Pause

The Christ child is born!
All you who would find him,
prepare for a journey, as determined as the Magi.
All you who would praise him,
come with the faith to follow but a star.
All you who would worship him,
come with humility to the child
who shows forth the immeasurable riches of God.

Based on Matthew 2:1-12, from A Worship Sourcebook

Listen

Lift up your eyes and look around; they all gather together, they come to you; your sons shall come from far away, and your daughters shall be carried on their nurses’ arms. Then you shall see and be radiant; your heart shall thrill and rejoice, because the abundance of the sea shall be brought to you, the wealth of the nations shall come to you. A multitude of camels shall cover you, the young camels of Midian and Ephah; all those from Sheba shall come. They shall bring gold and frankincense, and shall proclaim the praise of the Lord.

Isaiah 60:4-6

Think

Sometimes, all it takes is for us to lift up our eyes and look around to have an epiphany. We often get so caught up in our own lives, we forget that God is at work all around us and in the lives of those around us. The beauty of God’s creation is reflected in the diversity of humankind.

Just as the magi came from faraway lands to bring gifts of gold, frankincense and myrrh to the Christ-child, people from far and near come together to worship God. No two people are alike; no two people can bring the same gifts. Each of us is unique. Yet we all share the same humanity, and we all share the same God. As we approach the manger in Bethlehem, coming from our many directions, God gathers us all in, welcoming us as one people with many different gifts.

Joann Lee

Pray

God, thank you for creating me unique and calling me beloved. Help me to love and appreciate how each and every person is created in that same way. Amen.

Go

See the child,
Gentle and kind,
Vision of God,
Image of the Divine.

Be the child,
Prepared to see
Images of God,
And all that will be.

All that will be.