Thank you for coming this morning, after a second week of snow. I first want to thank the Elders for calling everyone about only having one service this morning, and I want to thank you for your patience as we changed schedules. I also want to thank you all for the cards and other gifts we've received from members and friends, and especially for the fine cash gift I received on Christmas Eve. We've decided to use it as part of a construction project we have on our deck this summer. I want to thank Brett and others for shoveling the sidewalks so we can get in the building without wet feet. And I want to thank Tom, our next door neighbor, for his excellent snow plowing both this weekend and last weekend. And lastly, I want to thank the Good Lord for keeping us all safe, especially on the roads and in our warm homes. I haven't heard of anyone suffering unduly this season, and I hope it stays that way through all of the coming year of 2007.

          We had to cancel two other worship services this weekend and have now gathered together in this one service, grateful just to be together, as many as we are. Did you know that when a pastor has a worship service cancelled, he is allowed to make up for lost time by preaching longer at the next one? They tell me that rule is out there somewhere, but I promise not to keep it.

          On the way back home this week, I kept thinking, "I can't wait for things can get back to normal." But what is "normal" anyway? Sometimes I think I've been waiting for things to get back to normal since I left home forty plus years ago. But what is normal life? And where is home for you, really? In our English language, some words radiate feeling. Nice words like, home, love, wedding, baby, friend -- those words are good, positive. But others are not positive: divorce, debt, accident, anger, cancer -- such words leave us fearful, empty. How about the word "normal" - how do you react to that? "Normal" can be a wonderful word, such as, "Your child is normal. " "Your test results are normal. " "Such feelings are normal. " "Your hearing is normal (for your age). " I like that one.

          Normal means you can predict what will happen next. Normal means a good routine, knowing what you'll do today or maybe where you'll shop or what you'll eat or where you'll sit in church. Normal means predictability, being okay. And though normal for some might be tedious and work, normal is mostly good. In this day and age we need more things that are normal.

          But some normalcy takes time to achieve, like life for Mary and Joseph. All was normal with them until the Angel showed up. They were betrothed according to custom and almost ready for normal married life. Until that Angel showed up! His message changed everything. The promise of a too-soon child changed everything. The kind of child she would bear changed everything. The birth of the Christ child to Mary changed things for them and for all the rest of us, too. After the angel's message, nothing in the world was ever the same again.

          From that first angel vision, their plans for a normal life were altered forever - the unexplainable pregnancy, an unexpected trip, the birth in a stable, visits by strangers bearing gifts, a trip to a foreign country, a new king in the land - all this was abnormal. And then coming back home to face the relatives! Maybe then life got back to normal for Mary and Joseph, though I doubt it ever was. Nothing gets back to normal when your first child is the Son of God.

          This Christmas was not normal for us. An eager little grandson, walking and almost talking. A quick trip south - and between two snowstorms! Just a few weeks ago I was telling someone we never have snow like we used to - storms and drifts and slippery streets and sidewalks. But then came this year - two big ones already and it's barely the winter season. My advice to you all is if you don't have them, get boots and gloves. I have a feeling we've only just begun.

          Normal is a great word when you're worried. But for some "normal" is boring, even dangerous. It's the "same old, same old" and it's no good. For many, "normal" can be painful, bad news. For others, normal is just a lot of sin and foolishness and mistakes and stupidity. Their life is filled with sinful deeds they consider normal. Yet they will say, "Hey, others do it - it's normal!" Under-report the results a little, fudge on the truth a little, cheat a little here, steal a little there, sneak a little peak, steal a few kisses or a few bucks: "Hey don't look at me -- that's normal."

          But that's not normal - it's sinful! Of course, compared to God, we're all sinful. As good we may try to be, or think we are, we're not good enough. Try your best, but it's not hard enough. Sin taints everything. It troubles the best marriage, it makes the best kids rebel, and spoils the best job. The best church is filled with sinners. That's why it the church exists - to minister to sinners. To a holy God, our best deeds are still imperfect. Without a Savior, we're stuck in a rut too deep. And without Jesus to lift us out, we'll stay there forever, just get in deeper.

          Some will try to get out of their rut with knowledge. " Educate them and they'll improve," we say. But the problem isn't ignorance; it's sin. Some say it's oppression or maybe poverty. "Give them more, redistribute the wealth," we say. But an empty bank account isn't the problem; it's an empty soul. Others say it's lack of self-esteem. "Help them feel good about themselves," we say. But the problem isn't lack of self-esteem. It's lack of God-esteem.

          The only real solution for human emptiness is the fullness of Christ. Our emptiness can't be filled with things, but only with God. The only way to find inner peace is by trusting the Prince of Peace. The only way to eternal life is through " the Way, the Truth and the Life." (John 14:6) The only way to normal is trusting in God -- and for us humans, that's abnormal.

