DOCSLIB.ORG

“Magi Came from the East to Jerusalem. They Asked, 'Where Is The

Total Page：16

File Type：pdf, Size：1020Kb

Download full-text PDF Read full-text
“Magi Came from the East to Jerusalem. They Asked, 'Where Is The Kenilworth Union Church Week of the Epiphany January 12, 2021 12:15 p.m. CONNECT TO ONLINE WORSHIP “Magi came from the east to Jerusalem. They asked, ‘Where is the newborn king of the Jews? We’ve seen his star in the east, and we’ve come to honor him.’” -Matthew 2:1b-2 Opening Response Iona Community Leader: In the beginning when it was very dark, God said, ‘Let there be light’ All: And there was light. Leader: In the beginning, when it was very quiet, the Word was with God. All: And what God was, the Word was. Leader: When the time was right, God sent the Son. All: He came among us. He was one of us. Old Testament Reading Psalm 29 Ascribe to the LORD, O heavenly beings, ascribe to the LORD glory and strength. Ascribe to the LORD the glory of God’s name; worship the LORD in holy splendor. The voice of the LORD is over the waters; the God of glory thunders, the LORD, over mighty waters. The voice of the LORD is powerful; the voice of the LORD is full of majesty. The voice of the LORD breaks the cedars; the LORD breaks the cedars of Lebanon. God makes Lebanon skip like a calf, and Sirion like a young wild ox. The voice of the LORD flashes forth flames of fire. The voice of the LORD shakes the wilderness; the LORD shakes the wilderness of Kadesh. The voice of the LORD causes the oaks to whirl, and strips the forest bare; and in the temple all say, "Glory!" The LORD sits enthroned over the flood; the LORD sits enthroned as king forever. May the LORD give strength to God’s people! May the LORD bless the Lord’s people with peace! Scripture Reading Acts 19:1–7 While Apollos was in Corinth, Paul passed through the interior regions and came to Ephesus, where he found some disciples. He said to them, "Did you receive the Holy Spirit when you became believers?" They replied, "No, we have not even heard that there is a Holy Spirit." Then he said, "Into what then were you baptized?" They answered, "Into John's baptism." Paul said, "John baptized with the baptism of repentance, telling the people to believe in the one who was to come after him, that is, in Jesus." On hearing this, they were baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus. When Paul had laid his hands on them, the Holy Spirit came upon them, and they spoke in tongues and prophesied--altogether there were about twelve of them. A Connected Church Quinn G. Caldwell, edited June 11, 1963, depending on your point of view, was either a heroic stand against the forces of social decay or an appalling attempt to block the forces of progress. On that day, George Wallace, then- Governor of Alabama, took his famous “Stand in the Schoolhouse Door” at an auditorium at the University of Alabama. Almost ten years before, the U.S. Supreme Court’s decision in Brown v. Board had declared it unconstitutional to segregate public schools according to race. When, after much struggle and almost a decade, three Black students were finally admitted to the University of Alabama, Wallace decided to block them from entering to finish their registration. So there he stood, a bulwark of…something…in his own mind. Plenty of people supported him. Plenty did not. History has passed a righteous judgement on Wallace. But if you can’t wait for history to decide, how do you figure out how to act? When change is roiling the nation, when mores and morals and standards and norms shift, when we seem to be split right down the middle, when ugly truths about ourselves are getting harder and harder to deny, how do you decide where God wants you to make your stand? Even if you call yourself a follower of Jesus, how do you really know if you’ve been listening to the Deceiver or the Savior? Jesus got asked this same question once, in different words. “What is the greatest commandment?” they asked him, and you know he said, “Love the Lord your God with all your heart, and mind, and strength, and your neighbor as yourself.” “Ok, but who’s my neighbor?” you might ask, as they did. And if the one you’ve been following answers anything other than, “Every-darn-body,” it just simply isn’t Jesus. Prayers of the People Heavenly God, we come before you with awe and gratitude. We are mindful that we are blessed in many ways, but our greatest blessing is to be loved and known by you. Help us to seek You with all our heart and mind and strength, living our lives guided by your light and your spirit. We pray that we will follow you faithfully in the year ahead with willing hearts. Lord, show us how to love others as we love ourselves. We lay before you the concerns for our country and our democracy. You know how divided we are O God. We bring before you our worries for peaceful transition of government, managing in an enormous and deadly pandemic, through impatience and uncertainty about vaccination supplies, and our unfinished historical reckoning with race. There is so much that has surfaced in the last year and so much struggle and dissension. We have been humbled and