We’re excited to announce the launch of a new weekly email from Scott Gunn and the Forward Movement team! Forward Today will take the form of a regular reflection on issues relevant to the church and to our world—and of course, we’ll be happy to hear from you about what you find most compelling.
Below is the debut reflection, in which Scott writes about why Epiphany is one of his favorite feasts.
Dear friends in Christ,
Welcome to this new offering from Forward Movement, a weekly email in which we reflect on what is happening in our church and in our world. Usually, these reflections will come from me, but sometimes you’ll hear from our other talented staff members.
I am especially glad to be launching this offering today, on the Feast of the Epiphany of Our Lord Jesus Christ.
We learn that the Gospel, the revelation of Jesus Christ, is for the whole world. The magi traveled great distance to worship a Lord who was new to them. They were hardly the “usual suspects” to be presenting gifts to the Messiah. So too today, we must remember that the Good News of Jesus Christ is for allpeople. We must remember that sometimes unexpected people will arrive to worship Jesus Christ with us. Whether or not they have traveled great distance, sometimes our guests will have been on a personal journey into the unknown when they enter our churches.
A second lesson is that encounters with Jesus Christ may lead to transformation that we cannot expect. The magi were warned in a dream to return home by a different way. It would have been dangerous for them to stick to the familiar route; God had a new plan for them. This is a fitting reminder that the Gospel is often anything but familiar and safe.
On this Feast of the Epiphany, I invite you to wonder who might be on a journey, searching for Jesus Christ as he is disclosed in your own life or in the life of your congregation. What can you do to welcome them?
I also invite you to ponder where God might be calling you to go. Is God pushing you beyond the familiar and the safe?
To get future reflections from Scott in your inbox, subscribe to Forward Today…today!