Theme: Epiphany

Reading: Matthew 2:1-12

Wise Men Come to Visit Jesus

2 Jesus was born in the town of Bethlehem in Judea during the time when Herod was king. After Jesus was born, some wise men from the east came to Jerusalem. ² They asked people, “Where is the child who has been born to be the king of the Jews? We saw the star that shows he was born. We saw it rise in the sky in the east and have come to worship him.”

³ When King Herod heard about this, it upset him as well as everyone else in Jerusalem. ⁴ Herod called a meeting of all the leading Jewish priests and teachers of the law. He asked them where the Messiah would be born. ⁵ They answered, “In the town of Bethlehem in Judea, just as the prophet wrote:

⁶ ‘Bethlehem, in the land of Judah,
    you are important among the rulers of Judah.
Yes, a ruler will come from you,
    and that ruler will lead Israel, my people.’”

⁷ Then Herod had a private meeting with the wise men from the east. He learned from them the exact time they first saw the star. ⁸ Then he sent them to Bethlehem. He said, “Go and look carefully for the child. When you find him, come tell me. Then I can go worship him too.”

⁹ After the wise men heard the king, they left. They saw the same star they had seen in the east, and they followed it. The star went before them until it stopped above the place where the child was. ¹⁰ They were very happy and excited to see the star.

¹¹ The wise men came to the house where the child was with his mother Mary. They bowed down and worshiped him. Then they opened the boxes of gifts they had brought for him. They gave him treasures of gold, frankincense, and myrrh. ¹² But God warned the wise men in a dream not to go back to Herod. So they went home to their own country a different way.

 

Prayer for the week:

This week, we created a star shape with our bodies whilst we prayed.

Stand with your feet together and arms by your side. Stick your left arm up and away from body.

“Help us to take hold of your amazing gift to us this Christmas time as we remember your birth.”

Stick your right arm up and away from your body.

“Help us to share this special news with those around us.”

Put your left foot out to the side by lifting it up and planting it down on the ground.

“Thank you that you came down to earth and were born as one of us to show God’s light and love to the world.”

Put your right foot out to the side by lifting it up and planting it down on the ground.

“Help us to shine like stars this Christmas time, bringing joy and peace to our families and friends.”

Amen.

 

Song for the week: No Ordinary Baby