St Paul's United Church of Christ
50 North Main St.
PO Box 129
Manheim, PA 17545
717-665-2447
The Reverend William J. LaSalle, Pastor
email:stpaulsucc@dejazzd.com

Pastor's Message

February 2007

We continue in the Season of Epiphany through most of February. The major themes and images of Epiphany are readily apparent. It is a time to rejoice in the light that has come. It is a time for rejoicing in the light that shines in our darkness, the light that reveals both our sin and the one who comes to forgive it.

Historically, of course, the Christian festival of Epiphany was shaped by the pagan celebration of the victory of the sun over the darkness of winter. For Christians it was the perfect time to exult in the light that had come into a dark world by way of a stable in Bethlehem. The message of triumph over death and of God’s revelation to the world hungry for new life remains a vital one for today’s world.

Linking the season of Epiphany to the turn of the seasons and the annual lengthening of days can be an effective metaphor. Science has increasingly identified shorter days with depression and other emotional stresses, so that the coming of light does indeed in some profound way mean the coming of life. Nevertheless, we need to be cautious about linking God’s revelation with changing seasons.

A more disturbing aspect of the imagery of this season, however, is its emphasis on light as the symbol of God, breaking into a world of darkness in need of cleansing and renewal. The danger is that a northern cultural bias will determine our theology. Equating God with all things light, and evil with all things dark, confirms and perpetuates a profound stereotyping of which we need to be suspicious.

Other aspects of this season are worthy of notice. The first remarkable thing we notice is that in this celebration of light, it may well have been dark-skinned people who first came to worship the Christ child. The identity of the visitors from the East is a mystery, of course, but they certainly were not blonde, blue-eyed Nordic types. Nor did they find the one they sought among the powerful or even the comfortable. This one sent to reveal God to the nations comes by way of an oppressed people and is greeted by foreigners. Here is the message of Epiphany: light shines not only in darkness, but God acts through the unlikely to touch the lives of the excluded.

That theme continues throughout this season. God’s call comes to those who least expect it. Healing is given to those who are not worthy of it, and forgiveness to those who do not even ask for it. And as the Epiphany season comes to an end with the Transfiguration of Jesus, revelation comes even to those who persistently misunderstand it.

For St. Paul’s this February will see us move through the season of winter to begin to notice the lengthening of days. Even though this has been a mild winter so far, the signs of spring are still far off. So too does it seem at times is the Call of your next Pastor. But I know that the Search Committee is following the same process of searching for a star that will lead and guide you into the future. Not a human star personality, but the star light of Christ, and his call reaching out from and through you to some individual seeking to be your shepherd. Trust that this light will soon enough grow brightly into a fulfillment of your discernment and search for a new called Pastor for St. Paul’s United Church of Christ.

Pastor Cluley