Epiphany is every day. Or at least it can be. With the Magi as our inspiration can you set aside expectations and allow yourself to experience God in a new and exciting way?

So what’s the deal with this Covenant prayer? Well, it’s a part of our heritage as a Wesleyan people and is a wonderful way to greet the new year with intention as a people called Christian.

What can we learn about ourselves and God’s Love from Mary’s encounter with the angel in Luke? Quite a lot, actually!

Here we are in the heart of Advent, and we encounter the voice of John the Baptist, not in the comfort of a temple, but in the challenging wilderness—a symbol of the struggles and uncertainties we face in our individual lives and in the broader world. And he is far from peaceful. Or is he?

This week’s Gospel reading is a lot to take in. Can we find hope in a moment that feels frightening and feels as far away from hope as we can get? Yes. Yes we can.

It’s nearly Advent, the prelude - if you will - to Christmas. We do this every year and so, you may ask, why do we prepare for the arrival of Jesus when He was born centuries ago? What is the significance of Advent in our lives as Christians?

Well, you know what? Those are great questions, beloveds. And they deserve answers.

Be glad in the Lord always! That can be a lot easier said than done, beloveds - am I right? So how do we find words of gladness in a world with little - at times - to be glad for?

Sometimes we come across a scripture or in this case a parable of Jesus’ that seems to give us more questions than answers. The parable of the bridesmaids is certainly one of them. But what if this wasn’t so much a story about damnation or separation or being a good enough believer but a parable about readiness and being willing to use what you have when you have it, and not wait for “the right time” or a special occasion.

In different parts of Latin America and the Caribbean the community gathers, just like we are now, to remember and celebrate the lives of those who have gone before us in life and death. To symbolize the presence of the Saints and Souls among the living, the names of those who have passed have been written throughout the week on our altar cloth. These names represent our congregation’s saints as well as those of the communities we serve. This naming connects us to all those who are remembered with love. As we read each name, you are invited to respond with PRESENTE/They are here.

Once upon a time, in a land where ancient stories whispered in the wind, there was a peculiar road that led to a quiet village known as Emmaus…