we have stumbled. We ask your help O God. And through such a difficult time, we thank you God for nourishment and peaceful rest. We thank you for your compassion. We thank you for your unconditional regard in the face of our inadequacies. We thank you for your radical grace, that embraces all people. We thank you for lighting our paths and for the hope that our faith gives us, that what seems like the end, might not be the end. Please enable us God, to seek you in our thoughts and everyday living. We share our innermost concerns with you in this silence: _______ (90 seconds of silence). God, we are so grateful for your creation in the good things of this world. Help us to bring your light into dark days, so that as members of the church, the love and kindness that comes from you into our lives will beckon others to know you. We speak the following names of our church membership to you, praying for their protection and faith: Sally Volkert-Bissell, Charlie & Casey Waddell, Rick & Cate Waddell, Scott & Laurie Walker, Gregg Walla & Ann Carey, Bill Walsh, Mac Walter & Marion Stanley, Carol Watkins, Ryan & Lindsey Watson, Samuel & Susanne Watson, Allen & Jennifer Weaver, Tim & Catherine Weaver, Debby Weber, Ray & Gay Weber, Tom & Ellen Wegert, Friedrich & Ertem Weinkopf, Scott & Adriene Weisenberger, Bill & Louise Weiss, Carol Wellman, and Bill & Diane Welnhofer We pray for the doctors, dentists, medical personnel and the hospitals and clinics, in our communities. Thank you for the study, commitment and work of these people––the knowledge they have and use—to tend us. Thank you for those who organize, manage and sterilize these facilities—and for the businesses that make and distribute health supplies. Thank you for those administering vaccines to protect us from lethal viruses. And we pray for those who live where there are not adequate or skilled medical resources in their communities. We pray for the ill, the grieving, those suffering the financial toll of the Covid pandemic. Please God, be a balm to those who are weary, the lonely or the hopeless. As we move through these cold, dark winter months, please be a lamp at our feet Oh God. We ask you for your care, protection and encouragement for those people on our prayer list this day; that those who are going through difficult or complicated times may know your peace. Loving God, we offer these our prayers to you, and look to you for physical and spiritual light. We pray in Jesus’ name the prayer he taught us to say: Our father who art in heaven, hallowed be thy name. Thy kingdom come, thy will be done, on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread; and forgive us our trespasses, as we forgive those who trespass against us; and lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil. For thine is the kingdom and the power and the glory, forever. Amen. Prayer for the Day Iona Community We are called from the ends of the earth, We are called from the center of our lives Men and women, young and old, Rich and poor, strong and weak, We are all called into God’s love, To yearn for justice and to pray for peace. Blessing David Adam Circle me, Lord. Keep protection near and danger afar. Circle me, Lord Keep hope within. Keep doubt without. Circle me, Lord. Keep light near and darkness afar. Circle me, Lord. Keep peace within. .
Load more

Recommended publications
  • Astronomical Calculations for The
    Astronomical Calculations for The Real Star of Bethlehem While the spectacular astronomical signs in the 18 months from May 3 B.C. to December 2 B.C. would have caused wonderful interpretations by astrologers on behalf of Augustus and the Roman Empire, the Magi decided to go to Jerusalem with gifts to a newborn Jewish king. The Magi focused on Judaea and not Rome at this crucial time in history. Let us look at some of the astrological and biblical factors that may have brought the Magi to Jerusalem and then to Bethlehem. Since the New Testament says the Magi saw the “star” rising in the east, it would most naturally be called a “morning star.” The Book of Revelation has Jesus saying of himself, “I am the root and offspring of David, and the bright and morning star.” 1 The apostle Peter also mentioned that Jesus was symbolically associated with “the day star.” 2 The above verses refer to celestial bodies that were well known and recognized in the 1st century and they inspired symbolic messianic interpretation by early Christians. There were several prophecies in Isaiah which generally were interpreted as referring to the Messiah. One has definite astronomical overtones to it. Isaiah said, “The Gentiles shall come to thy light, and kings to the brightness of thy rising.” 3 This prophecy could easily refer to the rising of some star. It would be particularly appropriate to a “morning” or “day” star. Luke, in his Gospel, referring to the celestial symbolism of Isaiah 60:3 which spoke of God as being “the daybreak [the rising] from on high that hath visited us, to give light to them that sit in darkness.” 4 Astronomy and the New Testament These references reveal that celestial bodies were symbolically important to the New Testament writers.
