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Old First Presbyterian Church is an inclusive community of faith united by trust in God and faith in Jesus Christ. We warmly welcome all who accept and respond to God's saving grace in Jesus Christ and who desire to participate in the life and ministry of this church.
Established in 1849, we are the Oldest Active Protestant Congregation in California. We are constantly renewed through a wide spectrum of activities, and of course, through new members and visitors
Maggi's Musings January 2012
I will admit that I never knew about Epiphany in my years growing up in the church. I don’t know whether it simply wasn’t celebrated or whether I missed it in the hustle and bustle of Sunday school. It is an easy day to miss if you aren’t paying attention. Epiphany can easily be overlooked in the rush from Advent to Christmas. Sometimes it gets tacked on as almost an afterthought to the Christmas story.
Ironically, the Gospel of Matthew mentions Jesus' birth with less than one verse while the story of the wise man takes up twelve verses in Chapter 2. I have grown to love this celebration in our church calendar. It may be because commercialism hasn’t been able to get a hold on this day, which remembers the wise men – the magi – who followed a star to worship this infant king. As an adult, I find myself drawn to these wise ones, these scholars, who discovered a promise in a bit of scripture, longed to encounter the Divine – wherever God might found – and journeyed into unknown lands never quite knowing where they were going or what they would find. Such a risk and such openness to the leading of God!
Somehow without MapQuest or a trip agenda they went forth with longing, hope, an open heart and an open mind. I wish I could go into this New Year with just a bit of that same kind of longing, hope and openness. At very least, I would like to go into the New Year with a spirit that follows without quite knowing every step or outcome but that still recognizes God’s presence made manifest in surprising ways and ordinary places.
May there be a little bit of Epiphany-wonder in all of us, as we wander into 2012.
Peace,
Pastor Maggi
An Epiphany Prayer
By Miriam Therese Winter
Light of the world,
we bow down before you
In awe and adoration.
Bless us and our simple faith
seeking understanding.
Epiphany means
manifestation,
lifting the veil,
revelation.
Reveal to us then
What we need to know
to love you,
and keep your word with fidelity and truth,
courage and hope,
this day and always.
Amen.