          On May 21, 1946, a daring young scientist was carrying out an experiment to learn more about atomic energy. Louis Slotin had done this experiment many times before to determine the "critical mass", the amount of radioactive uranium necessary for a chain reaction to occur and explode. He would push the two portions of Uranium together slowly, then just as the mass became critical, push them apart -- all from a safe distance. But one day something slipped and the two portions of U-235 rolled together. Instantly the room was filled with a dazzling bluish haze. Instead of ducking or running, the young man leaped up into the path of the two portions, keeping them from exploding. He had broken the chain reaction and saved the lives of the other people in the building, but he had doomed himself. Nine days later he died in terrible agony from intense radiation exposure.

          1970 years ago the Son of the Living God walked directly into the path of sin's deadly forces. He jumped between mankind and Satan and was touched by the powers of death. On the cross He let sin take His life, and by His willing sacrifice, He broke the chain reaction. Christ broke the power of sin and set us free. Now we don't have to fear sin's power. It's been broken. The forgotten story of Christmas is that Christ has made things normal again between us and God.

          Because Christ stepped between us and eternal death, things are different. It's no longer normal to live by the flesh. We live by the Spirit, not by the flesh. St. Paul tells us, "Those who belong to Jesus Christ have crucified the sinful nature with its passions and desires. If we live by the Spirit, let us walk by the Spirit." (Galatians 5:24)

          "Normal" used to mean sinful. In Christ it means walking in step with the Spirit. For when you trust Jesus Christ, NORMAL CHANGES. It moves to a higher level. Life will always have change, but the life of faith is with Jesus firmly holding our hand.

          It's fashionable to make predictions for the New Year, so I'd like to do it for us today. Think of this as Godly guessing at the future. Here are what some NEW kinds of normal will be for us at Epiphany Lutheran Church in the new year 2007:

          1. In 2007, we'll come to the brink of breaking ground for a new building. Our Building Committee is doing a great job, and will bless us all with its efforts, including bringing in the needed funds, an effort we've started so well already.

          2. In 2007 we'll assimilate our new members and visitors better. Lots of people need lots of ways to serve in their church. We'll welcome our visitors and Epiphany will grow.

          3. In 2007 we'll expand our adult Bible Classes, on Sunday morning and during the week. Right now our membership is 460 which includes 100 unconfirmed children and 360 confirmed members. My dream for Epiphany is to have a 20% of adults (90) in some kind of Bible Class and 50% of our children (50) in Sunday School. As you can see, there's work to be done.

          4. The big one - in 2007 we'll decide which new pastor we want. God will bring us a new shepherd, one He's chosen for us already, and our new pastor will shepherd us into the future. Pray for him, look forward to him, welcome him and his family, and see the blessings God will bring.

          Such new responsibilities will bring startling changes, but God will bring a new "normal" to Epiphany. Things may change for awhile in church or in life, one thing is certain: God will not change. He will remain constant. He told us Malachi 3:6, "I am the Lord and I do not change." His forgiveness and mercy are changeless and His love never ceases.

          You see, it's not change, but what we do with change that will make 2007 great. In 1636, in the midst of the Thirty Years War, Lutheran pastor Martin Rinkart, saw death and disaster everywhere. As village pastor, he often conducted burials for 15-20 people a day. In one year he saw 5000 of his fellow villagers die! In the heart of that darkness, with the cries of tragedy and death outside his window, he sat down and wrote this table prayer for his children: " Now thank we all our God with hearts and hands and voices; Who wondrous things has done, in whom this world rejoices. Who from our mother's arms hath blessed us on our way, with countless gifts of love, and still is ours today."

          Pastor Rinkart knew that peace with God - and a normal life - comes not from the outside, but from the inside, from a heart filled with trust in Jesus Christ and love for God's people. When you know God's love, the trials of life need not crush you. Joseph and Mary knew this as they came back home to Nazareth with their baby. And guess what? Their lives got back to normal.

          Matthew finishes this text with good words - "And the child grew and became strong; he was filled with wisdom, and the grace of God was upon him." We spent a few days with our grandson this week and are happy to report that he is growing and becoming strong, walking, toddling so proudly. I think he will be a wise and pleasant child. I believe that the grace of God is upon him also, as his parents shape him and teach him to pray and laugh and talk and enjoy life.

          Mary and Joseph were blessed with a time of abnormalcy, but then things got back to normal for them. And they will for us, too. This coming year will bring us new things. Be prepared for Godly things, surprising things, blessed things, and a new normal of things. It'll all come by the grace and love of Jesus, our Lord! Like most of you, I can't wait for normal to return. I just wonder what it will be like. Amen.

Credits:
 
  Epiphany logo designed and provided by Dale Bargmann at daleb@ecentral.com