As we gather, we recognize that we live, work, pray, and play
in the traditional lands
of the Cowichan Tribes and Coast Salish People. 
We continue to commit ourselves
to the work of reconciliation and relationship-building
with our First Nations neighbours.     

Call to Worship:  

 We have seen his star in the East,
and have come to worship Him.

Matthew 2.2

O Come, Let Us Worship

Collect for Today
Eternal God,
who by a star led wise men to the worship of your Son.
Guide, by your light, the nations of the earth, that the whole world may know your glory; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirt,
one God, now and forever.  Amen. 

The Proclamation of the Gospel:

Matthew 2.1-12

Sermon:  The Ven.  Brian Evans

May the words of my mouth and the meditations of
our hearts be ever acceptable to you, O Lord.  Amen.

             “By Another Way” 

Our readings today open with a portion of Isaiah talking about the return of the Israelites to Jerusalem.  

Jerusalem is sure--certain--the nations will make a pilgrimage to her because of the light of God’s presence. It is as if the world has been exposed to this great light.  

At the same time, Jerusalem sees itself as more than just a great light.

The city sees itself as a major center for civilization. It is a city with bountiful food from the sea, additionally powered by being a major financial center, as it has positioned itself at the hub of international trade.          

Why would anyone not want to make pilgrimage to its center?          

It is like a reflection of the Christian movement, as it spread to the West, for more than a century.

Why wouldn’t the people flock to our doors?  

From history, we are conscious of this movement travelling to North America. Our ancestors came with their Bibles and Crosses, tucked under their arms.
People followed after them. Generations came to this land.          

As generations arrived, the message of the Cross of Christ multiplied.

During the Baby Boom, we were so busy 'building buildings': I believe we may have forgotten to 'build disciples'.          

Just as in the days of old, people travelled to Jerusalem, confident in the message of the 'light revealed by the star' guiding people to the Holy Child. Move ahead a few millennia, and we see a similar experience here in the West: whole families came, confident in the same light which guided the Magi, so long ago, was with them.   And it was!          

The radiance of this GUIDING LIGHT radiated in the faces of all faithful people.
Nations throughout the world have been guided by this light.
There is a sense in which, through these faithful people, the 'LIGHT of Christ' has filled the souls of many.          

As we share in this 'great day in the life of the Church', we also live in the 'world today'.

Three slices of time I have experienced this week or Three modern examples of an epiphany.

First:
p. 2 of the January issue of the Anglican Journal.
Sean Frankling wrote, and I quote:

"The call on mission and evangelism from last summer’s Lambeth Conference charges the Anglican Communion to discern the needs of its communities,  and find ways to respond to them by lovingly sharing the gospel of Christ.
In an address on the call to the conference’s assembled bishops, Archbishop of York, Stephen Cottrell, likened discipleship to the end-product of the work of the church.

“McDonald’s makes hamburgers.
Cadbury’s make chocolate.
Starbucks make coffee …
and the Church of Jesus Christ makes disciples.
And disciples make peace,” he said."

Bishop Edwards, of the diocese of Fredericton, points to a 1992 Church of England survey of new believers from all denominations.

“The big question was:
what was the most influential thing in your coming to faith?
And the answer was: a friend."

Second Epiphany:
An article from the front page (of the Anglican Journal) with this headline:

'Data show membership falling 10 percent each year during 2020 and 2021.'

I know, this headline attracted the attention of my Wardens, here in this parish.          

Hold on! Not all is loss, or lost, according to one church official.
I quote: …

"Some church leaders, however, say there’s more to the church than the number of its members – and numeric decline is no reason for despair.

“The church absolutely will be smaller; we absolutely know that …
I think it’s too simplistic to simply say, we’re dying, says Re. Peter Misiaszek."

He goes on to say we are going through a period of transformation suggesting,
“And that age of transformation will mean fewer parishes, but hopefully healthier parishes.”  

Third:
Over the past four weeks, we have hosted a variety of care-givers in our home.
On Wednesday of this week, the young man obviously was not in a hurry for his next appointment. As often happens--with our home decorated out for Christmas--the conversation turns to the subject.
The young man observed how the world is losing sight of the meaning of Christmas.

Part of his observation centered around the December program for the adults in the school of his children, with this title: ‘A Winter Festival’.

His comment, there was no mention of even the word Christmas. The three of us lamented in how theme of this major holiday, for which all people enjoy the benefit; and how the focus is diminishing year by year.          

What is important for us today, and in the articles and story of our home nurse, is: not all is lost. Each speaks of hope in an alternative way.          

As, at Epiphany we are reminded the main image is LIGHT.

The star of Epiphany symbolizes a new light in the cosmos.

The dawn pierces the deep night that has obscured our vision.
So too, a new way forward in the life of the church will be like 'a new dawn piercing' what, at times, obscures our vision and our hope.          

In the 'rendering of the visit of the Magi to Jesus', here in our northern hemisphere we are experiencing a gradual lightening.

Appropriately, now is the time for us, the Church, to show the world Christ being the light of the world.

We are to be a “NEW DAWN”, piercing what, at this moment, obscures our vision.          

Over the years, my personal 'by-line' from the rendering of Epiphany is this:

“And having been warned in a dream not to go back to Herod,
they returned to their country by another way.” 

The Scriptures speak this message to us, about a 'new way' or 'new route'.

