Hello Friends:

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We had a tender and moving Christmas Eve Service. It was so nice to hear the readings, sing the carols, see the children in their costumes, hear the choir and organ, and to see so many faces, old and new; the candle wax dripping on our hands as we sing together carols of longing until the church is only illumined by those many tiny flames; that hush after the end of "Silent Night," when we pondered again the wonder of the gifts we have and anticipate, and how our lives might be a little different on the other side of Christmas. Thanks to all who helped make it happen.

 

I watched last week’s carol service online as I was home recovering from some kind of upper respiratory virus. It’s going around, I guess. I tested negative for influenza A & B and COVID. I just have an annoying cough. Kim got to visit family in Cleveland while I stayed home and convalesced. I enjoyed the stories around the carols and David’s ability to find or improvise music that he’s given with little to no notice.

 

I hope you have a safe New Year’s Eve plan. One thing to celebrate is that we have gotten through a truly tragic and incredible year. We’ve seen a change in administration and have seen trusted institutions become eliminated. We have seen the re-emergence of masked gunmen patrol our streets under the illusion of "law and order." We have seen school shootings in Minneapolis, and we seemed poised for war. We have seen our Somali and Karen and Latinx neighbors targeted for state-sponsored kidnapping. And we have seen record numbers of people engaged in creative nonviolent response. We celebrated our 175th anniversary amidst all of that. I give thanks for this great church and the ways we have continued to be a voice of comfort, challenge, and at times dissent. I guess that’s what it means to be rooted in justice and working for peace.

 

So this Sunday is the first of 2026. It’s Epiphany Sunday, symbolized by the bringing of increasing light. The familiar story of the Magi (Matthew 2:1-12) has several layers to it. The international travelers (we don’t know how many) came on a vision quest led by an unusual celestial phenomena. They were intercepted at the border by the Herod’s vassal guards. When they told him that their quest was to find a certain Hebrew Child, Herod enlisted them as spies—maybe in exchange for permission to pass through. The Magi found the Holy Family, gave them gifts and went home, never betraying the family’s whereabouts. Why? What power did they see in the light, in the Holy Family, in the shadowy backroom dealings with kings that led them to do something so risky? My Sermon is entitled “light.” Paula Moyer will be the worship leader, we’ll celebrate communion, and we’ll welcome two new members to the UBC family: Elwyn and Lynnette Fraser.

 

After church, please take your last pictures of the tree and poinsettias. Then help us take it all down and store it for next year.  

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Check the schedule below for more of what’s happening this week. It's a pretty slow week at UBC.

 

​Blessings and Peace,

 

Doug Donley