In this Christmas message, Rev. Nicole Unice invites us into a deeper reflection on what it truly means to honor God’s Son when life feels heavy, expectations go unmet, or the season doesn’t match the sparkle around us. Drawing from Matthew 2 and the story of the wise men and King Herod, she explores how the arrival of Jesus reveals two very different responses to power: one rooted in control, fear, and self-protection, and the other marked by humility, curiosity, and worship. Through story, Scripture, and gentle humor, we’re invited to notice the “little Herod” in all of us—the part that grasps for security, approval, or control—and to consider how Jesus comes as the quiet, vulnerable alternative to worldly power. Nicole helps us see how God uses creation to awaken longing, Scripture to bring clarity, and Christ to invite adoration, not coercion. This message invites us to reflect on where we seek safety and meaning, and to discover how honoring Jesus is less about striving and more about receiving—choosing love over power, adoration over possession, and trust over control. In the midst of grief, uncertainty, or unanswered questions, we’re reminded that the simple act of worship reshapes our hearts and aligns us with the mind of Christ. May we be a people who carry the torch forward with courage, humility, and generational faithfulness.
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