Ephesians speaks to us of the mystery of Christ.
The significance of this 'mystery of Christ', is just that:
a mystery-while, at the same time, our faith is not about 'absolute knowing', rather about 'absolute faith'.

The Magi saw the light.  Now, we believers have faith in the wisdom of God, revealed to us in Christ. Our faith is what confirms our 'sight of Christ in the Scriptures', in 'the bread and wine', and in 'one another'.          

The prophet Isaiah gave assurance of hope to the world, long ago, with these words:   Isaiah 60:1-6

"Arise, shine; for your light has come, and the glory of the LORD has risen upon you.
For darkness shall cover the earth, and thick darkness the peoples; but the LORD will arise upon you, and his glory will appear over you.
Nations shall come to your light, and kings to the brightness of your dawn.
Lift up your eyes and look around; they all gather together, they come to you; your sons shall come from far away, and your daughters shall be carried on their nurses' arms."          

Isaiah’s words, appropriately, provide the background for the gifts brought by the Magi.

Central to the gifts is, first, the guiding light, followed by the gold, frankincense, and myrrh.          

Imparting to us: not only was there this epiphany experience 2000 years ago;
the leaders of our church, I believe, are reminding us that we are in the midst of an EPIPHANY, in our own time.          

As Canon (lay) Ian Alexander is quoted as saying:

“there can be new life and new birth and new growth on the other side.”          

As one of my 'centenarian' parishioners reminded me, 'Epiphany is about change.' 

Let us not lose sight of the fact the Magi returned via a different route. They were changed.

"Arise, Shine, for our LIGHT has come." 

Thanks be to God.  Amen. 

'Glorious now behold him arise,
King, and God, and Sacrifice/
Alleluia! Alleluia!
earth to the heavens replies.'

We reply with the Apostles' Creed
Our statement of faith:
I believe in God, the Father almighty, creator of heaven and earth.  
I believe in Jesus Christ, his only Son, our Lord.
He was conceived by the power of the Holy Spirit
and born of the Virgin Mary.
He suffered under Pontius Pilate, was crucified,
died, and was buried.
He descended to the dead.
On the third day he rose again.
He ascended into heaven, and is seated
at the right hand of the Father.
He will come again to judge the living and the dead.  

I believe in the Holy Spirit, the holy catholic Church,
the communion of saints, the forgiveness of sins,
the resurrection of the body, and the life everlasting.  Amen. 

Let Us Pray

With wonder and thanksgiving for Christ’s coming into the world,
we pray for the church, the life of the earth, and the whole human family.  

Guide the whole church with your wisdom, revealing God.
Nurture ecumenical, and interreligious,
understanding around the globe, especially in
places of ethnic and religious strife.
We pray for PWRDF (Primate World Relief Disaster Fund);
this month we give thanks  for the ministry of Warmlands,
and other organizations that provide humanitarian aid,
disaster relief, and health care. 

God of grace,
Hear our prayer. 

Restore your glory to the earth, creating God.
Protect fragile ecosystems: rain forests, coral reefs,
wetlands, prairies, and shorelines.
Guide us to treasure the rich variety of animals
and plants that share the world with us,
especially those that are endangered.  

God of grace,
Hear our prayer. 

Bring the nations into the way of justice
and peace, righteous God.
Strengthen those who work for human rights, equality,
and the protection of the most vulnerable.
We pray for all in public office, that they may serve
with honesty and honour.    

God of grace,
Hear our prayer. 

Help those who have no helper, delivering God.
Rescue any who suffer from abuse,
neglect, or exploitation.
Deliver adults and children who
are caught in the cycle of poverty.
Transform social systems that enable
racism, and discrimination of any kind.  

God of grace,
Hear our prayer. 

Accompany the ministries of this congregation,
in the coming year, abiding God.
Inspire those who lead worship,
teach, visit, pray, administer, and serve.
Keep us mindful of the needs of others,
in our communities and neighbourhoods. 

We continue to ask for prayers for those in need:
Roy & Gail;  Daryl & Sue; Roy; John; Daryl & Joyce; Sheila; Carolyn; Flo;
Adriel; Catherine; and those on our hearts.  

God of grace,
Hear our prayer. 

Reveal your promise by the witness of those
who died trusting in you, redeeming God.
Receive our thanks for their witness and faith,
and guide us by their example, until we are gathered with them,
in your eternal presence.

God of grace,
Hear our prayer. 

Pondering the mystery of
eternal love made flesh in Christ Jesus,
we commend all for whom we pray
to the mercy of God.  Amen. 

As our Saviour taught us:
Our Father,
who art in heaven, hallowed be thy name,
Thy kingdom come, thy will be done on earth as in heaven. 
Give us today our daily bread. 
Forgive us our trespasses as we forgive those who tresspass against us.
And lead us  not into temptation, but deliver us fom evil.  
For thine is the kingdom,
and the power and the glory,
forever and ever.  Amen.

God of all the nations of the earth,
we give thanks that you guide us by your light.
Help us to recognize Christ as he comes to us in
this eucharist and in our neighbours.
May we welcome him with love, for he is Lord,
now and forever.  Amen.

The Blessing

The peace of God, which passes all understanding, 
keep your hearts and minds in the knowledge and love of God,
and of his son, Jesus Christ, our Lord.
And the blessing of God almighty, the Father, the Son,
and the Holy Spirit, be among you, and remain with you, always.  Amen.