• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Skip to footer

Nacoochee Presbyterian Church HomepageNacoochee Presbyterian Church

in Communion with God and the Holy Spirit

  • Home
  • About
    • Mission Study Report
    • History
    • Vision
    • Leadership
    • Our People
    • Location
    • Related Organizations
  • News
  • Ministry
    • Pastorate
    • Music
    • Services
  • Programs & Services
    • Youth Programs
    • Older Adult Ministry
    • Education
    • Community Outreach
    • International Outreach
    • Peace and Justice Outreach
    • Clubs and Groups
    • Special Events
  • Calendar
  • Join
  • Give
  • Contact
You are here: Home / Sermons / The Rest of the Story

December 29, 2019

The Rest of the Story

— A Sermon by Robert W. Prim —

Matthew 2:13-23

~~~~~~~~

(Summary of the visit of the magi – “the scholars”–  story…)

After the scholars were gone, God’s angel showed up again in Joseph’s dream and commanded, “Get up. Take the child and his mother and flee to Egypt.  Stay until further notice. Herod is on the hunt for this child, and wants to kill him.”

Joseph obeyed.  He got up, took the child and his mother under cover of darkness.  They were out of town and well on their way by daylight.  They lived in Egypt until Herod’s death.  This Egyptian exile fulfilled what Hosea had preached: “I called my son out of Egypt.”

Herod, when he realized that the scholars had tricked him, flew into a rage.  He commanded the murder of every little boy two years old and under who lived in Bethlehem and its surrounding hills.  (He determined that age from information he’d gotten from the scholars.)  That’s when Jeremiah’s sermon was fulfilled:

“A sound was heard in Ramah,
weeping and much lament.
Rachel weeping for her children,
Rachel refusing all solace,
Her children gone,
dead and buried.”

Later, when Herod died, God’s angel appeared in a dream to Joseph in Egypt: “Up, take the child and his mother and return to Israel.  All those out to murder the child are dead.”

Joseph obeyed.  He got up, took the child and his mother, and reentered Israel.  When he heard, though, that Archelaus had succeeded his father, Herod, as king in Judea, he was afraid to go there.  But then Joseph was directed in a dream to go to the hills of Galilee.  On arrival, he settled in the village of Nazareth.  This move was a fulfillment of the prophetic words, “He shall be called a Nazarene” (Matthew 2:13-23 as translated by Eugene Peterson in The Message).

~~~~~~~~

What a day it was!  February 9th, 2001, the birth date of one Elizabeth Louise Prim, also known as Bess.  We worked hard to get the nursery just right.  Anne Forrest, Bess’ mom and my wife, worked hard throughout the pregnancy to stay healthy so as to give Bess a running start.  The doctors stayed in close contact and all was prepared.  At 8:00 a.m. to the minute Bess came into our world!  It was a great day!

Bess was breach (which, I am a little embarrassed to say, I did not know what that meant –  for anyone else who may not know it means she had her head up rather than down).  Because she was breach and could not be massaged into the normal position, Bess was delivered by C-section.  One person, Dick Pruett, said we sang “Stand Up, Stand Up for Jesus” and Bess was just following directions!  We wanted a more natural birth, but this was the safest way for Bess to make her entrance since she insisted on keeping her rear end as opposed to her head close to the ground.

There are a few advantages to a C-section.  You get to name the date – within reason; so, family and friends and church can make preparations.  And on that morning we were mentally ready.  We made a video the night before to show Bess what a difference a day can make.  We were prepared because we knew the date and the time the birth would begin. 

Yet, as they took Anne Forrest to the surgery room, they handed me a gown and a mask and told me to put them on.  All of a sudden my heart started to beat really fast and my breathing became shallow.  Great, I thought, I am going to faint.  Slow down…breathe…calm yourself…and I started to put the robe on.  One leg went into the suit no problem.  As I tried to get the other leg in, however, I was hopping around and nearly falling over.  It would not go in.  The nurse came in the room.  “Are you ready?” she asked.  “Not exactly,” I said.  “I can’t get into this thing.” 

She looked at the suit and took out her scissors and started cutting the pants leg to make it go over my shoe.  As she is cutting she is telling me this has never happened before.  And then it came clear –  I had put one leg in the right place, but the other leg I was trying to fit into one of the sleeves of the suit.  Ha! Ha! Ha!  The nurse got a kick out of it, and the entire surgical staff and my wife about to go under the knife were laughing as I came into the room where Bess was to be born! It was the one helpful thing I did that day – help my wife to laugh.

