This morning, we celebrate the Feast of the Epiphany, one of the central stories in the early days of Jesus’s birth. Much like the story of the family in the manger, this story often holds a special place in our imagination. These three important wise men traveling from afar and following the bright star in the sky to bring gifts to the child Jesus. They likely had been traveling for some time, not fully knowing what to expect upon their arrival. I wonder how surprised they were to find an infant in such humble circumstances, and yet, they accept him as the One whom they were called to visit. Like their travels, our own lives often unfold with many unexpected twists and turns. The Magi follow a star, embarking on a long journey in a foreign land in order to honor the newborn Christ. And, Instead of returning to Herod as commanded, they trust their dreams and go home by another way. Their road isn’t straight, but God “makes a way in the wilderness” (Isaiah 43:19) as they follow their intuition and diverge from the expected path. Loving God, we ask that you guide us in the days ahead. Inspire us to follow your star, to follow the path which leads us closer to You that we may continue to live in the light and hope of your child Jesus as we seek to follow the path to which we have been called. Amen.
This morning, we are invited to listen to this story with open hearts, and we are reminded of how their long and unexpected journey resembles a core truth for us all: life will unfold with unexpected turns. “These wise travelers from the East didn’t follow a straightforward path to find Jesus. Guided by dreams and stars, their journey was filled with royal encounters and unforeseen detours.
Their experience teaches us a comforting lesson about our winding paths: feeling uncertain or lost is okay. We don’t need to have everything figured out. Sometimes, the most profound moments in life come from taking a courageous turn that leads us away from our meticulously-planned routes.
King Herod, who clearly had ulterior and dangerous motives, asked the Magi to report back to him about where the Christ child was. But after being divinely warned in a dream, the Magi chose not to return to Herod, opting to leave “by another road.”
Their decision to embrace alternative paths challenges us as we think about our own journeys. We know this already and at some point in the future, we could be called to embark on a long journey in an unknown place. And we will likely encounter unexpected challenges and detours along the way. If we’re listening closely to God’s still, small voice, we may find ourselves stepping on a new path. We hope that remembering this idea that “The Road Isn’t Straight” can be a liberating and empowering message. The journey of life was never meant to be a straight line from one point to the next. Life is complicated and we often find ourselves in unexpected places but we know that there are many faith filled paths. The story of the Magi teaches us that following a faithful path can lead us to an encounter with the Holy, our lives can discover anew the presence of God hidden in the ordinary and extraordinary moments of life. And, they remind us that to follow God’s path, we need to beware of those who would deceive us or seek to harm others. We need to follow the star which guides us; we are invited to follow the brightest star, the one that follows God’s light wherever it shines.
LITURGY FOR STAR WORDS
INVITATION TO PRAYER
It has become a prayer practice in some churches to give people a star word on this Epiphany Sunday. There are many reasons behind this new tradition. First, we know that the Magi followed a star, which ultimately led them to Jesus.
Secondly, we trust that God uses multiple ways to guide and speak to us. These words offer us a way to actively seek and reflect upon God’s presence among us, both in the moment and as we consider what has taken place in the year now past. And finally, this practice may invite us into a new practice of reflection and review that can be a powerful way to connect with God.
So in just a moment, you will be invited to select a star word. Consider this a guiding word for the year ahead. We invite you to remember your star word often, seeking the ways God might be moving through the meanings and definitions the word contains. However, as we prepare our hearts and minds for this centering moment, let us pray. . .
PRAYER OF THE PEOPLE
Ever-present God, our traveling companion,
We follow every path in search of you.
Sometimes we run as fast as we can, taking every shortcut like a child eager to arrive at the promised destination.
Sometimes we find ourselves wandering, unsure of whether we’re following the trail or forging our own way.
Sometimes we just need to lie down and stare up at the stars, resting before we set out once again.
Wherever we are, we know you are right beside us.
Today we lift up to you our family, friends, and community members who are traveling difficult roads.
Surround them with your loving presence, and remind them that they are not alone.
Strengthen us to travel alongside them. Let us bring hope, peace, joy, and love where it’s needed most.
Shine a light in the darkness so we can find our way to you.
Holy God, we follow every path in search of you.
And yet, you are already here.
You have been with us all along, leaving breadcrumbs of grace.
Let these stars remind us to seek you out in even the most unexpected places.
Guide us, invite us, challenge us in the year ahead, and remind us that we are yours, your beloved, whom you have claimed, redeemed, and called good.
We ask all these things in the name of Jesus, who taught us to pray.
INSTRUcTIONS FOR REcEIVING
Option (stars in baskets, passed through the rows): Our ushers will pass baskets through the rows. We invite you to draw out a star word, without looking at it first, and then pass the basket to your neighbor. As you do, you may say to one another, “May Christ’s light guide you.”
Friends, we have been following every road to God, but God is already here. Thanks be to God.
Let us take a moment to reflect upon these words in new ways and to imagine how they may have resonance in our own lives…Pause.
CLOSING PRAYER
Holy God who lights our way,
We thank you for this moment of respite along the journey,
a moment to be filled with good things,
reminded of our belovedness,
and sent out to be your hands and feet in the world.
Though we’d often prefer a straightforward, step-by-step plan for our lives, you’ve instead given us an invitation to wander, to seek,
to take a different road, to be guided by a star.
May these star words be a map to you,
guiding us to look under every rock and around every corner,
seeking you out everywhere, because everywhere is exactly where you are. And next year, when the road leads back to this very place,
may we find that you were with us every step of the way.
With hope we pray, amen.