As we gather together there is some technical information that most of you already know, but just in case someone does not:
There is a copy of the service in the red book by the door to the sanctuary.
The service will be in voice and text.
Worship music will be in the media player.
Thank you for not touching the media player—We have learned the hard way that if you poke it, it gets cranky and the video stops playing for everyone.  
So if the player isn't working in your viewer, please follow the YouTube link!
GATHERING: 
Technically Christmastide ended yesterday, but I thought maybe it would be ok to start off with this piece—
especially since it does have a little bit of “We Three Kings” in it, which is more of an Epiphany him anyway!
"Christmas Collage"
~Kathy Mattea
Lyrics:
https://genius.com/Kathy-mattea-christmas-collage-lyrics
YouTube Link:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gTCdWe7KXcU

Please feel free to type any announcements you have for us into Local Chat.

WELCOME
Welcome to First United Church of Christ and Conference Center, Second Life.
We have official standing with the Eastern Association of the Southern California Nevada Conference of the United Church of Christ as a Real Life church located in Second Life.
And I still think that's pretty cool, because I have sat in South Central Pennsylvania—I have sat in Northern Maine—
and I am currently sitting in Central Connecticut—
and I still think it's pretty cool that we can partner with my brothers and sisters all across the country 
and all of you wherever you are!
Speaking of wherever you are:
"No matter who you are, 
or where you are on life's journey, 
you are welcome here."
Most churches have a time of offering.
Making an offering, sharing what you can in God’s name, is a spiritual practice.
That offering can be one of prayer or of presence, 
of work on behalf of the church doing things like reading scripture or serving on the board of directors,
of helping with any of the many things that are needed for the church to function,
and/or, that offering can be one of money.
As a UCC church, we support the work of the wider church both with prayer and with donations. 
And it's true that we don't have a physical building, but there are monetary costs for this ministry to function.
So if you would like to make an offering by participating in leading worship or social events,
or if you would like to become a member of this church,
let any clergy or staff member know.
If you would like to make a financial offering to support this ministry there is a donation bowl by the door to the sanctuary, 
or if you prefer you can make a donation in RL currency on our website:
www.firstuccsl.org
And since we are a 501(c)(3) public charity, monetary donations are tax deductible in the U.S. 
We thank you for the blessing of your presence and your offering of support. 
SCRIPTURE LESSON
Matthew 2:1-18
In the time of King Herod, after Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judea, wise men from the East came to Jerusalem, asking,
‘Where is the child who has been born king of the Jews?
For we observed his star at its rising, and have come to pay him homage.’
When King Herod heard this, he was frightened, and all Jerusalem with him;
and calling together all the chief priests and scribes of the people, he inquired of them where the Messiah was to be born.
They told him, ‘In Bethlehem of Judea; for so it has been written by the prophet:
“And you, Bethlehem, in the land of Judah,
   are by no means least among the rulers of Judah;
for from you shall come a ruler
   who is to shepherd my people Israel.” ’
Then Herod secretly called for the wise men and learned from them the exact time when the star had appeared.
Then he sent them to Bethlehem, saying,
‘Go and search diligently for the child;
and when you have found him, bring me word so that I may also go and pay him homage.’
When they had heard the king, they set out;
and there, ahead of them, went the star that they had seen at its rising, until it stopped over the place where the child was.
When they saw that the star had stopped, they were overwhelmed with joy.
On entering the house, they saw the child with Mary his mother;
and they knelt down and paid him homage.
Then, opening their treasure-chests, they offered him gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh.
And having been warned in a dream not to return to Herod, they left for their own country by another road.
Now after they had left, an angel of the Lord appeared to Joseph in a dream and said,
‘Get up, take the child and his mother, and flee to Egypt, and remain there until I tell you;
for Herod is about to search for the child, to destroy him.’
Then Joseph got up, took the child and his mother by night, and went to Egypt, and remained there until the death of Herod.
This was to fulfill what had been spoken by the Lord through the prophet,
‘Out of Egypt I have called my son.’
When Herod saw that he had been tricked by the wise men, he was infuriated,
and he sent and killed all the children in and around Bethlehem who were two years old or under, according to the time that he had learned from the wise men.
Then was fulfilled what had been spoken through the prophet Jeremiah:
‘A voice was heard in Ramah,
   wailing and loud lamentation,
Rachel weeping for her children;
   she refused to be consoled, because they are no more.’ 