I think I’ll always be sentimental about Bess’ birthday and Will’s birthday which would follow about 19 months later.  It was such an emotional day, such a glorious day, such a miraculous time! 

~~~~~~~

I suspect that Joseph and Mary felt sentimental about the day of Jesus’ birth.  I bet they relived the little details of that special day.  They probably told the story over and over again of how he cried, of where they were and who was there, of how nervous they were, of how comforted and overwhelmed they felt when they saw that he was healthy…all of it lodged in the hearts of Jesus’ parents, Mary and Joseph.  It was a tender time for them.

~~~~~~~~

This season, the Christmas season, is ripe with tender emotions, with sentiment.  Family, friends, candlelight services, George Bailey finding ZuZu’s petals, the Grinch’s heart growing three sizes, Ralphy shooting his eye out, Linus telling Charlie Brown what Christmas is all about, Ebenezer Scrooge learning from the ghosts of Christmas past, present, and future.  Christmas bathes us with warmth and sentiment.

~~~~~~~

Then on this first Sunday after Christmas day – this year only four days later –  Matthew and the Christian liturgical tradition thrust us into this narrative filled with darkness, violence, murder, and fear.  The gospel and the tradition in which we are coming to life will not allow us to bask in a false world of pure sentimentality.  These sacred stories face, head on, the human tendency toward destruction.  And Matthew gives it to us layer upon layer. 

No Jewish mind or heart could hear this story of Mary and Joseph having to escape into Egypt because of a power-mad despot without also thinking of Moses being spared by the actions of his faithful family from the murderous rage of the Pharaoh who ordered the deaths of all Hebrew male boys.  Mary, Joseph, and Jesus were a new Moses family to lead the people out of the bondage of slavery into freedom.

~~~~~~~~

While this story is an abrupt intrusion into our Christmas cheer it remains a story we need to hear.  God enters into the human situation even in the darkest of places, even in the harshest of fears, even in the deepest of hatreds.  God in Jesus is breaking down the kingdoms built on violence and fear and building new ones built on peace and love.

~~~~~~~~

After a time Joseph, the faithful dreamer, was told to return to Israel.  Herod was dead, and his death made it safer for the holy family to return home. 

~~~~~~~~

The safety would be short lived, however, because there are always Herods in the world.  There will always be people who want the world to bend to their twisted notions of power.  There will always be people who live in fear and strike out in order to establish their place, and little children and the poor will always be the most to suffer. 

Yet ….

Over and over and over again God raises people up who believe in the deepest truth, the most profound reality.  Over and over again God raises up a Moses to lead the people into the land of milk and honey, the land of life built upon the enduring love of God.  Herod is always out there, but we do not have to make alliances with him.  Herod’s world of fear, violence, and hatred will be toppled, if the Christmas story is to be believed, by a little baby conceived by the love of God and who grows up to be a man who fully embodies God’s grace and peace even as Herod finally finds him and nails him to a tree.

~~~~~~~

So, we can be sentimental at this time of year, but it is a real mistake to think that following Jesus is all warmth and light.  To reduce the Christian faith to such notions is to reduce the church into a greeting card company.  To let pure sentimentality be the driving force of our experience of the faith makes for a shallow pool that really doesn’t do much in the way of carrying abundant life.

