Sticks and stones may break my bones….
And we know the rest of that rhyme is a lie.
Words have power. They can hurt, and they can heal. As the Internet and social media make it easier to use our words, it seems that the hurtful part has taken center stage. Even Christians have been fighting for the right to say whatever we want, and then use that right to say hateful things.
“In the beginning was the Word….”
With this mysterious statement, the Gospel of John introduces the Good News of Jesus. John’s point: At the foundation of all that is, from the beginning, is the word of God’s good purpose of life and love, brought to us definitively in the message and person of Jesus. The Word makes sense of existence, and in a good way. The Word is life, and this Word is powerful. The darkness does not overcome it, and not for lack of trying. Even death, as we know from the story of Jesus, does not overpower the Word of life.
This year you are invited to take your own word of life into the New Year. These words, as pictured, are written on stars, recalling the star that guided the wise men to Jesus. The word on your star will guide you in that same way.
The stars pictured here each have a word, adapted from Starwords, practiced elsewhere. The idea is to use the word you get to guide your year, looking through it to find Christ’s presence and call to discipleship. Try taking a word–any word–and putting it up where you can see it all year. Where might that word guide you? That’s the adventure we begin in 2018. Be sure to take a star this Sunday and begin the journey.
Speaking of wise men, don’t forget Epiphany. We will celebrate on Jan. 5th, and our coffee hour will feature an Epiphany tradition, pictured here:
Chalking the Door is a way of blessing your home for the New Year, using the story of the Wise Men as an inspiration. On Epiphany you will get all you need to take up this old blessing and make it your own.