Sermon: Star gifts (Jan. 5, 2013)

Epiphany A

January 5, 2013

  

            Tomorrow, January 6, is the day the church celebrates the festival of Epiphany. You may know it as the day after the 12^th day of Christmas, the day when that poor true love is considering what to do now with all those drummers, pipers, swans, and whatnot. My guess is that while you may have been very generous with your family and friends this year, and they with you (though perhaps not quite so materially generous as the person in that song!), by now the gift-giving frenzy has died off a little. You’ve now gotten a hang of your new device, or you’ve started and even finished your new book, and you’re finding places to put all the beautiful things you have received.

            Yet Epiphany brings up the concept of giving once again. That is in part because it is the day we celebrate the coming of the magi from the East, who traverse afar, probably from modern day Iran, bringing gold, frankincense and myrrh to the Christ-child. Their gifts to Jesus give us biblical basis for the gifts that we give to each other during this season.

            So I could talk about giving today. Giving and generosity are wonderful things, and essential elements of the Christian life. I have preached many sermons on giving, on doing unto others as you would have them do unto you, on serving God and neighbor. It’s good stuff, giving. But the truth is, you’re pretty good at that already. There is no one here I would call selfish or constantly self-serving, and in fact this place is full of people who are more likely to over­do than under-do. You are people who love to serve, love to give your time, talents and treasures, love to minister to the world.

            So instead, today I’d like to talk about receiving. The word “epiphany,” you may remember, means, “manifestation.” It is the day we celebrate God being made manifest to the Gentiles – meaning in this case the wise men. The day God and God’s saving works became manifest or known to people outside the Jewish community. Or, you could say, it is the day we celebrate the gifts that God gives to the whole world, that we receive.

            Those gifts, of course, are too many to name – yet we do still find a way to overlook them. The concrete ones are easy: family, friends, shelter, etc. But when I say gifts, I mean something more abstract, gifts that God through Christ has given us, ways that God is made manifest among us in our personal lives and in our relationships with others. Things like love, forgiveness, grace, peace, generosity, truth, prayer, mercy, fellowship…. You get the idea.

            We know those things are out there, and we may, in our more aware and spiritually inspired moments, recognize them as gifts of God. But if you’re anything like me, you don’t spend nearly enough time noticing them and really dwelling on them.

            And so I wanted to try something with you today. I can’t take credit for this idea – a friend shared it with me. She does it at her church, and it was wildly successful and now her congregation does it every year on Epiphany. The idea is called “Star Gifts.” It is based on the idea that before they offered their own gifts, the magi first received from God the gift of the Christ-child. And indeed this is always God’s pattern: first God gives to us, and then we respond with the gift of ourselves. And so now, we will first receive [invite ushers forward]. As I explain this, the ushers will pass around the offering plates, but instead of putting something into it, as we’re accustomed, you will receive something from it: a star with a gift written on it. Don’t look first – just reach in and grab! Take this star home with you and put it in a place where you see it regularly – perhaps on your dashboard, or your computer screen, or your bathroom mirror.

            [Pause to hear what some of the words are that people have drawn.]

            The next part of the activity takes all year long. Throughout the Christmas story, we are told that “Mary pondered these things in her heart,” and that is what I am asking you to do with your star gift. Ponder it in your heart this year, when you see it in the morning or on your drive to work. Look up the meaning in the dictionary. Find where it occurs in the Bible. See how that gift from God plays out in your daily life. Allow this word to speak to you in the particular place that you are in your life and in your faith.

            Maybe you’re looking at this word now and thinking, “I can’t imagine how I’m going to see this in my life,” or maybe you are thinking of ways you already do see it. I heard of one pastor who drew the word “time” just before she left for sabbatical, so she reflected that year on what a gift it was to have that time for spiritual renewal and development. Another year, that same pastor drew “faith.” Her congregation chuckled, saying that it seemed ironic that the pastor should need to draw the gift of faith! But then, that year turned out to be an incredibly trying one, where her own faith and that of her congregation really suffered after some tragic events. It was a year she needed to remember that faith is a gift to be held onto, especially in trying times. You never know how God’s gifts might need to be noticed.

            The last part of this activity is based on the idea that out of receiving comes giving. Throughout the year, I may ask you to share with me or the congregation about how your star gift has been manifest in your life. On Epiphany next year, we will do this again, but I’m going to talk less – instead, I want to hear about your experience.

            Like any gift, I am aware that some of these star gifts may be discarded. They may end up crumbled at the bottom of your purse, or lost under a car seat, just like we sometimes crumble and discard the gift of grace that God offers us, or loose sight of the peace that Christ brings. I’m as guilty of disregarding God’s gifts as the next person!

            I know this… but I still want to try it. As humans, we yearn for tangible, clear signs of God’s presence. But so often we are so overwhelmed by life that we fail to see those signs even when they are right in front of us. This is meant to be a way to focus your awareness of God’s gifts in your life. Epiphany is a time to celebrate God’s presence breaking into the darkness and chaos of life and shining as a light in the darkness. My prayer for this congregation this year, and for each member thereof, is that we would be reminded at every turn of our generous, giving God.

            Let us pray… Gracious God, we give you thanks for your many gifts. Help us to notice and not to ignore, to embrace and not to disregard, and in this effort, to become ever closer to you. In the name of the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Spirit. Amen. 

*** Note: for those of you reading at home, here is a list of star gifts. Choose one for yourself, and try it! I'd love to hear your reflections in the comments below.

kindness
caring
sharing
giving
compassion
love
openness
pardon
understanding
discipleship
servanthood
stability
hopefulness
innocence prayerfulness
praise
gentleness
knowledge
happiness
laughter
acceptance
self-control
restraint
mercy
truth
peace
faith
consideration
fellowship
unity
teaching
singing
celebration
perseverance
judgment
discipline
courage
confidence
clarity
honor
contentment
imagination
commitment
friendship
freedom
creativity
devotion
joy
strength
comfort
leadership
discernment
obedience
thoughtfulness
responsibility
patience
forgiveness
humility
faithfulness
hope
tenderness
enthusiasm
evangelism
healing
loyalty
rejoicing
respect
insight
selflessness
righteousness
assurance
justice
honesty
wisdom
awareness
tolerance
wholeness
guidance
hospitality
foresight
trust
learning
proclamation
encouragement
trustworthiness
inspiration
wonder
flexibility
grace
graciousness
integrity
helping
witnessing
generosity
perceptiveness
purity
prayer
service
steadfastness
determination
nurturing
renewal
purpose
peacefulness
power
excitement
harmony
reliability
goodness
reverence
serenity
humor
boldness
genuineness
illumination
vision
dependability endurance
listening
accountability
speaking
sincerity
writing
music
motivation
art
building
crafts
planning
organization
drama
cheerfulness
focus
balance
helpfulness
languages
cooking
sympathy
empathy
sensitivity
time
conviction
delight
responsiveness
education
intelligence
experience
visitation
sobriety
spirituality
travel
thankfulness
money
dignity
quietness
playfulness
dedication
empathy
solitude
zeal
appreciation
affirmation
charity