From the Minister

                                                                

Dear Friends,

Happy New Year!  Wishing you every blessing for 2025 and praying it brings you much joy.

As we start the New Year it is a Methodist tradition to celebrate our Covenant service, renewing our commitment to follow Jesus Christ through whatever life may bring.  Covenant traditionally takes place very early in the New Year and someone remarked to me recently that this often means we fail to mark Epiphany, when we remember the visit of the wise men to the child Jesus.  I happen to be a fan of celebrating the two together, even if this isn’t entirely traditional, because I believe the wise men teach us a great deal about our own journey of faith.

The Magi (also known as wise men or the three kings^[1]) were astronomers from Persia, who read the stars as a means of understanding what was happening in the world.  They saw a new star, which they interpreted as heralding the birth of a new king.  They recognised that this king would be different and decided to go and pay homage to him and so they set off on a long journey to an unknown destination, with only the star to guide them.

As we make our Covenant promises, we reflect on our own faith journeys.  What was it that started us on that journey?   Perhaps it was the influence of a family member or friend?  Could we be the ones to prompt others to set out on their own journeys, who knows!

The Magi travel on, but do not always get everything right.  It would seem they lose track of the star and instead assume that the king will be in a palace, a mistake that alerts Herod to a potential threat to his throne and sets in place a tragic train of events.

We sometimes get lost on our journeys too, often when we stop listening to God and allow other things to distract us.  The good news is that as the Magi leave the palace, the star is there waiting for them.  God loves us and waits for us too and confession and forgiveness form an essential part of our Covenant service.

Finally, the Magi arrive and worship, offering their gifts to this new king.  The gifts themselves are prophetic, revealing aspects of this child’s future.  Gold indicates power, frankincense holiness and myrrh suffering.  Jesus is revealed in the offering of these precious things.

At Covenant, we offer our lives to God to be used to God’s own glory in whatever circumstances we find ourselves.  If we do this faithfully, then we too become signs of the love of God.  It’s a bit like the line from the carol, which says “What I can I give him, give my heart”.

May you be enriched by both Epiphany and the Covenant service and may they both provide a positive start to 2025.

 

God bless.