~~~~~~~

On the way home from the hospital with Bess –  after everything had gone really well, except for the wasted surgical gown –  we had Bess all bundled up and safely strapped into our new mini-van and were headed for the sweet, loving warmth of her freshly painted nursery.  We were on 17 north just crossing the White County line when we pulled up behind a truck driving very slowly with a tarp loosely strapped over its load.  We drove for a while before we realized that the loose, dark stuff that was flying out of the truck and bathing our new mini-van was not something we wanted to have all over the car carrying our sweet and defenseless baby girl. I was first introduced to this stuff when my office window was open one Spring after the field that surrounds this church was fertilized.  The chicken industry is really amazing in its utilization of every by-product!  As we were driving home from our miraculous birthing of Bess we were being showered with chicken… excrement! 

~~~~~~~

It is always best to remember the whole story…

the good, the bad, the sentimental, the harsh.

And here’s the gospel truth – God is in the midst of it all. 

Filed Under: Sermons

Primary Sidebar

News & Announcements

From the Pastor: Newcomers’ Picnic

May 30, 2023

NPC will hold a Newcomers’ Picnic on Saturday afternoon, June 24, 2023, 5:00, at the church. All newcomers are invited to attend. The Fellowship Committee will provide hamburgers and hotdogs. Session members will … [Read More] about From the Pastor: Newcomers’ Picnic

Celebrating NPC Confirmations and Graduates

May 30, 2023

On May 28th we welcomed three new members to NPC: Maggie Anglin, Charles Hughes, and Kite Stribling. (top photo) Having completed Confirmation classes with Rev. Teresa Franklin and sharing their statements of faith they were … [Read More] about Celebrating NPC Confirmations and Graduates

Pastor Nominating Committee Announcement

May 30, 2023

The Nominating Committee is pleased to announce that after much discussion and careful consideration, we have selected a slate of nominees for the Pastor Nominating Committee (aka the Pastor Search Committee.) The PNC will … [Read More] about Pastor Nominating Committee Announcement

Events Calendar

Loading view.
  • June 2023

Calendar of Events

S Sun

M Mon

T Tue

W Wed

T Thu

F Fri

S Sat

1 event, 28

10:00 am - 11:00 am Event Series

Sunday Service

May 28 @ 10:00 am - 11:00 am Event Series

Sunday Service

1 event, 29

5:30 pm - 6:30 pm Event Series

Outside Group Meeting Downstairs Room

May 29 @ 5:30 pm - 6:30 pm Event Series

Outside Group Meeting Downstairs Room

1 event, 30

5:30 pm - 6:30 pm Event Series

Outside Group Meeting Downstairs Room

May 30 @ 5:30 pm - 6:30 pm Event Series

Outside Group Meeting Downstairs Room

4 events, 31

7:30 am - 8:30 am Event Series

Outside Group Meeting Downstairs Room

May 31 @ 7:30 am - 8:30 am Event Series

Outside Group Meeting Downstairs Room

10:15 am - 11:00 am Event Series

Tai Chi Chih with Teresa

May 31 @ 10:15 am - 11:00 am Event Series

Tai Chi Chih with Teresa

5:30 pm - 6:30 pm Event Series

Outside Group Meeting Downstairs Room

May 31 @ 5:30 pm - 6:30 pm Event Series

Outside Group Meeting Downstairs Room

+ 1 More

0 events, 1

0 events, 2

0 events, 3

2 events, 4

10:00 am - 11:00 am

Commissioning of Youth Mission Team for Trip to Panama

June 4 @ 10:00 am - 11:00 am

Commissioning of Youth Mission Team for Trip to Panama

10:00 am - 11:00 am Event Series

Sunday Service

June 4 @ 10:00 am - 11:00 am Event Series

Sunday Service

1 event, 5

5:30 pm - 6:30 pm Event Series

Outside Group Meeting Downstairs Room

June 5 @ 5:30 pm - 6:30 pm Event Series

Outside Group Meeting Downstairs Room

1 event, 6

5:30 pm - 6:30 pm Event Series

Outside Group Meeting Downstairs Room

