Weekly News
January 4, 2026
Rev. Rebecca’s Note - The Epiphany: Following That Yonder Star
My experience with the Epiphany began in some fashion with the popular Christmas carol, “We Three Kings” and the Christmas pageants and programs that came with regular church involvement. What didn’t really sink in, though, was the whole liturgical order of events, especially since many of those pageants and programs in some form did the common practice of harmonizing Jesus’ birth stories and condensing them a bit (what we can know historically of what is written in Matthew 2:1-12 is that the magi reached Jesus well after he was born). It would be a few decades before I gained a real appreciation for the order and timeline of events as they appear in the Bible, the historical understanding that we have of them from biblical scholars, the liturgical celebration of the Epiphany, and what all these things can mean for us as followers of Jesus in our current moment.
Herb Montgomery provides an interesting discussion of some of the mythic and sociopolitical aspects present in Matthew. For instance, did you know that the author of Matthew borrowed the whole “special star in the sky” thing from the Julian star of Roman storytelling? In 44 BCE there was a comet that appeared in the sky for seven days, which some took as a sign of recently-deceased Julius Caesar’s divinity. Matthew’s use of this element proclaimed Jesus’ divinity from birth.
Montgomery continues, “All of these political details speak of the liberation hopes of the marginalized living under Roman oppression for whom the Gospel of Matthew was written. With the Matthean star, Jesus was to be placed on the same playing field as the Caesars. Through the presence of the Magi, Jesus was to be interpreted as a second Cyrus [described by Montgomery as another ancient Jewish liberation figure] and a conduit of liberation for the oppressed. And just as Cyrus was a threat to Astyages long ago, Jesus now would be interpreted as a threat to the powerful, privileged, and propertied (including Herod and Herod’s household), a usurper of the status quo, with liberation effects rippling all the way back to Rome.”
This is all well and good; very useful information to know. But as Jack Skellington presses in The Nightmare Before Christmas, “What does it mean? WHAT DOES IT MEAN?” Particularly, what does it mean for us in our present moment? As we celebrate the Epiphany, what about this makes it worth celebrating? Julie Polter muses in Sojourners, “IN A 2024 interview, priest, preacher, and author Fleming Rutledge noted that ‘Epiphany directs us to behold—that’s a revelatory biblical word, behold—the glory of God in Christ as he moves through his time on earth with us through his death into his ultimate victory.’ … As Rutledge asserts, ‘Epiphany replaces minimalist, human-centered notions of glory with the real thing.’ So, in this new year I may seek to do more ‘beholding’ and praising the glory of a God who heals, who loves, who creates in ways that give power and hope beyond our current imagination.”
Mindy Misener considers in The Christian Century (January 2026, p. 25), “Indeed the Magi are marvelous figures here; indeed we should celebrate their holy journey. But maybe we are not celebrating an unblinking and coherent confidence in the purpose of their journey. Maybe the road to what the epistle calls the ‘boundless riches of Christ’ is not so well marked. Maybe what we are celebrating is the unsettled, even uneasy acquiescence to a holy troubling, a disturbance of the spirit that may make a person feel many things, fear included.”
All of us experience events in our own way and assign our own meanings to them. In the present time there are many things going on; some wonderful, some nearly too frightening to contemplate. I can’t help but think our experiences of Epiphany and this time that follows it before Lent will offer opportunities of beholding God’s real glory, particularly in the midst of the holy troubling we as Christians cannot help but experience as we walk together in Jesus’ Way.
- Rev. Rebecca
The Board’s Note - Intro & Next Online Group
Introducing an occasional note from the Board of TPA, this article explains our role and introduces the next Online Spiritual Group, which will start this past Sunday, January 4th, at 6pm. As the church Moderator I (Rev. Regan) lead board meetings, prepare agendas, and work closely with Rev. Rebecca on certain items that come up. I am also the representative for the online community. We also have a Vice Moderator, Secretary, Director of Finance, and Director of Library. They all contribute, in big and small ways, to TPA’s vision and future. We helped with the papers for tax-free status, by-laws and procedures, and reviewing the lease for the space we have. Those in person also helped with viewing properties, cleaning, and moving in and unpacking - which the Eliceiri family has been doing much of in their spare time. YAY for the Pastor’s family! We have plans to map out the coming year in 2026, so share your ideas with Rev. Rebecca soon.
- Moderator - Regan Saoirse, MDiv
- Vice Moderator - Pat Jackson, Elder
- Secretary - Anthony Pulliam, Elder,.
- Director of Finance - Suzi Goldt, MDiv
- Director of Library - Jane Torres, MLS
The Winter Online Spiritual Group, Learning to Be, will go on until Lent. You are welcome to join us anytime, for one or for all seven. They will have a brief spiritual practice, a video of the author reflecting on an idea for us to discuss and reflect upon together.
| Join us on Sunday Nights at 6 pm or Fridays at noon For the Online Spiritual Group aboutLearning to Be Sign Up Here for the Link! |
Friday's group will view the video described last week and Sunday will start off a new week. This week's discussion will be on Open and Receive - As the journey continues, Juanita invites us into the practice of opening ourselves to Divine love, even in the midst of our most challenging moments. She discusses how her own process of falling apart led to a profound experience of being cared for by God. Through vulnerability and surrender, she learned to receive love in ways she had never imagined. This session explores the paradox of strength in weakness and the power of allowing ourselves to be held when we can no longer hold ourselves. See you online!
