"I read a story about a group of atheists who put up huge billboards to celebrate Christmas. Well, maybe not celebrate, but comment on Christmas. The billboards featured a large picture of Santa Claus with the words “Keep the merry” and a picture of the crucified Jesus with the words “Dump the myth.” “Go ahead and enjoy a happy winter holiday,” these billboards seem to say, “but don’t fool yourself with any fantasies that a god might be involved in it.” Infuriating as this may be, sometimes you can almost understand why atheists would look at some of our Gospel stories and decide that they seem fantastic, mythical, unrealistic. Today’s beloved story of the three Wise Men, for instance, evokes outlandish, improbable pictures in our minds of men on camels wearing exotic turbans and silken robes, carrying bejeweled boxes full of inappropriate baby gifts. And looking at this very odd story, we too might even be tempted to throw up our hands and say, “Such a strange story couldn’t possibly be true.” But before we dismiss this Wise Men story as quaint pageantry, we should maybe explore what’s here and why Matthew wanted to tell us the story. So we have four Gospels, one of which doesn’t tell us a Christmas story at all, and three of which tell the Christmas story in very different ways. And we need to understand that while all three versions carry truth, each of these Gospel writers chose to tell us about different things to make points of their own. On Christmas Eve, we hear Luke’s Gospel story with angels and shepherds and a manger, with all the soft edges and sweet carols that we associate with Christmas. Luke’s Gospel is Christmas for the poor and the lonely and those who are aching for love. On Christmas Day, we hear John’s version, which doesn’t mention Bethlehem or Mary or Joseph or the birth of a child at all, but rather soars off into the doctrine of creation and the divine light that existed with God before time began, the light of and for all people. This is Christmas for theologians. Well, today, we come crashing down to Earth again with Matthew’s version of how Christ was born… That’s why Jesus was born. That’s why the whole world brings gifts to his door. That’s why God lives among us still and empowers us to change this world. That’s why God rose from the dead and still lives in us today. And that story is true."
On January 4, 2026 , St. Barnabas Episcopal Church welcomed The Rt. Rev. Dr. Susan Brown Snook , Bishop of the Episcopal Diocese of San Diego , for a Sunday afternoon service marked by celebration, welcome, and shared purpose. Before the service began, The Ven. Cindy Campos , Archdeacon of the Diocese of San Diego, introduced herself and shared brief updates on diocesan ministry. She spoke about work beyond the border, including Comunidad de Luz in Tijuana, which serves migrant women and children through education, care, and support. She also highlighted the Emergency Air Conditioning program, a St. Barnabas initiative serving the Borrego Valley with support from a diocesan grant. Ahead of the service, Bishop Susan met with those being baptized and received, offering guidance on how the service would unfold and setting a welcoming, pastoral tone for the afternoon. During the 3:00 PM service, one person was baptized and seven individuals were received into the Episcopal Church. As clouds moved across the sky outside, moments of sunlight filtered into the sanctuary, gently brightening the space as the service progressed. Bishop Susan delivered the sermon which emphasized the ways that hope springs from times of extreme distress. She welcomed the new members, and celebrated communion, joined by Fr. David L. Madsen, Rector, Fr. Michael Plekon and lay leaders Jan Naragon Llouise Jee and Paula Huls, reflecting the shared leadership of the parish. St. Barnabas choral musicians provided music throughout the joyful service, supporting congregational worship and bringing tears to more than one person’s eyes. The ensemble was led by Naomi Madsen and included Sherry Harapat, Dick Helvig, Jeanne Plekon, and Llouise Jee. Following the service, the celebration continued with a shared meal, conversation, and time together, marking a meaningful day in the life of the St. Barnabas community. Photos © Susan Forsburg. All rights reserved.
A low-cost spay and neuter clinic hosted by Animal Action League took place on Monday, December 22, 2025 , at St. Barnabas Episcopal Church , located at 2680 Country Club Road. The clinic offered affordable veterinary services for cats and dogs, including spay and neuter procedures, vaccinations, and microchipping . These services help reduce unwanted litters while supporting the long-term health, safety, and identification of companion animals in the Borrego Springs area. While pets were being cared for, the church remained open to those waiting. Coffee was available thanks to Fred Jee , creating a warm and welcoming space during the morning hours. Those who missed this clinic are encouraged to check St. Barnabas Episcopal Church’s website, social media accounts, and event calendar for information on future animal welfare clinics and other upcoming community events hosted at the church.
We hear this word when someone has had an amazing experience or a breakthrough revelation. Coming down Yaqui Pass at sunset years ago, Jeanne had an epiphany about Borrego. That is why we got here and remain. There was an indescribable beauty to the sunset on the Santa Rosa mountains. Little did we know what would await us here, St. Barnabas, and so much more. The word is Greek and it means exactly what I just wrote, a seeing something you had never seen before, a revelation. On January 6, twelve days after Christmas, there is the feast of Epiphany. Scholars note it is a feast older even than Christmas, likely also tied to the new year and the beginning of longer days, more light. At first it was a celebration of the coming of God into the world, into space, time and humankind, what we now celebrate at Christmas. There were three important moments of revelation or showing that became linked with Epiphany. The first is the arrival of the wise men or three kings, following a star, at the place where the child Jesus, Mary and Joseph were staying. They were likely scholars from Persia, who saw in the star that they followed a sign of something wonderful happening. When they found the child Jesus, they worshipped him as God, offered gifts of gold, frankincense and myrrh. These were later linked to Jesus being both king and priest, the myrrh a foretelling of his death, as it was a burial spice. The wise men were not from Israel, they were outsiders, Gentiles. So, this was also a revelation of Jesus to the whole world beyond his own Jewish people. The second moment was the epiphany that occurred when Jesus was baptized by his cousin John the Baptist. There was a voice from heaven that said “You are my beloved Son,” and a dove also appeared overhead. John realized as did some of his followers that this was no ordinary teacher but the one chosen to save the world, Jesus. That’s what “Jesus” means. Usually on the Sunday after Epiphany one or another account of Jesus’ baptism is read. Lastly, the first of Jesus “signs” is part of Epiphany. This was his changing water into wine at a wedding feast in Cana in Galilee. Somehow, they’d run out of wine on the first day of the feast, a really horrendous situation. Mary, Jesus’ mother tells him of the embarrassment and pain, and Jesus tells the caterer to fill six huge stone jars with water and then take it to the head caterer. When he tastes, he exclaims this is the best wine ever. So, the revelation is that with Jesus’ arrival, we have God with us, as one of us. God’s ways or kingdom are going to be put into practice, first by Jesus, then by us all. While these are beautiful moments, there are epiphanies every day too many to number: that you made someone smile, fell cared for, forgiven. That food was shared, that you lent an ear to someone’s pain, shared someone’s worry, or their joy. What a good way to start the new year --Epiphany