June 6 @ 5:30 pm - 6:30 pm Event Series

Outside Group Meeting Downstairs Room

6 events, 7

7:30 am - 8:30 am Event Series

Outside Group Meeting Downstairs Room

June 7 @ 7:30 am - 8:30 am Event Series

Outside Group Meeting Downstairs Room

8:30 am - 10:00 am Event Series

Men’s Breakfast at Crossroads Café

June 7 @ 8:30 am - 10:00 am Event Series

Men’s Breakfast at Crossroads Café

10:15 am - 11:00 am Event Series

Tai Chi Chih with Teresa

June 7 @ 10:15 am - 11:00 am Event Series

Tai Chi Chih with Teresa

+ 3 More

0 events, 8

0 events, 9

0 events, 10

2 events, 11

10:00 am - 11:00 am Event Series

Sunday Service

June 11 @ 10:00 am - 11:00 am Event Series

Sunday Service

3:00 pm - 5:00 pm

Convivio – Hispanic Ministry

June 11 @ 3:00 pm - 5:00 pm

Convivio – Hispanic Ministry

1 event, 12

5:30 pm - 6:30 pm Event Series

Outside Group Meeting Downstairs Room

June 12 @ 5:30 pm - 6:30 pm Event Series

Outside Group Meeting Downstairs Room

1 event, 13

5:30 pm - 6:30 pm Event Series

Outside Group Meeting Downstairs Room

June 13 @ 5:30 pm - 6:30 pm Event Series

Outside Group Meeting Downstairs Room

5 events, 14

7:30 am - 8:30 am Event Series

Outside Group Meeting Downstairs Room

June 14 @ 7:30 am - 8:30 am Event Series

Outside Group Meeting Downstairs Room

10:15 am - 11:00 am Event Series

Tai Chi Chih with Teresa

June 14 @ 10:15 am - 11:00 am Event Series

Tai Chi Chih with Teresa

11:00 am - 12:00 pm Event Series

Centering Prayer

June 14 @ 11:00 am - 12:00 pm Event Series

Centering Prayer

+ 2 More

0 events, 15

0 events, 16

0 events, 17

2 events, 18

10:00 am - 11:00 am Event Series

Sunday Service

June 18 @ 10:00 am - 11:00 am Event Series

Sunday Service

11:00 am - 11:30 pm

Congregational Meeting

June 18 @ 11:00 am - 11:30 pm

Congregational Meeting

Congregational meeting to elect a Pastor Nominating Committee and to hear about the creation of an Endowment Fund

1 event, 19

5:30 pm - 6:30 pm Event Series

Outside Group Meeting Downstairs Room

June 19 @ 5:30 pm - 6:30 pm Event Series

Outside Group Meeting Downstairs Room

1 event, 20

5:30 pm - 6:30 pm Event Series

Outside Group Meeting Downstairs Room

June 20 @ 5:30 pm - 6:30 pm Event Series

Outside Group Meeting Downstairs Room

5 events, 21

7:30 am - 8:30 am Event Series

Outside Group Meeting Downstairs Room

June 21 @ 7:30 am - 8:30 am Event Series

Outside Group Meeting Downstairs Room

10:15 am - 11:00 am Event Series

Tai Chi Chih with Teresa

June 21 @ 10:15 am - 11:00 am Event Series

Tai Chi Chih with Teresa

11:00 am - 12:00 pm Event Series

Woman’s Spirituality Group

June 21 @ 11:00 am - 12:00 pm Event Series

Woman’s Spirituality Group

+ 2 More

0 events, 22

0 events, 23

1 event, 24

5:00 pm - 7:00 pm

Newcomer’s Picnic

June 24 @ 5:00 pm - 7:00 pm

Newcomer’s Picnic

1 event, 25

10:00 am - 11:00 am Event Series

Sunday Service

June 25 @ 10:00 am - 11:00 am Event Series

Sunday Service

1 event, 26

5:30 pm - 6:30 pm Event Series

Outside Group Meeting Downstairs Room

June 26 @ 5:30 pm - 6:30 pm Event Series

Outside Group Meeting Downstairs Room

1 event, 27

5:30 pm - 6:30 pm Event Series

Outside Group Meeting Downstairs Room

June 27 @ 5:30 pm - 6:30 pm Event Series

Outside Group Meeting Downstairs Room

5 events, 28

7:30 am - 8:30 am Event Series

Outside Group Meeting Downstairs Room

June 28 @ 7:30 am - 8:30 am Event Series

Outside Group Meeting Downstairs Room

10:15 am - 11:00 am Event Series

Tai Chi Chih with Teresa

June 28 @ 10:15 am - 11:00 am Event Series

Tai Chi Chih with Teresa

11:00 am - 12:00 pm Event Series

Centering Prayer

June 28 @ 11:00 am - 12:00 pm Event Series

Centering Prayer

+ 2 More

0 events, 29

0 events, 30

0 events, 1

May 28
May 28 @ 10:00 am - 11:00 am Event Series

Sunday Service

