canceled by 6 inches of snow on January 5th, 2013. So here is the sermon I would have preached!
Good morning friends!
It is good to gather in worship with
all of you! It has been a busy two weeks since I saw you last. I've
had a whirlwind trip with journeys to Kansas, Philadelphia, and
Colorado to see family and to perform Amy and Brendan's wedding. By
the way, Amy and Brendan send their greetings and gratitude for your
love and prayers. Thank you for allowing me to take time to be part
of those significant moments in people's lives-weddings are one of my
favorite pastoral tasks. I imagine you to come here after adventures
of your own- the Holiday season usually brings some of the most
intense experiences and emotions of the year. So take a deep breath,
and whatever you bring this morning, whether you're recovering from
the exhaustion of travel and being with family, coming down off of
the Christmas high, or are feeling refreshed and rejuvenated after a
nice holiday break, and are roused and ready to begin a new year, you
are welcome here.
In church this week, we are coming to
the end of our celebration of Christmas. I know most of secular
society ended the holiday on December 26th with the
national celebration of returning gifts that you didn't want very
much, but in the church Christmas does not end until tomorrow,
January 6th. That day marks Epiphany, the 12th
day of Christmas when we remember the visit of the Magi from the
East. So, I guess, if we're paying attention to the song, this is the
day for 11 pipers piping-which we don't have this morning.
