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Dear Glen Morris United Church, 

As we celebrate Epiphany this Sunday and come to the end of our Words for the Beginning worship theme, I want to give thanks for a wonderful Advent and Christmas season. Whether we find ourselves intentionally setting out on a new journey, or stepping into an unexpected new normal in our lives - I hope finding the words that speak to the depth and richness of our faith has gifted you with bread for the journey. I had so much fun with everyone who joined us for Christmas Eve sharing the same great story and creating new memories to cherish. Thank you to all those who helped tell the story, including the wonderful volunteers! 

In the spirit of Howard Thurman who said: 

“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 brothers,
To make music in the heart.”

I offer you this Affirmation of Faith from Sanctified Art as inspiration and reminder that the work of Christmas is never-ending: 

AFFIRMATION OF FAITH

We believe in a with-us God,

a God who is beside us in the mountains and valleys,

holding our hand through every bump and turn.

And in the chaos of our journey,

we believe that God sees what we cannot always see:

a path home by another way.

Therefore, trusting in this ever-present and guiding God, 

we lace up our shoes.

We look for God’s fingerprints in the world.

We trust that there are paths still unexplored,

paths that God has only begun to invite us down.

And like the Magi, we dare to follow.

May it be so, Amen.

 

Yours in Christ, 

Rev Michiko

 

featured image: Abolition Baby by Nicolette Peñaranda