By 7:00 this morning, I had my outline written, for my sermon for The Epiphany of Our Lord. Yes, the Epiphany. No, it's not until January 6 (a Sunday this year). No, I don't really know what I'll say during the preaching for Christmas Eve, or Advent 4. (I do have an outline for this Sunday's sermon!)

But that's how creativity happens. It's not according to a schedule. It's a gift received from the Holy Spirit. This morning, for instance, I was reading an article in one of my journals, on the theme of Advent; I was praying and thinking about what I was reading; and the first sentence simply came to my mind for the Epiphany sermon: "Finally, today, the 'wise men' show up." The outline came easily after that. What a gift!

All of us are creative. Sadly, not all of us are conscious of that! And fewer of us are conscious that our creativity is a gift from the Holy Spirit, most easily received through prayer. (Those in the two prayer study groups have been spending these past two weeks conscious of this in their own lives.)

Have you noticed that for a prelude or postlude, our excellent new Director of Music, Michael Monaco, often plays improvisations that he composes, on one of the hymns he has chosen for that morning's worship? This past Sunday a worshiper asked, "How do you know what to play?" Michael responded, "I pray."

Open yourself to your own creativity! Creativity becomes prayer!

Now, if you'll excuse me, I'll get on with my morning. My chief task is to write the sermon for Advent 3!!