For Epiphany: Wise Men / 3 Kings / Magi stuff

Richard Perkins, The Urban Pastor, A Myrrh-Velous Gift For Jesus - http://theurbanpastor.wordpress.com/2013/12/20/a-myrrh-velous-gift-for-jesus/  - Myrrh the worst ever birthday present illustration

Michael Jensen – Written in the stars - http://mpjensen.blogspot.com.au/2013/12/written-in-stars.html?m=1- includes recent astronomical suggestion that the star was Jupiter in Aries, appeared then seemed to move

Radio 4’s Beyond Belief on The Three Wise Men (includes The Revd Dr Steve Jeffrey) - http://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/episode/b00wr6r2/Beyond_Belief_The_three_wisemen/

Paul Blackham - http://christthetruth.net/2013/12/24/ultimate-christmas-sermon/ - The wise men get a brief but to my mind striking mention in this sermon - maybe there were loads of them from China!

T S Eliot, The Journey of the Magi (text and a reading by the poet - http://www.poetryarchive.org/poetryarchive/singlePoem.do?poemId=7070 )

I see that I’ve commented on the Magi before:

http://marclloyd.blogspot.co.uk/2007/12/first-christmas-presents.html

http://marclloyd.blogspot.co.uk/2006/07/kings-wise-and-ununwise-men-in-mt-2.html

http://marclloyd.blogspot.co.uk/2009/12/new-moses-new-solomon.html

http://marclloyd.blogspot.co.uk/2013/12/wise-men-joke.html

Unusually Gold, F & M are all mentioned together is the Song of Songs 3:6-11, associated with the arrival of the bridegroom-king

“Who is this coming up from the wilderness
    like a column of smoke,
perfumed with myrrh and incense
    made from all the spices of the merchant?
⁷ Look! It is Solomon’s carriage,
    escorted by sixty warriors,
    the noblest of Israel,
⁸ all of them wearing the sword,
    all experienced in battle,
each with his sword at his side,
    prepared for the terrors of the night.
⁹ King Solomon made for himself the carriage;
    he made it of wood from Lebanon.
¹⁰ Its posts he made of silver,
    its base of gold.
Its seat was upholstered with purple,
    its interior inlaid with love.
Daughters of Jerusalem, ¹¹ come out,
    and look, you daughters of Zion.
Look on King Solomon wearing a crown,
    the crown with which his mother crowned him
on the day of his wedding,
    the day his heart rejoiced.”

See also comments below - G, F & M are associated with the altar of incense in Exodus 30.

We Kings Have Journeyed Far – a song enjoyed at our primary school - http://www.starshine.co.uk/digital.php?product=335&iframe=true&width=500&height=600

Lyrics PDF - http://www.alleyns.org.uk/alleyn/documents/Junior%20School%20Docs/Co%20Curricular/Music%20Practice/We_Kings_have_journeyed_far_Lyrics.pdf

  We are also going to sing Jesus Shall Reign Where're the Sun since it's based on the Psalm for the day, Psalm 72.

A search on the All Souls, Langham Place website returns quite a few sermons on Matthew 2:1-12 including:

Communion service (Christmas Eve 1999)	Rico Tice		Recorded: 24/12/1999

When God came to earth Richard Bewes Recorded: 13/12/1992 Reference: Matthew 2:1-3

The King who is Shepherd John Stott Recorded: 22/12/2002

Long live the King!	Mark Meynell		Recorded: 08/01/2012
Series: Epiphany: In Danger from the Start

Will the true King please stand up?	John Stott
Series: Behold the King (Christmas from Matthew's Gospel)

We three kings	Richard Bewes		Recorded: 21/12/2003
Series: Christ in the Carols

You can find the following sermons on the Emmanuel, Wimbledonwebsite:

Matthew 2:1-12 Robin Weekes Recorded: 25/12/2013 Emmanuel: God with us (10:30am)

Carols by candlelight Jonathan Fletcher Recorded: 19/12/2010 Reference: Matthew 2:1-17 Carols by candlelight (2010) (18:00)

Family meeting Jonathan Fletcher Recorded: 26/12/2004 Christmas 2004 (11:00)

The adoration of Jesus Jonathan Fletcher Recorded: 20/12/1992 Reference: Matthew 2 St Matthew's Christmas (18:00)

Any other resources / stuff to recommend / things to say? Family service gimmicks welcome