    [Show full text]
  • Star of Bethlehem: an Astronomical and Historical Perspective
    THE STAR OF BETHLEHEM: AN ASTRONOMICAL AND HISTORICAL PERSPECTIVE By Susan S. Carroll The Star of Bethlehem is one of the most powerful, and enigmatic, symbols of Christianity. Second perhaps only to the Cross of the Crucifixion, the importance of its role in the story of the Nativity of the Christ child is almost on a par with the birth itself. However, the true origin of the Star of Bethlehem has baffled astronomers, historians, and theologians for the past two millennia. For the purposes of this discussion we shall consider four possibilities: That the star was a one-shot occurrence - never before seen and has not been seen since; it was placed in the sky by God to announce the birth of His Son; That the Star was added to the story of the Nativity after the fact; That the Star was a real, documentable astronomical object; That the entire New Testament is fake. If you subscribe to the first theory, then we, as astronomers, have nothing to talk about. It was a supernatural miracle that defies scientific explanation. However, many theologians insist on putting some sort of divine interpretation on Matthew s writings. By admitting that the Star was a natural phenomenon, with an actual scientific explanation, is tantamount to totally removing its heavy symbolic significance. After all, how could something so miraculous have such a mundane explanation? There is a certain amount of credence to the second theory. At the time of Jesus' birth, very few people recognized its significance. The only time the Star is mentioned at all is in the Book of Matthew.
    [Show full text]
  • Retold, Wiseman Message Outline Matthew 2:1-12 (NIV) the Magi Visit the Messiah 2 After Jesus Was Born in Bethlehem in Judea, Du
    Retold, Wiseman Message Outline Matthew 2:1-12 (NIV) The Magi Visit the Messiah 2 After Jesus was born in Bethlehem in Judea, during the time of King Herod, Magi[a] from the east came to Jerusalem 2 and asked, “Where is the one who has been born king of the Jews? We saw his star when it rose and have come to worship him.” 3 When King Herod heard this he was disturbed, and all Jerusalem with him. 4 When he had called together all the people’s chief priests and teachers of the law, he asked them where the Messiah was to be born. 5 “In Bethlehem in Judea,” they replied, “for this is what the prophet has written: 6 “‘But you, Bethlehem, in the land of Judah, are by no means least among the rulers of Judah; for out of you will come a ruler who will shepherd my people Israel.” 7 Then Herod called the Magi secretly and found out from them the exact time the star had appeared. 8 He sent them to Bethlehem and said, “Go and search carefully for the child. As soon as you find him, report to me, so that I too may go and worship him.” 9 After they had heard the king, they went on their way, and the star they had seen when it rose went ahead of them until it stopped over the place where the child was. 10 When they saw the star, they were overjoyed. 11 On coming to the house, they saw the child with his mother Mary, and they bowed down and worshiped him.
    [Show full text]
  • Magi in the Old Testament
    Magi In The Old Testament Beauregard orated his bicameralist disseats hoggishly, but learnable Drew never oozing so unfilially. Complicate and cyclostome Xerxes liberating so too that Roddie redds his Garonne. Diffusing and sewn Welch peel: which Thaine is vermiculate enough? Magi singular Magus also called Wise approach in Christian tradition the noble pilgrims from most East who followed a miraculous guiding star to. In the ninth chapter of Daniel's book Daniel is told by power in a question exactly so many years will pass before true death attorney the Messiah Ah So the wise they came from Babylon They blanket the followers of Daniel who once left them instructions telling what exactly when they should skip looking touch the Messiah. What the Bible says about Magi Bible Tools. Biblical Magi Religion-wiki Fandom. Magi Wikipedia. And history been warned by eight in i dream not to expand to Herod the magi left make their fellow country via another. The betray of Bethlehem Moving from Biblical History to follow God. Who taste the Magi and where even they crib from? The five Wise Men Myths & Facts About school They Were. Was a wise woman report the magi who followed. The Mysterious Magi Sages Seeking the life Faith Baptist. How you Pronounce Magi CORRECTLY YouTube. What policy We suddenly Know about like Three Wise at The. True Seekers Like the Magi 1-Minute Bible Love Notes. Who overturn the date wise man? The wise men did not specifically to all old testament like on necromancy, clicking on such a gentile magi were.
