Reflection: In this season of Epiphany, a time of celebrating the appearance of the Christ child, we return to our sermon series "Speaking Christian," based on the book Speaking Christian: Why Christian Words Have Lost Their Meaning and Power - And How They Can Be Restored by Marcus Borg. In Chapter 5, we explore God. There have been many ways to articulate the nature, presence, and role of God in the universe. These ways have come out in creeds and theological statements, but also scripture itself, not to mention personal and collective experience. The ways we've most heard God spoken of, couple with the ways we most often think of God, tend to be the dominate ways we understand God. And yet, is God bigger than our definitions and understanding? Where might God be present in ways we've never considered before? How might God be active in ways we miss? What is God? God is. The mix of comfort and mystery in that statement can take your breath away, but certainly not the Spirit in you.

For the Children: We are spending time this month preparing for the Sabbath to End Homelessness (January 28) we think of all the people who don't have a great place to live. We pray for their safety and think of ways we can help them as a church. We can be glad that Jesus helps us help others and all people are loved by God, no matter where they live. Is there anywhere you can go and hide from God?