JANUARY 2020 NEWSLETTER

FROM PASTOR MIKE’S DESK:

         Before I usually print any newsletter article, whether it be here or in the High School or Junior High Newsletters, I have Jessica check them over.  The main reason is because English was never my strong subject in high school.  She also has a way with words and saying things just the right way.  She has told me after reading some of the High School and Junior High newsletters that I should share them with you, so … that is exactly what I’m going to do.  The following is a devotion I wrote for the High School youth in January of 2018.  I have made some modifications to it to clean up the mistakes I just realized I made as I read through it again.  I hope you enjoy it.

      I pray that you had a wonderful time celebrating the birth of our only Lord and Savior with family and friends this past Christmas. I also pray that you had an enjoyable Christmas break and that you were able to find some time to slow down, possibly relax a little, and get caught up on some sleep.

      For most people, Christmas is over. Decorations have started to come down already and Valentine’s Day candy is showing up in grocery stores. But for us as Christians, Christmas is still going on … for a little while at least. That song titled “The 12 Days of Christmas” (one of the most annoying Christmas songs ever written in my opinion), deals with the 12 days which follow Christmas. The ironic thing about that song, if you start counting with the first day being Christmas day … the 13th day is a day in which non-Jewish people like you and me can celebrated as Christmas.

      January 6th is “The Epiphany of Our Lord!” (Imagine the announcer belting that out in a deep loud voice like they do when they say, “Let’s get ready to rumble”.) The day of Epiphany is the day we celebrate as the Christmas of the Gentiles. It’s the day when the Magi show up to bring Jesus those mysterious gifts of gold, frankincense and myrrh. Wait, I thought they showed up on Christmas night right behind the shepherds? Nope! Not even close! Even though we put them in our manger scenes, they actually showed up about two years later.

      Which brings me to the point I want to make. The Magi, or wise men as some people call them, were thought to be just that … wise. They were the ones who people went to seeking answers to their questions. But long before we celebrate Epiphany, even long before we celebrate Christmas, these “wise men” set-out seeking the One who is Savior of all, the One who knows all about everything.

      As you and I live out our lives, let each of us be “wise” men and women. Let’s together continue to seek out the Savior of the world whose light thankfully shines brighter and longer than the obnoxious song about the 12 wonderful days of Christmas.

      God’s blessings to you as we begin this New Year together.   ~Pastor Mike