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Midweek Blast of Epiphany Light
December 16, 2015
In a Galaxy Far, Far Away...
Apparently there is a highly anticipated movie coming out this week.  Apparently this movie is so highly anticipated that a fictional robot recently nabbed the cover of a prestigious magazine. In this article from Time the content is more about the history of the franchise (Star Wars) than what the latest installment is about. (Everyone involved with the production has been told to "keep quiet" about any details of the film.) That's a lot of nostalgia for 7+ pages of text.  Since the first installment was released nearly three decades ago, there are those involved with the movie who were either too young, or not yet born, to fully remember the buzz that accompanied Star Wars in the late 1970s.  
 
One of the younger actors was recently trying to process the excitement she experienced at Comic-Con. She said it wasn't hysteria, but there was a sense of intense euphoria. It was obvious that everyone had a deep love for these movies but she couldn't quite describe the emotion.  J.J. Abrams (the director, writer, and producer) called it hope.
 
Hope can be a powerful thing. The difficult part is that it often involves walking through despair. We know despair, don't we? Division, violence, death, terrorism, bombs, shootings, superbugs, disease, poverty, immigration, crisis, recession, and the list could go on and on and on.  
 
Do we want hope, or are we addicted to despair? It seems that despair is all we hear and see. Despair leads to fear, and fear is an incredible control agent. So where do we find hope? Maybe finding hope in a movie makes sense since we need a break from the bad news, a 2-hour window into a fantasy world so that we can forget how messed up things are. A reminder that the good guys win. But are things really that messed up? There is hope, there is good, and there is beauty all around us, but are our eyes open?  
 
Over the past few weeks churches around the globe have been lighting a series of candles that are arranged in a circle, the simple beauty of an Advent wreath. On December 24th many churches will light as many candles as there are people and dim the lights. When it's dark, the light is brighter. They will gather to celebrate and remember a humble birth, a birth that brought light, a birth that brought hope. As dark as the world may seem, this light has never been extinguished and it never will. This light continues to shine, year round, no matter how dark life may seem.
 
There is hope. Maybe we get so excited about decorating for Christmas because we get to bring out those little twinkling lights again and wrap them around a tree or hang them on our house. Maybe we need to be reminded about that light more often, that light that shines brightest when life seems to be darkest. The light that reminds us that God is there, that there is hope. So open up your eyes, step out of despair, and find the beauty, love, and hope of life. It has always been there and it will always be.

See you in church,
 
Chris 

Wednesdays at the Well tonight, December 16
Wednesdays at the Well icon
Tonight is our annual Christmas Candlelight Dinner, serving pork loin, cornbread stuffing, green beans, salad, and dessert at 6:00 p.m. Suggested freewill offering is $6 for adults and $3 for children. Cash, checks, and credit cards are accepted.
Imagine Children's Choir at 6:25 welcomes all kids pre-K through 5th grade.
Worship at 7 uses the beautiful Holden Evening Prayer with Holy Communion.
Christmas Services at Epiphany
 
Christmas Eve and Christmas Day
We will celebrate the birth of Jesus on Christmas Eve during 3 services: 5:00, 7:00, and 11:00 pm candlelight service. Join us again on Christmas Day at 10:00 am for carols and Holy Communion.

If you have donated a poinsettia, you may take it home with you after the 11 p.m. Christmas Eve service.

Bring your family and friends!
 
Volunteer in Sunday School!
The formation team is looking for people interested in volunteering in Sunday School next semester beginning January 3, for ages Pre-K through 5th grade. If you'd like to help, email formationteam@epiphanysuwanee.org, or click on the link to Volunteer Spot:  http://vols.pt/WfzQEX
 
Small Groups
Evans small group
Are you looking for a small group?
A place where you can connect, learn, grow, and service with others? A place to build relationships that matter? We are planning on starting a number of new small groups and would like for you to be a part of one. We believe life was meant to be shared with others! To sign up, email pastorchris@epiphanysuwanee.org.
 
Epiphany Lutheran Church
1350 Peachtree Industrial Blvd.
Suwanee, GA  30024
770-831-1966