The magi interpreted God’s purposes in the stars. So when they saw a particular star rising, they understood that God’s anointed was to be born. Somehow they discerned that this king would bring God’s grace to all the world, and not just to the small nation of Israel. So they set out at great risk and with much sacrifice to pay homage to their savior king.

Their homage began as they followed the star to the manger. It continued as they offered gifts that represented their true selves. The gold symbolized their power and pleasure. The frankincense was used to worship God, and thus represented their true source of meaning. The myrrh was used for burial, and marked what they would live and die for.

In this New Year we make a new beginning and, perhaps, make resolutions to improve ourselves. This Sunday the magi will visit All Saints’ to collect our new-life resolutions to present to God’s anointed along with their own gifts. What gold, frankincense, and myrrh will you offer the Christ child?

Scripture lessons for todayJeremiah 31:7-14 Psalm 84Matthew 2:13-15,19-23 Ephesians 1:3-6,15-19a

Scripture lessons for next weekIsaiah 42:1-9Psalm 29Matthew 3:13-17Acts 10:34-43

Paying Homage to God’s Anointed –By The Rev. Rick Matters

Upcoming Birthday CelebrationsJanuary 7 Elizabeth JannaschJanury 10 Joseph AveryJanaury 11 Remy RyanJanuary 13 Elisabeth McPhailJanuary 16 Paula Beckman, Brigga MoscaJanuary 18 Bill ReedJanuary 20 Beth StertenJanuary 21 Chet LowreyJanuary 22 Judy KirkJanuary 26 Umi Hongo, Norman ParrisJanuary 27 Tom FontenayJanuary 30 Raul Garcia

Epiphany Sunday — January 5, 2014

All Saints’WWW.ALLSAINTSCARMEL.ORGThe Weekly

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Extravagant Love By Robin Denney

On this, the last of the twelve days of Christmas, we heard the story of the wise men and the successful end of their quest to find the Christ child, and bring him gifts. The wise men are a wondrous part of the Christmas story. They traveled a great distance, they followed the light of a star, they brought marvelous gifts, and they inquire of this baby who is born to be King of the Jews. They are Gentiles, not Jews, yet they do all of this, just to meet a baby and honor him, and then leave. So we ask ourselves, why? What compels them to come? Is it a relationship with God? Is it their relationship with each other and their conviction? Is it a sense of adventure? Whatever it is, the wise men embody extravagant love and extravagant commitment. As we enter the Church season of Epiphany tomorrow, let us ask God how we might embody that kind of love and commitment in our relationships with God and each other.

The Courage of the Magi By The Rev. Rick Matters

The magi risked being misunderstood and ridiculed. They risked being wrong and feeling foolish. They risked the danger and discomfort of travel, the expense of a long journey and costly gifts. They risked the safety of family, friends, and nation by being absent for many months. Perhaps they even risked the rejection of their gifts.

My own spiritual life invariably involves confronting my fears. The most significant moments of spiritual growth have taken place when I acknowledged the risk and chose to follow the rising star. Sometimes I discovered that the risks were real, and other times they were only in my imagination. Not surprisingly, the sacrifices have paled compared with the privilege of paying homage to Jesus Christ and serving others in his name.

I invite you to join me in reviewing the risks made by the magi, and in reflecting on one or two leaps of faith you might take as you journey toward Bethlehem. For, as Paul writes, “For freedom Christ has set us free” (Galatians 5:1).

50th Anniversary Family Dinner

Saturday, January 11, 2014Gathering with Hors d'oeuvres at 5 pm

Dinner served at 6 pm

Come enjoy a nice meal with new and old friends, activities for kids and hear special guest,

Bishop Mary Gray-Reevesof the

Episcopal Diocese of El Camino RealDinner is free, however, a freewill offering will be taken. RSVP at 831-384-6323 or contact@epiphanymarina.org

Sponsored by Thrivent

425 Carmel Ave.Marina, CA 93933

(Corner of Carmel Ave. & California Ave.)

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Jesus, the Refugee By Robin Denney

As the Christmas season comes to a close, I ask you to remember the internally displaced people (IDPs) and refugees of the world, remembering the conditions in which Jesus was born: his parents displaced from their home, and then fleeing the wrath of Herod, to be refugees in Egypt for a time. Remember the displaced in your prayers, and if you are so moved, give of your resources.

Episcopal Relief and Development does great work around the world with displaced people. They will, this week, be releasing a press release and beginning a fundraising campaign to support the displaced people of South Sudan. The conflict there, which started in the last week of Advent, has already seen more than a thousand people dead, and tens of thousands displaced. The church in South Sudan is working for peace and reconciliation, while hosting thousands of displaced, and is in desperate need of support. ERD and the Episcopal Church in our own country are rallying support for our brothers and sisters in South Sudan. Give online at www.episcopalrelief.org.

God’s Light Shines on All Saints’ By The Rev. Rick Matters

My Christmas sermon featured the story of the shepherds beholding God in the body of a newborn child (www.allsaintscarmel.org/2013/12/christmas-sermon-2013/). Both the shepherds and magi affirmed that God was embodied in the infant Jesus. When we join them in paying homage to Jesus Christ we are changed as individuals, because our homage places us in relationship with God, who is embodied in us through the Holy Spirit.

The Christmas message of God embodied in our lives also speaks volumes about All Saints’. This knowledge transforms how we participate in the wonder of the Gospel, it alters how we respond to disappointments or perceived slights, and—most of all—it mobilizes us to demonstrate to others the love of Christ.

