“After Jesus was born in Bethlehem in Judea, during the time of King Herod, Magi from the east came to Jerusalem and asked, ‘Where is the one who has been born king of the Jews? We saw his star when it rose and have come to worship him.’” (Matthew 2:1) It’s January. With the shortest day of the year behind us, some find this stretch of the calendar cold and dark. Yet Scripture repeatedly reminds us that God often does His boldest work in unlikely seasons and less-than-ideal circumstances. This is the time of year when the Church remembers the Magi—wise men who followed a star to Bethlehem. Their journey was anything but convenient. It would have been costly, time-consuming, and dangerous. One can’t help but ask: what kind of people would leave comfort and security behind to chase a mysterious light across unfamiliar terrain? Interestingly, no other historical records from the time of Jesus’ birth mention a star like the one Matthew describes. Astronomers (not astrologers) have suggested several possibilities near the time of Jesus’ birth: a supernova, Halley’s Comet, or a rare conjunction of Jupiter, Saturn, and Mars that would have appeared as a single, brilliant light. Whether the star was one of these phenomena or a uniquely supernatural sign, we cannot say for certain. What we do know is this: God used it to draw the Magi to His Son. Matthew does not describe these travelers as kings, but as magi—a Greek term referring to learned men or oriental scholars. Over time, the Church came to view them as kings, largely because of the gifts they brought: gold, frankincense, and myrrh. These gifts echo Psalm 72, a royal psalm that proclaims, “May the kings of Sheba and Saba bring gifts; may all kings pay him homage” (Psalm 72:10–11). Their titles matter far less than their obedience. At great personal cost, the Magi followed the light they were given. And though their understanding may have been incomplete, their gifts demonstrated remarkable insight. Gold honored a king. Frankincense acknowledged divinity. Myrrh—used for burial—hinted at suffering and sacrifice. Somehow, they grasped that this child was more than a ruler; He was the Redeemer the world had long awaited. Here’s the challenge of this story: How willing are we to follow the Son of God? Have we quietly set boundaries on how far we are willing to go, or what we are willing to risk, in response to His call? New opportunities are before us. I invite—and challenge—you to join in. As we enter this new year, may God find us faithful to reflect His light here in Tomah. Keep and Live the Faith Pastor David Dahl

A blessed New Year to you! As the calendar flips and we all pretend we’re absolutely going to stick to our resolutions this time, I thought it might be good to talk about some Christian resolutions—those small, habits of faith that help us grow, even if we occasionally trip over our good intentions on the way to the refrigerator. January always feels like a fresh sheet of paper. It’s a natural time to ask: What habits help me stay rooted in His grace? Not “What would make me a perfect Christian?”—That list would be unmanageably long, and Jesus has already taken care of perfection for us. I mean what are some simple practices that give God just a little more room to shape our days. As Paul writes, “Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has passed away, behold, the new has come.” (2 Corinthians 5:17). A new year doesn’t magically make us new people—but Christ does. So… 1. Dust off your Bible—literally or figuratively. Try reading a short daily passage, maybe from a Gospel. If the Bible feels intimidating, start small. God doesn’t hand out gold stars for reading Leviticus at 6 a.m. without coffee. 2. Pray for one thing each day. Just one. That’s it. A person, a joy, a worry, your neighbor’s noisy dog—whatever’s on your heart. You might be surprised how that one moment of honesty with God steadies the rest of the day. 3. Come to worship even on the “I’d rather stay in my pajamas” Sundays. Gathering as God’s people strengthens us in ways we rarely expect. 4. Practice small mercies. Forgive quickly. Speak kindly. Hold a door. Send a note. Luther said our daily vocations are holy callings, even the ordinary ones. God does beautiful things with small acts of grace. 5. Remember the Gospel is not a self-improvement program. Resolutions are good, but they don’t save us. Christ has already claimed us, loved us, forgiven us, and renewed us—long before our January motivation fades by February. If you fail at your resolutions, welcome to the club. God’s mercies are new every morning, not just on January 1st. And if you do keep one or two habits that draw you closer to Christ and neighbor, thanks be to God for that, too. May your new year be full of grace and a few holy habits that help you recognize God’s presence in the everyday. Blessings on the new year. Pastor Kay