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Epiphany
The daily emails are an invitation to join the StGs community in daily prayer during the seasons of Advent, Christmas and concluding on the Epiphany. Each day has a brief excerpt from scripture, a reflection by someone in the StGs worshipping community, an offering of art, and an offering of music - it is designed to be able to be done in 5-7 minutes. There is always the option to read more scripture and spend more time in prayer!
The 12 Days of Christmas follow Christmas Day, and we spend these days rejoicing at our Savior’s birth - God incarnate as the Word made flesh. We celebrate with Christmas carols and find new ways to pay attention to God among us as we aren’t among each other! John’s gospel (always our gospel reading for the 1st Sunday after Christmas as well as Christmas Day) starts with a statement so grand, so mind-bending, so extraordinary that we cannot help but rejoice that God is so much more than we could ever ask or imagine. This is the God that we trust in this season like no other.
The Feast of the Epiphany is January 6th. Epiphany marks the world acknowledging Jesus’ birth, and reminds us thatGod’s guidance always leads us to Jesus’ presence. When we contemplate the magnitude of what God has done for us in choosing to be incarnate here on earth, we can’t help but fall on our knees alongside the foreign visitors who come bearing gifts. This year we will celebrate this feast with a virtual pageant sharing this story in a new way with all of us!
Christ brings joy!
An excerpt from Matthew 2:1-12 (NRSV) When they had heard the king, they set out; and there, ahead of them, went the star that they had seen at its rising, until it stopped over the place where the child was. When the...
Do unto others
An excerpt from Luke 6:27-31 (NRSV) But I say to you that listen, Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, bless those who curse you, pray for those who abuse you. If anyone strikes you on the cheek, offer the oth...
Trust God
An excerpt from Proverbs 3:1-12 (NRSV) Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not rely on your own insight. In all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make straight your paths.
Reflection from Butler Sharpe: As ...
God's spirit instead of ours
An excerpt from James 3:13-18 (NRSV) For where there is envy and selfish ambition, there will also be disorder and wickedness of every kind. But the wisdom from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, will...
Care for the least of these
An excerpt from Matthew 25:31-46 (NRSV) ’Lord, when was it that we saw you hungry and gave you food, or thirsty and gave you something to drink? And when was it that we saw you a stranger and welcomed you,...
Care for the least of these
An excerpt from Matthew 25:31-46 (NRSV) ’Lord, when was it that we saw you hungry and gave you food, or thirsty and gave you something to drink? And when was it that we saw you a stranger and welcomed you,...
Christ is the light of the world
An excerpt from John 8:12-19 (NRSV) I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness but will have the light of life.
Reflection from Charlene Vanderhulst: We were given a ...
New World is Coming
An excerpt from 2 Peter 3:8-13 (NRSV) But, in accordance with his promise, we wait for new heavens and a new earth, where righteousness is at home.
Reflection from Suzanne Francis There have been times over the pas...
We are Christ's siblings in the LORD
An excerpt from Matthew 12:46-50 (NRSV) “Here are my mother and my brothers! For whoever does the will of my Father in heaven is my brother and sister and mother.”
Reflection from Marj...
Holy family flees to Egypt
An excerpt from Matthew 2:13-18 (NRSV) Now after they had left, an angel of the Lord appeared to Joseph in a dream and said, ‘Get up, take the child and his mother, and flee to Egypt, and remain there until I...
Great wisdom
An excerpt from Acts 6:10 (NRSV) They could not withstand the wisdom and the Spirit with which he spoke.
Reflection from Max Smith: These are the charges leveled against Stephen, one of the first Deacons of the ...
Welcome to St. Gregory's – virtually! We know that the church is not the building in which we worship – but the people who worship and share God’s love with the world. In this time of social distancing, we will practice connectivity in new and powerful ways, for we know we all are connected as one in the Lord. Life is very different than we knew it to be, and yet our anchor in God’s love remains the same. All shall be well!
Everyone is experiencing the Pandemic in different ways. Many people are experiencing deeper loss than they ever have before, and we are here to support them during this time. If you are experiencing loss and grief, we are here to pray with you, talk with you, and help financially.
The Body of Christ exists to care for each other. Sometimes we can be generous, and sometimes we receive generosity. Both are equal acts of faith and grace, and one cannot exist without the other.
