3 Ways the Wise Still Worship

Three Ways the Wise Still Worship Him: Presence, Presents, and Purpose

Christmas Greetings,

I know you’re busy. I’ll keep this short. I have a gift for you. It will only take a minute or two to open. If you’re like me then there is no shortage of competition for your attention. It may be easy to get occasionally swept away by the next demand and slip out of rhythm with your relationship
with God. It’s funny how Christmas can often contribute to that.
I hear this phrase quite often: “We are drowning in information and starving for wisdom.” What have the wise who have gone before us done at this time of year? So here’s your gift: three points of wisdom from the Wise Men that can change your whole year.

1. Presence. The Wise Men showed up. Was it convenient? No. Was it easy? No. Wise worshippers still show up; not just at Christmas or Easter. God honours the time and effort you make to worship Him with your church family. We are always better for it when you’re there.
Never underestimate the value and power of your presence in worship.

2. Presents. The Wise Men brought gifts; not just nominal gifts or obligatory gifts. They brought valuable, sacrificial gifts that would have been expensive and a burden to carry such a distance.
The wise still bring Him gifts. A prayerfully considered offering, a significant donation to the backspace project, a sacrifice of time for the benefit of your neighbour. What will you bring Him this Christmas?

3. Purpose. When the Wise Men left Jesus they journeyed home by a different road. They were different. Something had changed them. They lived in a new way. They left Herod and his crooked ways subversively behind. What is your God-given purpose during Christmas? What will it be in January? How will you live out
“…thy kingdom come, thy will be done…” in 2017… specifically?
Answer that, and you’ll be among the wise who still worship Him.

This year, Christmas Day falls on a Sunday. There will be a shortened, child-friendly Christmas Day service at 10:30 a.m. Fresh hot chocolate will greet you at the door and we encourage you to dress comfortably, you can even wear your new Christmas pajamas if you want!! I know it goes
against the routine… but you are invited to attend. After all, I wonder what the Wise Men would have done.
Hope to see you Christmas Eve:

4:30 p.m. Church of the Resurrection: Family Service with Praise Band
7:30 p.m. St. Paul’s Oak Point: Traditional Service
9:30 p.m. Church of the Resurrection: Traditional with Choir
Christmas Day
10:30am Church of the Resurrection: No Oak Point service
New Year’s Day
10:30am One Service Church of the Resurrection: No Oak Point service

Yours in Christ,
Mike Caines
Rector
Anglican Parish of the Nerepis & St. John