“And so they left, and on their way they saw the same star they had seen in the East. When they saw it, how happy they were, what joy was theirs! It went on ahead of them until it stopped over the place where the child was. They went into the house, and when they saw the child with his mother Mary, they knelt down and worshiped him. They brought out their gifts of gold, frankincense and myrrh, and presented them to him.”
Luke 2: 9-11
I have always enjoyed and loved this image, of the Magi or Wise Men following the star of Bethlehem. By faith they have been studying and following this star, knowing that this star will lead them to see the promised Messiah. By their faith in God, they are led by the Holy Spirit to be face-to-face with the baby Jesus, our Savior. Immanuel, “God is with us!”
2020 has been full of challenges! None of us could have imagined this journey of a Covid-19 global pandemic, and we are all in this together as a global community!
Our children, families and communities have had to find new ways to live life, go to school, work from home, and be more careful as we go into stores and places of business. In our church communities, we have had to be more creative in how we meet and worship. At Two Steeples Parish, we have had a weekly Virtual Worship and Virtual Sunday School, and have shared numerous video messages and songs. We gathered for a couple of outdoor worship services this fall and celebrated Christmas Eve with a service around a campfire. I want to say a special thanks to our ministry team, with Pastors Linda and Loren, Kay, Mary, Fay, and Mike, as we have worked hard together to share and communicate on a virtual platform for ministry.
I am grateful for the new chapter that I have started with you at Two Steeples Parish, by beginning to serve as your TEEM Ministry Vicar. This past fall, I began the TEEM Ministry program through Wartburg Theological Seminary. I have been taking classes at Wartburg part-time, and have continued to serve in ministry at Two Steeples Parish for 30 hours per week. I will continue to take classes part-time over the next couple of years and serve as your Vicar for 30 hours per week. I will appreciate your prayers and support as we do ministry together. I look forward to seeing what God calls us to be as we go on this journey together in the year ahead. Happy New Year!
Like the Magi, may we all seek to be guided by the Holy Spirit as go on this journey together, with Jesus as our guiding light.
May you all be safe, well and blessed!
Peace and Joy in Jesus!
Jim ><>
