This Sunday afternoon, from 5:30 pm – 7:00 pm, we are hosting our living nativity, “Journey to Bethlehem.” As I write this, the weather seems to be on track to be cooperative both in manageable temperatures and no rain in the forecast. Let’s hope and pray this holds up, as many people have put in countless hours of time and energy for this event. Just in case, our rain date is Sunday, December 20.

It got me to thinking about this journey that all of us are on this Christmas. While things seem to be “shutting down” again, our spiritual journey continues to seek and find Jesus Christ, who has come in flesh and blood for you and me. 

Consider for a moment, the plight of the wise men. They were not Jewish. They lived far away in another part of the world. They were not followers of the Jewish faith, but followers of Zoroastrianism. And yet, God used their religion, -- which was a worshipping of the stars, to lead them to Jesus Christ. Scholars believe that it took the wise men 6 years from the time they kissed their loved ones goodbye, to when they returned home from their journey to see the Savior. It took 6 years of constant travel under the night sky, braving the scorching heat by day, along with the dangers of the road. How ironic is it that the teachers of the law would not travel six miles from Jerusalem to Bethlehem to see the Messiah! There is a similar apathy or indifference that exists among people in the church today. Some people say, “Hey, when it comes to God, I’ve been there, -- done that. I’ve been baptized, confirmed, and joined the church. I’ve got the cookbook.” We need the wise men, because along comes this group of fired-up foreigners, who say, “We’ve seen his star, and we want to worship him.” At Chestnut Level Presbyterian Church, we also need this same kind of infectious passion.

Please join us for worship this Sunday at 8:00 am or 10:30 am as we look a bit more at the wise men and the shepherds. Don’t forget our Journey to Bethlehem on Sunday afternoon. 

May God richly bless you in your spiritual travels, and may they be journeys of joy. 

Pastor John