SERMON      "Epiphany, 2021"
Yesterday was Epiphany.  It is a Christian holiday that marks the end of the season of Christmastide—which is 12 days long, of course! 
And it celebrates all the clues in the story of Jesus that lead to our sudden and complete understanding of who Jesus is.
Perhaps more than any other part of the story, though, Epiphany has come to be represented by the story of the Magi—
“wise men” with their three gifts coming from somewhere in the East (Persia, probably) and paying homage to Jesus.
In my home church, the arrival of the Magi was not a part of our Christmas celebrations.  
They did not appear in the sanctuary’s manger scene until Epiphany.
And in what I have always thought was a stroke of genius, we did not have a Christmas children’s pageant—
who has time to rehearse a pageant during Advent, let alone perform one at Christmas??
—my church had an Epiphany pageant that started with the Christmas story and culminated in the arrival of the Magi in all their glory.
It really was a good idea—
one I have utilized in some of the Real Life Churches I’ve served over the years—
but there’s a part of the story that is epiphanal which does not fit into a celebratory pageant.
What I’m trying to say is that Herod’s part of the Magi’s story is just as revealing as the three gifts.
King Herod the Great—
not to be confused with his son, Herod Antipas, who executed John the Baptist—
is a polarizing historical figure.
He is known for instigating huge building projects—
most notably, the Second Temple in Jerusalem— 
which arguably provided jobs for a lot of people.
He is also known for being a brutal tyrant who executed several members of his own family, including his wife.
There is no historical account of the Massacre of the Innocents, but I would argue that it fairly represents the character of Herod:  brutal, calculating and paranoid.
And as such, a very real threat to the Messianic child.
But why, one might wonder, would the Gospel Writer include the Massacre of the Innocents if it didn’t happen?
Personally, I suspect that the answer is simply, “Because a Gospel isn’t a history.”
I believe that there are places in the Gospels where the author takes liberties in order to make a point.
As Neil Gaiman once wrote:
“Lord, let me be brave, and let me, while I craft my tales, be wise:
let me say true things in a voice that’s true,
and, with the truth in mind, let me write lies.”
Herod didn’t really slaughter every boy-child under the age of two in and around Bethlehem.  But he wasn’t above it.
More importantly, he was exactly that afraid of the coming Messiah. 
He was just that afraid of anyone even claiming the title, let alone the actual Messiah.
And perhaps more importantly still, the Gospel Writer is foreshadowing the fact that the teachings of Jesus would be a profound threat to the people in power.
Threatening enough to get him killed.
And it is precisely that kind of foreshadowing—
that kind of revelation—
that the holiday of Epiphany is all about.
When I first sat down to write these words, it was Epiphany—
I didn’t wait until Thursday to write Thursday’s sermon!  =D
—but I’ll admit that I wasn’t feeling particularly celebratory.
I was thinking about the concept of antifa and the reality of Proud Boys. 
I was thinking about Republican Pennsylvania State Senators refusing to swear in a Democratic Senator.
I was thinking about Black Lives Matter and the uphill battle that continues to be.
And of course, as the day wore on, I thought about Mr. Trump’s supporters desecrating the halls of government.
Happy Epiphany, everyone.
But most of all, I thought about what all those things might be revealing.
You know, I used to think that the basic sin of my country was one of idolatry—
the worship of the Flag or the Gun or Democracy or Capitalism.
Now I’m not so sure.  Because what was revealed on Epiphany this year was not patriotism.
It wasn’t even nationalism.
What happened on Epiphany this year wasn’t the result of a deeply held respect for the flag or belief in the right to bear arms.
It wasn’t good for the economy.
It was the polar opposite of democracy.
No, what was revealed to me this Epiphany is that the sin of America is a kind of moral hypocrisy.
What was revealed to me is the sin of the idea that the rule of law and decency only applies to other people.
The sin of America is the idea that _it’s ok when I do it._
And it’s been that way from the beginning, right?  The tyranny of King George III is bad.  But the way we treat the Native Americans is ok.
Because it’s ok when we do it.
Killing is bad.  Unless it’s a black man or a burglar or an immigrant.
Because it’s ok when we do it.
And it’s not just ancient history.  Consider that I was born in 1977, the same year that President Richard Nixon was interviewed by David Frost, who probed:
“So, what in a sense you’re saying is that there are certain situations
and the Huston plan or that part of it was one of them
where the president can decide that it’s in the best interest of the nation or something and do something illegal.”
To which President Nixon replied, “Well, when the president does it … that means that it is not illegal.”