May 29
May 29 @ 5:30 pm - 6:30 pm Event Series

Outside Group Meeting Downstairs Room

May 30
May 30 @ 5:30 pm - 6:30 pm Event Series

Outside Group Meeting Downstairs Room

May 31
May 31 @ 7:30 am - 8:30 am Event Series

Outside Group Meeting Downstairs Room

May 31 @ 10:15 am - 11:00 am Event Series

Tai Chi Chih with Teresa

May 31 @ 5:30 pm - 6:30 pm Event Series

Outside Group Meeting Downstairs Room

+ 1 More
  • There are no events on this day.
  • There are no events on this day.
June 4
June 4 @ 10:00 am - 11:00 am

Commissioning of Youth Mission Team for Trip to Panama

June 4 @ 10:00 am - 11:00 am Event Series

Sunday Service

June 5
June 5 @ 5:30 pm - 6:30 pm Event Series

Outside Group Meeting Downstairs Room

June 4
June 4 @ 10:00 am - 11:00 am

Commissioning of Youth Mission Team for Trip to Panama

June 4 @ 10:00 am - 11:00 am Event Series

Sunday Service

June 5
June 5 @ 5:30 pm - 6:30 pm Event Series

Outside Group Meeting Downstairs Room

June 6
June 6 @ 5:30 pm - 6:30 pm Event Series

Outside Group Meeting Downstairs Room

June 7
June 7 @ 7:30 am - 8:30 am Event Series

Outside Group Meeting Downstairs Room

June 7 @ 8:30 am - 10:00 am Event Series

Men’s Breakfast at Crossroads Café

June 7 @ 10:15 am - 11:00 am Event Series

Tai Chi Chih with Teresa

+ 3 More
  • There are no events on this day.
  • There are no events on this day.
  • There are no events on this day.
June 11
June 11 @ 10:00 am - 11:00 am Event Series

Sunday Service

June 11 @ 3:00 pm - 5:00 pm

Convivio – Hispanic Ministry

June 12
June 12 @ 5:30 pm - 6:30 pm Event Series

Outside Group Meeting Downstairs Room

June 13
June 13 @ 5:30 pm - 6:30 pm Event Series

Outside Group Meeting Downstairs Room

June 14
June 14 @ 7:30 am - 8:30 am Event Series

Outside Group Meeting Downstairs Room

June 14 @ 10:15 am - 11:00 am Event Series

Tai Chi Chih with Teresa

June 14 @ 11:00 am - 12:00 pm Event Series

Centering Prayer

+ 2 More
  • There are no events on this day.
  • There are no events on this day.
  • There are no events on this day.
June 18
June 18 @ 10:00 am - 11:00 am Event Series

Sunday Service

June 18 @ 11:00 am - 11:30 pm

Congregational Meeting

June 19
June 19 @ 5:30 pm - 6:30 pm Event Series

Outside Group Meeting Downstairs Room

June 20
June 20 @ 5:30 pm - 6:30 pm Event Series

Outside Group Meeting Downstairs Room

June 21
June 21 @ 7:30 am - 8:30 am Event Series

Outside Group Meeting Downstairs Room

June 21 @ 10:15 am - 11:00 am Event Series

Tai Chi Chih with Teresa

June 21 @ 11:00 am - 12:00 pm Event Series

Woman’s Spirituality Group

+ 2 More
  • There are no events on this day.
  • There are no events on this day.
June 24
June 24 @ 5:00 pm - 7:00 pm

Newcomer’s Picnic

June 25
June 25 @ 10:00 am - 11:00 am Event Series

Sunday Service

June 26
June 26 @ 5:30 pm - 6:30 pm Event Series

Outside Group Meeting Downstairs Room

June 27
June 27 @ 5:30 pm - 6:30 pm Event Series

Outside Group Meeting Downstairs Room

June 28
June 28 @ 7:30 am - 8:30 am Event Series

Outside Group Meeting Downstairs Room

June 28 @ 10:15 am - 11:00 am Event Series

Tai Chi Chih with Teresa

June 28 @ 11:00 am - 12:00 pm Event Series

Centering Prayer

+ 2 More
  • There are no events on this day.
  • There are no events on this day.
  • There are no events on this day.
View Calendar

Footer

LOCATION

260 GA Highway 255 North
Send mail to PO Box 87
Sautee Nacoochee, GA 30571
(706) 878-2226

SERVICE TIMES

Worship services are held Sundays at 10 am.

Church Office Hours:
Monday 8:00 am - 5:00 pm
Thursday 8:00 am - 5:00 pm
Friday 8:00 am - Noon

SOCIAL

  • Facebook
  • YouTube

Worship service videos may be viewed on the NPC YouTube channel.

© 2023 · Nacoochee Presbyterian Church, Website by Kathy Jacobs Design and Marketing, LLC || Read our Privacy Policy