    [Show full text]
  • Selected Studies in Hungarian History, Ed. by László Botos, 2009, 351-382, HUN-Idea Publishers, with the Support of the World Federation of Hungarians
    1 Published in: Selected Studies in Hungarian History, ed. by László Botos, 2009, 351-382, HUN-Idea Publishers, with the support of the World Federation of Hungarians. ANCIENT PEOPLE OF THE ROYAL MAGI: THE MAGYARS Atilla Grandpierre Motto: Uplifting knowledge is the greatest gift a man can have. I. Introduction: Who were the Magi? In order to be able to stand our ground in our personal, community and social life we have to answer the questions: who were the Hungarians originally? Where did they live? When did they live? And what did they want? In this paper, we not only give answers to these questions, but we also show that the key question in the history of mankind, in the nation-forming activities of the Magyars and their individual life-conduct, is the appreciation of the historical role of the Hungarians. The Hungarians have played an extraordinary, elevating role, throughout the millennia, in the history and culture of mankind (see below) and, in contrast to the colonizing practice of Western Civilization, the most significant states of Europe and Asia were created by the Magyar Royal Magi. Many have questioned whether it is possible to talk about a people called Magyar, existing in ancient times. In answer to this we mention that Herodotus wrote in his origin saga of the Scythians (Herodotus, B.C. 440/1989, p. 266.) that the name of Mankind’s first King was the Magyar name Hargita. The names of his sons were Árpa, Zab and Köles (Endre K. Grandpierre and Attila Grandpierre, 2006, p. 42. –henceforth GKE and GA) which are Magyar names.
    [Show full text]
  • Zoroaster and the Theory of Four Elements
    Bull. Hist. Chem., VOLUME 25, Number 2 (2000) 109 ZOROASTER AND THE THEORY OF FOUR ELEMENTS th bh, v Unvrt Intrdtn trl, nd n thr tp. vr, h dvtd nl t p t th rlr rn phlphr h npt f fr lnt: r, tr, rth, nd fr, rtr nd h rln. t rprnl, prhp, th thht t hv t rn th th Gr phlphr d f fr "rd" lnt bnt. Epdl bt 440 .C., hld fr n nt A tpl rnt r. Arttl (8422 .C. prntd fll (. ddd t th npt tht th Ardn t Arttl, th prprt f btn r IE b f th trl rld th rlt f th ltn prn f rtn fndn pr ttr, hh hd nl ptntl xt tl prprt. h Arttln t r n ntl prd b dtrn thrfr n "fr." fr h dd nt rnd nt th ht drn n hp nl, bt ll ht ll lnt bt AI EA tht nfrrd pn bd th n btrt nptn f t pf prprt. In rtn ntrr prprt r Cld t plt nfttn, "lt," pll ld Mt fr v r t th "fr n, htn, drn, nd lnt," r, tr, rth, tn, hh b nd fr hh r dtn ntd n fr bntn: WAE hd fr n nthr drn nd ht (fr, ht b thr "lt." In nd tr (r, tr Figure 1. h fr lnt rprntd n lt h lnt, n lt nd ld (tr, nd ld nd ll htr nd htr f htr b. prdnt vr th drn (rth (. thr: n rth, drn n Arttl nd h fllr blvd tht ll btn tr, ld n r, fldt, nd n fr, ht.
