“…do not be terrified; for these things must take place first...” Luke 21:9

Dear Friends: 

Late last week I had the great misfortune of being in the dentist chair. Most of you, I’m sure, have no fears or qualms about being in the dentist chair. No concerns about a kind technician with a mask covering her face, staring down your throat while her colleague dentist comes at your mouth with a needle too long and too large to avoid seeing. No worries about that needle sawing away at your teeth, filing them to just the perfect stump. No terrors about the stumps being pounded at by a tiny mantle to assure your new crowns are holding fast. It’s been nearly a week and I’m still gasping for air and gripping at my hands at the memory of being at the dentist. In all fairness to my dentist, and his colleagues, there are no kinder, gentler people. If I must be thrust into the embrace of fear, this dentist is the one place where you can muster up calm fearlessness in the face of fearfulness. 

There is a part of the brain known as “the seat of fear”. This region is known medically as the amygdala. Our fight, flight or freeze response to fear comes from the amygdala. Experts tell us that today we are inundated with so much information our brains are extremely sensitive to pending fear. With twenty-four hour news at our fingertips, fear can appear to be ever present. As well, many find their work anxious making in a stress producing environment. This leads to our amygdala working overtime to help us find answers. Consequently, our well-developed brains are also able to quickly respond to fear with rational solutions of hope; the knowledge that all will be well. 

2020 Presidential candidate Marianne Williamson writes, “Our deepest fear is not that we are inadequate. Our deepest fear is that we are powerful beyond measure. It is our light, not our darkness that most frightens us. We ask ourselves, Who am I to be brilliant, gorgeous, talented, fabulous? Actually, who are you not to be? You are a child of God. Your playing small does not serve the world. There is nothing enlightened about shrinking so that other people won’t feel insecure around you. We are all meant to shine, as children do. We were born to make manifest the glory of God that is within us. It’s not just in some of us; it’s in everyone. And as we let our own light shine, we unconsciously give other people permission to do the same. As we are liberated from our own fear, our presence automatically liberates others.”

Jesus tells us in Luke’s gospel on Sunday to not be afraid. “Nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom, there will be great earthquakes, and in various places famines and plagues…you will be betrayed…[and]…hated by all because of my name”.  But, says Jesus, “I will give you words and a wisdom…and…not a hair of your head will perish.” Dread and distress do not conquer my friends. So, we do not stand idle. We get to work for Jesus, shining, fearless as a child of God, brilliant, gorgeous, talented, fabulous, powerful beyond measure in the love, grace and mercy of Jesus Christ. 

On Sunday we’ll all give thanks as precious baby Audrey, daughter to Rebecca and Alan and sister to Preston and Emmeline, through her baptism into the body of Christ, becomes a fearless child of God. As well, please welcome our guest Deborah Awut to Epiphany’s Sunday School, worship, and Confirmation class. Fearless Deborah, with God’s grace, overcame the wars of South Sudan to attend Hope and Resurrection Secondary School in Atiabe. Even more fearless, on she went to university. Now, at the invitation of the United States government, Deborah is with us to participate in a conference on peace. Welcome Deborah. Following worship kids will want to stay for a brief Christmas Pageant rehearsal (pageant scheduled for December 15). Parents of all children through elementary school are invited to attend Parent Support Group Sunday evening from 5:00 -7:00 p.m. with a casual look at Sabbath of the Suburbs. Babysitting is provided for this informal pot luck gathering where children delight and parents grow in their fearlessness of parenting with a strong belief in Christ’s very presence in their lives. 

There’s nothing fearful about a life in Christ through the good ministry of Epiphany. Come! Let Jesus shine in you that you may be powerful beyond measure! 

Many blessings,

Hillary