Now, to be fair, Mr. Nixon did go on to say that he wasn’t trying to say that the President of the United States is above the law.
But that sentence still makes my blood run cold.
Because what he said, in essence, is that it is ok when we do it.
And here’s the thing—let me be clear.
This sin that I’m talking about—The Sin of America—is not limited by race or gender or social or economic status or age or political affiliation.  
The Sin of America does not care if you’re left, right or center.
If we aren’t careful any one of us can fall victim to the Sin of America.
It is good and right to speak out against fascism—it is not ok to punch a Nazi in the face.
It is good and right to speak out against racism—it is not ok to commit arson.
It is good and right to speak out against rhetoric that is hateful and hurtful—it is not ok to tear down the people who embrace that rhetoric.
Jesus was real clear on this:  Love your enemy.  Pray for those who persecute you.
There was a lot that is not ok this Epiphany.
And no matter what other people say.  No matter what the earthly consequences are or are not.  God knows that it is not ok.
It is not ok when we do it.
And it is my hope and my prayer that this Epiphany has revealed that to a nation.
It is not ok.
What do you say?  Amen?
PRAYER PREPARATION:
"We Three Kings"
~The Roches
Lyrics:
https://www.oldielyrics.com/lyrics/the_roches/we_three_kings.html
YouTube Link:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qasM2QT5W14

We have come to our time in worship that I really do believe is the core of what we do here together, and that is where we uplift our joys and concerns with one another in prayer.
And so I would like to invite you to enter this time of prayer with a sense of reverence. 
We're about to enter into a conversation with God, and that shouldn't be done lightly,
but rather "... with all humility and gentleness, with patience, bearing with one another in love, 
making every effort to maintain the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace"  (Ephesians 4:2-3) 
Please type your prayers into chat, or if you need to use voice simply emote raising your hand so everybody can have a voice.
And as we pray together, you may wish to respond to others with words like, "God hear our prayer," or with any other words the Spirit leads to you use.
COMMUNITY PRAYER
If there was a prayer inside of you that you couldn't quite get out, it's ok.
Because the Psalmist tells us that God knows what we are going to say before the words can even form on our tongues.
And so we know.
We _ know _ that God has heard our prayers.  Those spoken out loud, those typed into SL chat, and those spoken only in the silence of our hearts.
And that we pray them in the name of the Son, Jesus Christ.
Amen.
LISTEN!
We have done a lot of talking.  Let us take a moment of silence to listen to what God might be saying.
Speak, LORD, for your servant is listening...
PASTORAL PRAYER
O God,?
I want to pray, but there is no peace in my heart,?
Only a fire of outrage that burns bright.
?I want to know what to say, but all that comes forth
?Are words not fit for a pastor to say publicly.
?I am reminded that today is Epiphany,?
The star is shining,?
And the Magi are whispering words of wisdom.
?“We’ve observed the star at its rising,?
Proclaiming the birth of a newborn king.
?Where are we to go?”?
Where are we to go, indeed??
When we turn to the sages of old, our Scriptures teach us
?To look for the unnoticeable,?
To search for the undesirable,?
To seek the forgotten and forlorn,?
To bring our gifts and pay homage—to take notice of those?
Whose voices have continuously been silenced by violence and rhetoric.?
To listen, and to remember.
?We know that this, too, will pass,
?Kings and kingdoms rise and fall;
?But we will return home by another way.?
For we cannot go back, we can only go forward.
?We cannot unlearn, we can only learn anew.?
We can choose to remain in fear, or we can choose hope.
?And hope does not disappoint, as the Scriptures remind us.?
But hope can be painful. Hope can hurt,?
Because Hope requires an awakening to what is real.?
But Hope stretches beyond, and leads us on,
?As the star did long ago.?
O God of Wonder, Love, and Light,
?Lead us on, Lord, Lead us on.    (Rev. Mindi Welton-Mitchell, http://rev-o-lution.org)
BENEDICTION:
And now it really is just this simple:
God loves you
So don't forget to love each other
Go with God
Go in Peace
And amen!
CLOSING:  
If you’re worried that you, too, have fallen victim to the Sin of America, do not worry—there is always time to repent and go another way.
That’s what this next song is about—choosing peace.
Go now, you are forgiven.
"The General"
~Dispatch
Lyrics:
https://www.azlyrics.com/lyrics/dispatch/thegeneral.html
YouTube Link:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EAEKK8xCpBY