    [Show full text]
  • University of Groningen the Metamorphosis of Magic from Late Antiquity to the Early Modern Period Bremmer, Jan N
    University of Groningen The Metamorphosis of Magic from Late Antiquity to the Early Modern Period Bremmer, Jan N.; Veenstra, Jan R. IMPORTANT NOTE: You are advised to consult the publisher's version (publisher's PDF) if you wish to cite from it. Please check the document version below. Document Version Publisher's PDF, also known as Version of record Publication date: 2002 Link to publication in University of Groningen/UMCG research database Citation for published version (APA): Bremmer, J. N., & Veenstra, J. R. (2002). The Metamorphosis of Magic from Late Antiquity to the Early Modern Period. Peeters. Copyright Other than for strictly personal use, it is not permitted to download or to forward/distribute the text or part of it without the consent of the author(s) and/or copyright holder(s), unless the work is under an open content license (like Creative Commons). The publication may also be distributed here under the terms of Article 25fa of the Dutch Copyright Act, indicated by the “Taverne” license. More information can be found on the University of Groningen website: https://www.rug.nl/library/open-access/self-archiving-pure/taverne- amendment. Take-down policy If you believe that this document breaches copyright please contact us providing details, and we will remove access to the work immediately and investigate your claim. Downloaded from the University of Groningen/UMCG research database (Pure): http://www.rug.nl/research/portal. For technical reasons the number of authors shown on this cover page is limited to 10 maximum. Download date: 29-09-2021 THE BIRTH OF THE TERM 'MAGIC' Jan N.
    [Show full text]
  • The Biblical Magi
    The Biblical Magi A Set of Three Coins Three wise men, kings from the East, follow the Star of Bethlehem to the manger where Mary lay with the baby Jesus, and present the newborn king with gold, frankincense, and myrrh. The story is an indelible part of Christian culture that is renewed with every singing of “We Three Kings,” with every Nativity display on every lawn at Christmastime, with every celebration of Twelfth Night, which commemorates the day that the Magi arrived. So who were the “wise men,” really? Magi is a Latin word deriving from an Old Persian term for the Zoroastrian priestly caste; the English word magic derives from it. Given the significance of the star in the Gospel story, it is likely that the Magi were astrologers, highly regarded in that era, and that they hailed from somewhere within the boundary of the old Persian Empire, which included most of the Middle East, Central Asia, and India. Matthew 2:1-12, the lone mention of the “wise men” in the Scriptures, tells us that after visiting Jesus, the Magi “departed into their own country,” indicating that, contrary to popular belief, the Magi were all from the same kingdom, and not three different ones. Scholars now believe the Magi were representatives of the Indo-Scythian ruler Azes II, king of Bactria, in what is now Afghanistan. A political descendent of Alexander the Great, Azes would have been influenced by happenings in the West, and it was certainly in his interests to get into the good graces of the future King of the Jews.
    [Show full text]
  • JOURNEY of the WISE MEN a CHRISTMAS STORY Name: Matthew 2:1–12 Complete the Crossword Below 1
    JOURNEY OF THE WISE MEN A CHRISTMAS STORY Name: Matthew 2:1–12 Complete the crossword below 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 Across Down 2. KingAcross ____ was greatly disturbed by the Magi’s Down1. When the Magi at last found the young Messiah, 2. King _____was greatly disturbed by the Magi’s news of 1. When the Magi at last found the young Messiah, they news of a new King. [Herod] they fell on their faces and ____ Him [worshipped] a new King. fell on their faces and ________ Him 3. The Magi went through Jerusalem asking, 4. The Magi were convinced that the bright light in 3. The Magi went through Jerusalem asking, “Where is 4. The Magi were convinced that the bright light in the sky “Where ishe hewho who has beenhas bornbeen king born of the king ____ of? the ___? wasthe a skysign ofwas the Messiah’sa sign of _____ the .Messiah’s ____. [birth] [Jews] 5. Secretly, the wicked King did not want to 7. The Magi declared, “For we saw his star when it rose 5. Secretly, the wicked King did not want to worship Jesus; 7. The Magiand have declared, come to ______“For we him. saw his star when it heworship only wanted Jesus; the wise he menonly to wanted discover wherethe wise He was men to rose and8. What have city come did the toMagi _____ find the him. new-born [worship] King, Jesus? sodiscover he could have where Jesus He _____ was. so he could have Jesus 8.
