January 5, 2024
Dear Peace members and friends,
Today is the twelfth and final day of Christmas. Tomorrow—January 6th—the Christian calendar turns to a new season: Epiphany.
On Sunday, we will celebrate this new season with—a day after—“The Epiphany of Our Lord.” The word “epiphany” can mean manifestation, revelation, appearance, insight, enlightenment, or a shining forth.
Epiphany begins with the story of the Magi. You know it. These astrologers, magicians follow a brilliant star to the place of Jesus’ birth and honor the child with gifts. Upon seeing the baby, they were “overwhelmed with joy,” and fell on their knees. The Magi are given an “epiphany”—Jesus is revealed to them as God in the flesh.
The day and season of Epiphany is for us. That star is also an invitation to us to discover, once again or for the first time, the grace and goodness of God. These verses from Isaiah, traditionally read at Epiphany, underscore this: “Arise, shine; for your light has come, and the glory of the Lord has risen upon you.”
We begin the new season with worship (9:30am). I’ll say more about the story, the day, the season, and our lives going into this new year in a message, “Good News from the East.” We’ll have a Children’s Message from Pastor Joe, share in Holy Communion, sing the hymns of the season (i.e. “We Three Kings of Orient Are”), and have an announcement of your generous Christmas giving. I look forward to it!
I’m also looking forward to the resumption, along with Sunday School, of Sunday Morning Adult Education (10:45am). Our topic will be, “Barbie and Biblical Women,” a video-led discussion from the Episcopal church. Rev. Sarah Kinney Gaventa explores the lives of Eve, Hannah, Esther, and Mary Magdalene, using the move Barbie as a springboard for conversation. Join in!
It’s Epiphany. The star is an invitation to us. The words of Madeleine L’Engle capture the fullest sense of Epiphany: “This is my charge to you. You are to be a light bearer. You are to choose the light.”
Arise! Shine!
Mark