What’s Next
| Jan 4 - 10 | Daily Bible Reading Exodus 27-28 - 39-40 |
| Fri, Jan 9, noon Online - sign up HERE | TPA Online Spiritual Group: Learning to BeJoin us on this into a deeper understanding of what it means to live authentically, love fully, and embrace our true selves. |
| Fri, Jan 9, 6:30pm Power Creative 3221 Oak Hill Ave., StL, 63116 | Compton Heights Christian Church Open Mic Nightbring your talent and your fam and friends to an appreciative audience! |
| Sat, Jan 10, 12:30pm Think+Pray+Act 2723 S Jefferson Ave, StL, 63118 | T+P+A Gatheringlunch, Epiphany: following that yonder star |
| Sun, Jan 11, 5-6:30pm Amen House 4111 Connecticut St, StL 63116 | South City Youth Group KickoffMiddle schoolers and high schoolers are invited to come enjoy fun activities and pizza |
| Sun, Jan 11, 6pm Online - sign up HERE | TPA Online Spiritual Group: Learning to BeJoin us on this into a deeper understanding of what it means to live authentically, love fully, and embrace our true selves. |
| Fri, Jan 16, noon Online - sign up HERE | TPA Online Spiritual Group: Learning to BeJoin us on this into a deeper understanding of what it means to live authentically, love fully, and embrace our true selves. |
| Sun, Jan 18, 6pm Online - sign up HERE | TPA Online Spiritual Group: Learning to BeJoin us on this into a deeper understanding of what it means to live authentically, love fully, and embrace our true selves. |
| Mon, Jan 19, 6:30-8pm OnlineREGISTER | MCU Annual Membership MeetingAs a MCU member congregation let’s be a part of determining what MCU does in 2026! |
| Fri, Jan 23, noon Online - sign up HERE | TPA Online Spiritual Group: Learning to BeJoin us on this into a deeper understanding of what it means to live authentically, love fully, and embrace our true selves. |
| Sat, Jan 24, 12:30pm Think+Pray+Act 2723 S Jefferson Ave, StL, 63118 | T+P+A Gatheringlunch, worship, activity in community |
| Sun, Jan 25, 5-6:30pm Amen House 4111 Connecticut St, StL 63116 | South City Youth Group meetingMiddle schoolers and high schoolers are invited to come enjoy fun activities and pizza |
| Sun, Jan 25, 6pm Online - sign up HERE | TPA Online Spiritual Group: Learning to BeJoin us on this into a deeper understanding of what it means to live authentically, love fully, and embrace our true selves. |
| Fri, Jan 30, noon Online - sign up HERE | TPA Online Spiritual Group: Learning to BeJoin us on this into a deeper understanding of what it means to live authentically, love fully, and embrace our true selves. |
South City Youth Group Kickoff Meeting
Do you know that Think+Pray+Act is part of the South City Youth Group with Compton Heights Christian Church, St. John’s Episcopal Church, and Oak Hill Presbyterian Church? The youth group’s first meeting is on January 11 from 5-6:30pm at Amen House at Oak Hill Presbyterian Church, 4111 Connecticut Ave, StL!
MCU Annual Membership Meeting
I don’t know if you’ve noticed, but it’s rough out there right now. Institutions and public services and benefits we’ve grown up with and may have taken for granted have been simply decimated. Democracy is not a spectator sport, and while we can’t do everything, we can do something - especially at the local level.
And by being a member congregation of MCU, we are doing something - we are part of a network of 30+ congregations who are working together to build people power for justice in the St. Louis area.
As a member congregation of Metropolitan Congregations United, we have the opportunity and responsibility to attend their Annual Membership Meeting, which will be held on January 19 at 6:30pm - MLK Day - to organize for change in 2026! Hope you can make it - if you can, please register HERE
Think+Pray+Act in Space and Times
As we continue to get settled into our new space at 2723 S Jefferson Ave., St. Louis, MO 63118, we appreciate your continued prayers. We’ve been getting required inspections done, putting books on the shelves and getting the rest of the space in order, and learning more about the Benton Park, Benton Park West, and other surrounding neighborhoods, and listening for their needs.
Please stop by and visit during our open hours and join us for our 2nd and 4th Saturday 12:30pm gatherings:
Mon - Thurs: 2-6pm
Fri: 2-4:30pm
2nd and 4th Saturdays: noon-3pm
Supporting the Prophetic Call of Think+Pray+Act
We are passionate at Think+Pray+Act about being and building the future of church: intellectually honest Christianity that takes the Bible too seriously to take it literally, prays like we mean it, and leans into genuine and authentic community through being together and working together to build powerful change in the community. We have moved to a new location at 2723 S Jefferson Ave, which in addition to giving us space to host our regular gatherings and the People’s Theological Library, also allows us to host regular groups and activities for our spiritual well-being, including building spiritual growth and community through things like writing, arts and crafts, and music.
Like any worthwhile endeavor these things happen through intentional work and commitment - through your presence, ideas, and financial gifts. As we reach the end of this year, would you prayerfully consider blessing Think+Pray+Act with your presence at our gatherings or other activities, or a financial gift? For financial support, we are able to take checks and online payments to Venmo, Paypal, and Cash App. Thank you very much for however you can be a part of Think+Pray+Act’s work to build and reveal the kindom of God!
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2723 S Jefferson Ave., St. Louis, MO 63118
[email protected] / 314-690-1693
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