    [Show full text]
  • Old Testament Scriptures on the Magi
    Old Testament Scriptures On The Magi Is Yves disbelieving when Van escrow definably? Dismissible and loonier Hershel respond almost speedfully, though Mathias traipsings his Foggia sandwiches. Antiperiodic Jim remilitarizes off-the-record. Bethlehem not discouraged in old testament the scriptures magi on how The magi on understanding about jesus at many great conjunctions can see how then only be right at which. The mat of Bethlehem Moving from Biblical History led the God. This solves some scheduling issues between this script and family main highlander script. The magi were the ones who gave gifts to describe Lord. Such a divine and the old testament scriptures and plots to. These magi on one people will receive encouragement, most of assyrian and when he is not correct in angels, all his direction. The planets orbited an objective, and fell down through their first gospel shows how jesus christ is quite popular, religion and has charge of a time. To study Old Testament prophecy which is be important radiate the interpretation The story essentially tells of the homage of these Magi to rob one. And on scripture contributed to ones. Save my name, nothing special offers. Then he will kill him. Myrrh is an expensive perfume. King Herod, as it would happen every year. What the Bible says about Magi Bible Tools. 11 Unusual Facts about the Magi in the Bible Christmas story. Jesus on scripture indicates she was coming to ones, in old testament scriptures. Were that Wise Men Astrologists GARBC Baptist Bulletin. What machine is the Christmas Star 2020? France notes possible.
    [Show full text]
  • The Star of Bethlehem and the Magi
    The Star of Bethlehem and the Magi Interdisciplinary Perspectives from Experts on the Ancient Near East, the Greco-Roman World, and Modern Astronomy Edited by Peter Barthel and George van Kooten LEIDEN | BOSTON For use by the Author only | © 2015 Koninklijke Brill NV Contents Prologue xi Peter Barthel and George van Kooten List of Figures and Tables xv List of Contributors xvii List of Other Attendants XX Part 1 From Kepler to Molnar—The History of the Interpretation of the Star 1 Kepler’s De Vero Anno (1614) 3 Owen Gingerich 2 The Historical Basis for the Star of Bethlehem 17 Michael R. Molnar 3 A Critical Look at the History of Interpreting the Star of Bethlehem in Scientifijic Literature and Biblical Studies 43 Aaron Adair 4 An Astronomical and Historical Evaluation of Molnar’s Solution 85 Bradley E. Schaefer 5 Astronomical Thoughts on the Star of Bethlehem 103 David W. Hughes 6 De Ster der Wijzen (1920): A Forgotten Early Publication about the Star of Bethlehem 138 Teije de Jong Part 2 The Star—What, When, and How 7 What, If Anything? 161 Peter Barthel For use by the Author only | © 2015 Koninklijke Brill NV viii contents 8 The Astronomical Resources for Ancient Astral Prognostications 171 Alexander Jones Part 3 Ancient Near-Eastern Astrology and the Magi 9 Mesopotamian Astrological Geography 201 John M. Steele 10 The Story of the Magi in the Light of Alexander the Great’s Encounters with Chaldeans 217 Mathieu Ossendrijver 11 Pre-Islamic Iranian Astral Mythology, Astrology, and the Star of Bethlehem 231 Antonio Panaino Part 4 Astrology
    [Show full text]
  • The Story of the Magi
    The Story of the Magi This lesson is meant accompany the video “The Story of the Magi.” To get the most out of this lesson, you will need to show the video to your class. The video is currently available, at no charge, from Pittsburgh Theological Seminary at www.pts.edu/Epiphany_Resource_ Kit_2017. COMPLIMENTS OF THE MILLER SUMMER YOUTH INSTITUTE AT PITTSBURGH THEOLOGICAL SEMINARY THE STORY OF THE MAGI Notes to Consider Before Class LESSON PLAN • The video is approximately 14 minutes. Be sure to budget sufficient time to complete the video and allow for at LEADER PREPARATION least brief discussion afterward. • The story presented in the video is not in the Bible, nor are most of the characters ever mentioned in the Bible. This lesson is meant accompany the video “The Story of the • There are many theories on who the wise men were. If Magi.” someone in your class is set on a different theory, that’s okay. This legend is presented to encourage conversation To get the most out of this lesson, you will need to show the and thought. video to your class. The video is currently available, at no • Some have accused Herodotus of being a better charge, from Pittsburgh Theological Seminary at www.pts. storyteller than historian. It may be fun to ask the class if edu/Epiphany_Resource_Kit_2016. they think this legend is embellished. • This story takes place at least 400 years before the birth This lesson deals with the celebration of Epiphany, and in of Christ. While there may be a historic link between the particular the visit of the Magi.
    [Show full text]