Dear Friends,

The Christmas holiday is over and the decorations and the crèche figurines are being boxed up and put away for another year. What we do not want to box up or put away is Jesus. The message of Christmas and the joy of sharing its deepest meanings echo through not only the Epiphany season, but every day.

Oh, of course, we find ourselves off track now and again. Despite our best intentions and “New Year’s resolutions”, we fall back into bad habits or wander off the path.
Thankfully, we are not left there. Our faith assures us that even when we get “lost”, God seeks after us and welcomes us home. We hear that message in Jesus’ parable of the prodigal son.

This year’s Epiphany musical, The Lost Boy, is a story about Jesus getting “lost” when he was twelve while his parents were in Jerusalem for the Passover celebration (Luke
2:41-52). Unlike the prodigal son (Luke 15: 11– 32) , the truth is: Jesus was not really lost at all. The musical follows Mary and Joseph as they seek to find their “lost” child amid the hustle and bustle of Jerusalem’s marketplace, chariot
racing venue, and lavish banquets. They finally find him at the heart and center of their faith. He wasn’t “goofing off”. He was in the Temple – his Father’s house – amazing the
religious leaders with his wisdom and insight.

There is a wonderful song in this year’s musical – written by Allen Pote and Tom S. Long - entitled How Did We Fail to Notice? It is a prayerful reminder to us of our own need to
refocus our faith and lives on things that truly matter.

How did we fail to notice?
When did we grow so blind?
Why did we get so distracted?
Where did we leave him behind?
Teach us again to know you,
teach us to stay at your side,
teach us to sing alleluia,
praising you with our lives.
Remember the day when he whispered
your name
and told you the story was true.
Remember the moment you gave him
your heart -
every hour was new.
Remember the love of the friends you
found,
a family none can destroy.
Remember the time he answered your
prayer,
your spirit surrendered to joy.
Allelu, alleluia
let this be our prayer and our song,
to be found with the one who loves us
in the home where we know we belong.

Not a bad resolution for the new year: to be found with the one who loves us in the home where we know we belong. This year, even amid all the distractions, we can recommit
ourselves to remember and live the teachings Jesus in our personal lives and in our life together as a congregation. We can make decision to attend worship regularly, join Bible study, volunteer time to a caring ministry or mission activity, invite a friend to church, and generously support the work of our faith community. May 2012 be a year of growing our
faith and sharing our blessings!

In faith and Christian love,

Reverend Margaret Jay