To the St. Paul’s Church Family,
This week marks the beginning of my 3rd year at St. Paul’s. Yes, I have completed two years as your pastor all but two months of which has been during a pandemic. We have experienced the highest of highs and lowest of lows together during these two years. I know every emotion I can feel has flooded over me. As with any new year it is time to set resolutions, intentions, or new goals. However you think it about it is good to do this from time to time.
For the church I want to call them prayers. Today is Epiphany it is the day that God made himself known to the world. Jesus didn’t have strategic plans or marketing schemes to make himself known he made himself known to a group of pagans with nature. As a church God does what he’s going to do and it is our job to join him. Those pagan wise men saw what God was doing and joined him. They noticed the move of God and found Jesus. So rather than set goals we will pray as a church and see what God is up to. Epiphany simply means the manifestation of the divine. I pray the divine manifests in you throughout all of 2022.
On this Epiphany Day here are the Epiphany’s I Pray for St. Pauls in 2022:
- The Epiphany of Grace. May we be a church that understands we were all under a tremendous amount of pressure these last two years and give each other grace. Rather than tear down may we lift up and encourage. May we be a church that gives each other the benefit of the doubt and be compassionate.
- The Epiphany of Mercy. May we be a church that is merciful to those who have wronged us. Hurting people hurt people. We have all been hurting people who have hurt others in need of mercy in relationship.
- The Epiphany of Faithfulness. May we be a church that remains faithful to each other and our community. Even when the going gets tough may we not give up or give in. May we seek reconciliation, unity, and love in all teams, relationships, and activities. May the church not be about what others can do for us but what we can do for others. May we be faithful to the call to take up our cross daily.
- The Epiphany of Jesus. May we be a church that finds Christ in all that we do. May we be a church that pursues knowledge of Jesus through study, mentorship, and asking questions. May we be a church that filters all through the lens not of our political party but through the lens of Jesus.
- The Epiphany of Justice. May we be a church that seeks to bring justice to those who experience injustice. May we be a church that listens to others even if it hurts. May we all seek to learn, grow, and seek what God says he wants: “Do you know what I want? I want justice—oceans of it. I want fairness—rivers of it. That’s what I want. That’s all I want.” (Amos 5:24)
- The Epiphany of Knowing Ourselves. May we be a church that knows who and whose we are. May we know we are loved fully by the divine. There’s nothing we need to do to gain his favor. We are loved fully. May we come to know that love deeper this year. May we be a church that knows we are loved fully and truly begin to walk in who we were created to be. God created us unique and that uniqueness is needed. May we fully know who we are and walk in it.
- The Epiphany of Lament. May we know that it’s ok to grieve what was lost. May we know that what was won’t be again. We have all lost and everything has changed so much. With so much change in our church and lives there is much grieving. May we be a church that knows how to move into lament the things we have lost and experience joy of the things we have gained.
7 seems to be the right number of Epiphany’s to pray for in 2022. May Christ be revealed to you in new and fresh ways in 2022!
Love you St. Paul’s!
Grace and Peace,
Pastor Matt
Epiphany 2022