What does Epiphany mean to you? An epiphany is often defined as a sudden realization of the meaning of something. Pastor Leanne, in her January 8th post to this blog, introduced a new prayer practice called Imaginative Prayer as a way to enhance prayer practices and your epiphanies. Have you tried it? Do you think this practice could help generate epiphanies?

Our Epiphany sermon series is called New Beginnings and we’ll be walking with Jesus as we study the stories collected in Mark’s gospel. The light of our theme graphic is prompting us to attune ourselves to what the Spirit is illuminating in our lives in what we learn and take away from these stories.

I’m inviting you to a practice of imaginative prayer as you encounter these stories with Jesus.

We are only two days away from Christmas Eve, and three days from our celebration of the birth of Jesus. This has been a time of waiting and preparation. During Advent we have worshipped using a theme of being present through Hope, Peace, Joy, Love and Light. Are you present? Are you prepared?

Advent is a season of waiting. We all know that. Sometimes we slowly move the figures in our nativity scenes closer to the manger in the inn as the days move forward to Christmas. (And the Magi don’t arrive until 12 days after Christmas!) It’s a lovely thing to imagine waiting for the birth of Jesus. After all, folks for generations before his birth were waiting for the Child of Humanity, the Messiah. “For unto us a child is born,” said Isaiah.

Gratitude expression affects us both cognitively and how we feel about what we’ve been blessed with. Let’s end this month on a “note” of gratitude, which brings to mind a song/hymn verse: 

Rejoice, the Lord is King! Your Lord and King adore; 

Rejoice, give thanks and sing, and triumph evermore . . . . 

Thanksgiving is my favorite holiday.

What I like about Thanksgiving is that it’s all about giving thanks and that’s important. Gratitude is a virtue but it’s also much more than that.

some thoughts/questions – about not being afraid (It is the time of Halloween), who you pray for and “community.”

This month we celebrate World Communion with brothers and sisters around the world.

PB with some added thoughts/questions - about why pray and what is a prayer.

Let me start with a confession… the subject of prayer can make me feel guilty. I guess I grew up with an idea that prayer had to be a mystical union

Me? I’m just a common Christian, struggling like many others to pray more effectively. So just call me Prayer Blogger, PB for short.