Pastors Message

Hawarden American Lutheran Church
1417 12th St
Hawarden, IA 51023
(712) 551-2168
email: halc@acsnet.com

Pastor's Message

Dear Friends in Christ,

Epiphany, celebrated twelve days after Christmas, is the time in the church year that we hear once again the wonderful story of the three wise men who were following the Star from the East. They followed the star so that they could brngs gifts and worship the Christ child, a new kind, the long-awaited Messiah.

Their gifts were appropriate for royalty. Their gifts appear to have significance beyond being just extravagant baby presents. The gift of gold was the gift for a king in the ancient world. The gift of frankincense was the incense which was used by a priest in the temple, and when it was given to the Christ child, it represented the idea that Jesus would one day be someone who would represent God for us. The gift of myrrh was a burial spice used for embalming in ancient times. This gift points to the reason why the Christ child was born -- to give his life for our sins.

What does this mean for us today? In comparison to the gifts of the Wise Men, what can we give? The greatest gift we can give Jesus is the gift of ourselves. We give ourselves to Jesus whenever we spend time in prayer and worship. We give ourselves to Jesus through the love we share with others. We give Jesus that gift when we care for God's people and God's creation. The third verse of the hymn, "In the Bleak Midwinter" tells it best. "What can I give him, poor as I am? If I were a shepherd, I would give a lamb. If I were a wise man, I would do my part. But what I can give him....I give him my heart."

Grace and peace to you in the New Year,

Mary Hendricks Wilkens, AIM

Feel free to join us for Education Hour each Sunday during the School Year at 9:15 a.m and Sunday Worship at 10:30 a.m.

You are invited, with love, to be among Gods people with a mission. See you soon!!