We witnessed the miracle of Lazarus at church this past Sunday. One of our own who has been seriously ill for several weeks, so ill that many times he was thought not to see the next day. To the joy and amazement of our little congregation, he came rolling in the narthex door and down the isle a little ways to be in worship again. We have missed him so. He usually sings in the choir and quite frequently blesses us with a solo. This Sunday though, it was music to our ears just to hear his meek but present voice expressing his gratitude for our prayers on his behalf. And that is what our congregation has done when we didn’t know what else to do. We wrapped him in the “strips of linen” that are our prayers. Prayers that God’s Love would wrap around him for Peace, Healing, and Hope. His effort to be in worship on Sunday wrapped us all in the “strips of linen” that as believers, we are meant to experience as the body of Christ, our Church. Wesley Memorial UMC. HOPE Point.

"…Jesus called in a loud voice, ‘Lazarus, come out!’ The dead man came out, his hands and feet wrapped with strips of linen, and a cloth around his face. Jesus said to them, ‘Take off the grave clothes and let him go.’” John 11:43-44
(The drawing above was created by a 10yr old student during one of our lessons together. Yes, I said 10year old!)
Glimpses of Glory go to www.janefnewman.com to view work.

     Today, January 6th, is the day the church celebrates Epiphany. The day the wisemen experienced the epiphany that the Messiah, the Savior had been born. They followed His star to find were He lay in a manger. They were "Star struck"! Amazed that the prophecies of old about the star that would be the sign of His coming and then again amazed when their long journey following that star brought them into the presence of the Holy One. After worshipping Him there they then shared their epiphany with others on their return journey, and the rest is His-story.
     This Christmas I was amazed and star struck by being the recipient of one of five hand-made stars. Each unique in that they were created with various collected pieces of jewelry from mother, grandmothers, sisters,  and aunts, but each the same in that they were created by the same loving hand with the same spirit of family community and bond, and of worshipping the same Lord and King that inspired their creation. What a special gift to share on this 2018 Epiphany Day!

"...Where is the one who has been born king of the Jews? We saw His star when it rose and have come to worship Him." Matthew 2:2