Each Sunday we join the shepherds and magi in glorifying Jesus Christ with reverence and joy. At the simple Eucharistic meal we offer the gift of our selves as we receive Christ’s body and blood. For the light of the star shines over the stable at Ninth and Dolores, illuming the wonder of God’s love.

Wednesday: Join us for Bible study from 10:30 to 11:45 a.m. in Grant Hall as we explore Jesus’ life in a chronological study of the Gospels.

Thank you for your generous gifts throughout 2013 to support the ministries of All Saints’. Your donations and pledges are important to the life and health of the church. Right now we are developing the 2014 operating budget, and are depending on additional pledges and special donations in order to balance the budget. If you have not submitted a pledge, please do so today, or before January 20. Your Vestry

Join us Tuesday January 7 at 7:00 p.m. when Morris Dees, Founder, Southern Poverty Law Center and author of Combined Destinies will be leading a lecture and discussion on racial issues. www.combineddestinies.com

Local Lecture Series: Combined Destinies

AnnouncementsEvensong will be offered today at 5:30 p.m.

Monday: The Gospel of Matthew class has its first session at 7:00 p.m. in Seccombe Hall.

Wednesday: Join us for Bible study from 10:30 to 11:45 a.m. in Grant Hall as we explore Jesus’ life in a chronological study of the Gospels.

Saturday: Epiphany Lutheran & Episcopal Church (at the corner of California and Carmel in Marina) will celebrate its 50th anniversary with a free dinner beginning with hors d’oeuvres at 5:00 p.m. RSVP at 831-384-6323 or contact@epiphanymarina.org. A special anniversary service and reception will follow on Sunday morning at 10:00 a.m.

Next Sunday: Matthew in the Morning—Breakfast begins at 9:00 a.m. in Seccombe Hall, with class from 9:30 to 10:15 a.m. Pancake flippers are needed each week through February 9; sign up today!

Diocesan Winter Conference—The January 18 conference “How Does Our History Inform Our Future” (9:30 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. at St. Paul’s, Salinas) will feature speakers from our companion dioceses of Gloucester and Western Tanganyika. More information is available at marybeth@edecr.org or 831-394-4465.

Service of Prayer for Christian Unity—Join your bishop and rector at 5:00 p.m. on January 19 at St. Angela Merici Church (146 8th Street, Pacific Grove).

Annual reports on 2013 ministries are due by Monday, January 20.

Candidates for election to the vestry—We are pleased to announce that Frank Graham, Sameera Sharif, Susan Sonnthal, and Susan Stanton have offered to stand for election. Because three vestry members are leaving for personal reasons beyond their control, we are looking for at least two more candidates, one for a two-year term (class of 2015), and one for a one-year term.

Candidates for election to diocesan delegation—If you would like to serve by attending a quarterly meeting locally, and representing our parish at an annual meeting in Salinas, please notify the office by January 20.

Pledges for 2014—Please turn in your pledge by Monday, January 20.

Le Salon des Artistes will not meet in January; our next meeting will be February 10.

Christmas gratitude: Thank you to all who helped decorate the church for Christmas, especially Susan Britton, who organized us. Thank you to Amy Buchanan and Anne Sibley for organizing the pageant, and to the children and parents who helped. Thank you to Kathy Kirkwood, Anne and Pete Sibley, Peter Tuff, Richard Wilson, and all of the musicians for bringing beautiful music to our Christmas liturgies.

Annual parish meeting—Mark your calendar: Sunday, January 26, at 11:30 a.m.

Santa Lucia Mission, Big Sur, is forming a book discussion group. We will read The Four Elements: Reflections on Nature by the late John O’Donahue. Contact Mother Cynthia at 831-667-2310 or 520-260-5158.

Pastoral care transportation help—The pastoral care team is putting together a list of potential drivers for members who need help with transportation, such as for a medical appointment. If you’d be willing to occasionally give a fellow member a lift, please contact Susan Stanton via the office.

Sunday handout deadline—To be included in next Sunday’s handout, your announcement must be submitted by 4:00 p.m. on the preceding Wednesday. Most special parish events are included in the announcements for three weeks before they occur. Contact Andrea Matters at andreamatters@gmail.com or 624-3090.

Highlighted Events and MeetingsJanuary 5 Epiphany EvensongJanuary 6 Outreach Commisssion

MeetingJanuary 6 The Gospel of Matthew

ClassJanuary 7 Local Lecture Series:

Combined DestiniesJanuary 8 Bible StudyJanuary 11 Congregational

Transformational ProjectJanuary 11 Memorial for Tom

CoppingerJanuary 13 Strageic Planning meetingJanuary 13 The Gospel of Matthew

ClassJanuary 14 Buildinga and Grounds

Committee MettingsJanuary 14 NPS Information FairJanuary 15 Bible StudyJanuary 15 Friends of St. Benedict

MeetingJanuary 15 FTF/Investment Board

MeetingJanuary 26 Annual Meeting

Read more news online at: www.allsaintscarmel.org and join share your own stories of faith, joy and service with us on Facebook, Twitter and GooglePlus.

2014 Pledge CardPlease fill out the pledge card below and return it to the office or place it in the offering plate on Sunday.

Name(s): ________________________________________________________________________________

Address: ________________________________________________________________________________

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I/We Pledge:_____ $ per week / month / quarter (circle one) I/We plan to make our annual pledge in the month of _________________☐ Please contact me/us about planned giving ☐ I/We would like to donate with a credit card.☐ I/We have named All Saints’ in our gifts to United Way.