Reading:

Matthew ch 2 v 1-12  the story of the Wise Men

Address:

Let us pray; We thank you Lord for you word in Holy Scripture, bless us as we think on that word Amen. This passage as in so much of Matthew's writing has a strong link to the Old Testament, especially Isaiah.

He is writing to the Jewish people who see Isaiah's prophecy coming true in Jesus. Of course the Wise Men, Magi, Kings, whatever you want to call them, are important in this story. As the shepherds in their poverty came to the stable to worship the new born King, so too the rich and very wise Kings came  to worship the Messiah. He was the one they were told would be born and that he was to be great and a leader of all nations. Their gifts said so much. Gold showed that Jesus was to be a King, Frankincense that he would be Holy and Myrrh that he would suffer and die.  They knew so much about Jesus and their gifts showed their understanding of who Jesus is.  

Of course in this story there is a guiding star but God also intervenes again. He says to the Magi that they should not go back to Herod but go home in a different way.  As we start a new year, we are called to think again of what Jesus means to us, what gifts do we bring to him. What can we offer at the start of 2026 worthy of following him. Think about your offering today your understanding  of what God has called you to do. What is also important in today's story is that God intervenes in our lives. Do we listen to what God is saying?  Are we open to his command?  Maybe we just prefer to go our own way. All through the Christmas story and now today's story we hear of angels and stars and God speaking, changing people's lives.

At the start of this year, we pray that God will change our lives, that he will make us the people he wants us to be. January 6this the Festival of Epiphany, the word means to show or to reveal. During Epiphany, our readings and thoughts will help us to see and understand more of who Jesus is, through what he did and what he said. I pray that this season of Epiphany, this New Year will help us all to follow Jesus more closely as we listen to his words, in the angels we know today. Happy New Year.

Amen

Hymn 188 There's a light upon the mountains'

Prayers:

Let us bring before God our own very personal prayers, knowing that he listens and that he cares. We pray for ourselves, we pray for forgiveness, we want to feel redeemed at the start of this new year. We want to start with that blessed knowledge of your forgiving love that allows us to start afresh. We thank you Lord, that you are in our lives, you intervene in our lives, you speak to us, help us to listen and to obey. We pray for this New Year, there may be a sense of anxiety in our hearts, new starts can often be like that. Yet we travel with you at our sides knowing you care for us in all of our journey.

We pray today for the people we love and who love us, we commend them to your care, praying especially for those we know to be unwell at this time.  

We pray Lord for all who are sad bless and comfort them that they may turn to you. We pray today for our friends, for the communities to which we belong, for our churches, help us to give and to receive your wonderful gift of love.  

We pray for peace Lord in this troubled world for a shining light of hope, 

Amen

Hymn:  For the healing of the Nations.