A SEASON OF LIGHT January 6 thru February 17

When we watch our favorite films or listen to our well-worn albums over and over again, we often pick up something different, something new, something resonant. A familiar line hits us with new power. An old scene feels as if it’s cracking with life even though we’ve seen it a dozen times.

The seasons of the church are like that. Each season carries familiar stories and themes that intersect our lives like a spiral. But like our favorite films or music, each experience of a well-worn story has a mixture of familiarity and novelty. Our lives are different now than when we last considered them. This intersection of the familiar with our present unknown is the space where God’s Spirit is at work in our lives: speaking to us, guiding us and nurturing us.

Epiphany means “manifestation”. It is a season where we consider the life of and ask, “what is God revealing to me through the miracles, the parables, the healings, the conversations, the debates, the rebukes, and the invitations of Jesus?” The work of spiritual formation during is to build a bridge between Jesus’ life and our lives through paying attention. There are three key stories for the season of Epiphany: the story of the visiting Jesus as a child, the story of Jesus being baptized, and the story of Jesus’ first miracle turning water into wine.

“How might God be shining light on our stories through the life of Jesus?”

Focal Practice: HOSPITALITY

One of the key stories of Epiphany is the moment when Magi (wise people) from the East visit Jesus as a child, brining him gifts (Matthew 2:12). This season is a time to focus on how we can give the gift of presence to others and welcome their presence into our lives.

As a symbol of this story and our commitment to open our hearts and lives to others, the Church has encouraged the observance of a ceremony called “Chalking the Door”. This is a rich and vivid way to bless our homes and refocus our hearts on our important calling to take the light of Christ beyond our home into our world. At the same time, we mark out our home as a place for hospitality and rest. The chalk markings serve as a reminder as we come in and go out that to follow Jesus is to offer the gift of our lives to others and to make space in our life for the gifts of others.

It is true that the practice of hospitality is strained because of the pandemic. But this is an opportunity to practice one of our core values as a church: creativity. Creativity finds solutions when obstacles prevent us from attempting proven methods. Since offering our gifts and presence in love is a theme of Epiphany perhaps you can consider creatively offering simple gifts that transcend the boundaries of the pandemic and create connection. It might look like dropping off your favorite ingredients for a cookie or cocktail and then finding a time to share them via your digital platform of choice. It might look like writing a letter, naming the light you see in a neighbor. It might look like engaging the “others” or “enemies” of your life with a renewed sense of curiosity and goodwill, whether it’s on social media or messaging. What if we fasted from cruel words that push out rather than welcome in? We are excited to hear of ways you imagine gift giving and connection in this moment!

Seasonal Ritual:

CHALKING THE DOOR

Chalking the door is an Epiphany tradition of with allusions to the Exodus story where the Israelites mark their door posts as a sign of covenant belonging and protection from evil. It is also a sign of inclusion, acknowledging that one of the best ways to resist evil is through mercy, love and hospitality.

The blessing involves “chalking” the doorframe of your home with the numbers of the year separated by the initials, CMB. The letters traditionally refer to the legendary names of the three Magi: , , and Balthasar. Another tradition refers to it as the abbreviation of the Latin phrase, Mansionem Benedicat, which means “May Christ bless this house.”

To chalk the door for Epiphany, one would write in chalk on the outside doorframe:

21 + C + M + B + 21

Feel free to adapt this practice as you see fit, but see below a suggestion for how to incorporate prayer and scripture readings into the practice of chalking the door! May God bless our homes and imaginations with the generous and curious qualities of the Magi and the welcoming posture of the . Let us focus on the simple truth that loving one another is the most tangible way to “manifest” the light of God into the world. After singing a joyful hymn, such as “O Come, All Ye Faithful” the leader begins:

LEADER: Peace be with this house and with all who live here. Blessed be God forever. ALL: Blessed be God forever! LEADER: Today we gather in this holy place to recognize that Christ dwells here. As followed the light of the star, we too follow the light of Christ to be a place of welcome, a people of generosity, and a dwelling place for God. The home is where we first learn to pray and search for Christ, to forgive and receive forgiveness, to offer our gifts, and to bless each other. Let us then ask God to open our hearts so that, as the doors of this home are opened to neighbor and traveler, this family may be a source of welcome for all in need and a place where Christ is found. As the words of the Gospel of John are proclaimed, let us consecrate this door and the home it protects, and all the doors herein to Christ who is the sheep. Let the front door be the threshold that leads both ways to the and goodness of God. As the Scripture below is proclaimed, the oldest and the youngest persons of the household may take turns using chalk to inscribe “21 + C + M + B + 21” on the outside lintel of the front door. A reader may slowly read the following text of sacred Scripture from the family Bible as the inscription is written over the door – John 1:13-14. READER: In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was in the beginning with God. All things came to be through him, and without him nothing came to be. And the Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us, and we saw his glory, the glory as of the Father’s only Son, full of grace and truth. The gospel of the Lord.

ALL: Praise to you, Lord Jesus Christ.

(inscribe 2) (inscribe 1) (inscribe +) (inscribe C) (inscribe +) (inscribe M) (inscribe +) (inscribe B) (inscribe +) (inscribe 2) (inscribe 1)

Reader: And behold, the star they had seen at its rising preceded them, until it came and stopped over the place where the child was. They were overjoyed at seeing the star, and on entering the house they saw the child with Mary his mother. They bowed very low to show honor and respect. Those gathered each receive a lit candle and follow into the main gathering space of the home. Before chalking all of the doorways, the leader begins the litany (responsive prayer) and all join in its response as people chalk their interior doorways. Leader: As this household has been given the light of Christ let us pray that this home shines radiantly with the love of God to be a shelter of peace for all who visit and dwell in it as we sign all of our doorways. Our response is: Make us your dwelling place, Lord. Make us your dwelling place, Lord. With Mary, and Joseph: Make us your dwelling place, Lord. With Anne and Joachim With Elizabeth and Zechariah With Anna and Simeon: Make us your dwelling place, Lord. With the shepherds and the kings With all the angels and saints With all holy men and women: All: Make us your dwelling place, Lord. Leader: For the sick and the hungry For the homeless and the lonely For friend and stranger: All: Make us your dwelling place, Lord. Leader: For neighbor and traveler In our hopes and dreams In our faults and failings: All: Make us your dwelling place, Lord. Leader: In times of joy and peace In times of sadness and grief: All: Make us your dwelling place, Lord. Leader: When anger and fear confuse us When pride and pain confound us: All: Make us your dwelling place, Lord. Leader: When the plans we make must change When you call us home by a different way In all things, great and small: The leader continues. Leader: Christ taught us to call upon the Father, and so we pray: All: Our Father... Those gathered may then place a hand on the shoulder of the person near them as the leader says the following prayer. Leader: Blessed are you, Lord, God of all creation, for through your goodness you have given us shelter from the cold and the light of your Word to brighten the darkness of night. We come to you bearing no gifts, for everything we have is a gift from you. All we can offer is our love for each other and our faith in your Son. Transform, then, these humble gifts into an epiphany, a revelation of your divine presence, and bless this house and all who come to it. May this home and this family be a light for all who are lost and afraid, a place of peace and hospitality for those in need, and a sign that you are indeed God with us. And when our long journey has ended, lead us all by the star of your mercy that we may come home to you to the dwelling place you have prepared for us. Grant this through Christ our Lord. All: Amen. EPIPHANY PRAYER STAR

A fun way to engage your children in prayer is to use the Epiphany Prayer Star we have created which you can find in the Appendix of this guide. There are several creative ways to engage this prayer as a family:

MOVE THE STAR: On a chalk board wall or a large piece of paper/cardboard, draw a horizontal line from one end to the other. At each end of the line create a picture representing the journey of the Magi. For example, you may want to have mountains or a silhouette of a kingdom on the left side and a sketch of the Nativity scene or baby Jesus on the right side. Begin by placing the star via scotch tape on the left side of the line. Each night when you pray the Epiphany prayer, move the star toward Jesus. You can move it in daily or weekly increments, depending on how often you would like to pray the prayer.

STAR UNDER THE PILLOW: Each night you may want to let a child pray the prayer with the star in hand and then place the star under the pillow before falling asleep as a symbol of God’s loving presence while they sleep. If you have multiple children you can rotate who gets to pray and who gets to put the star under the pillow.

BEGIN & END WITH THE STAR: If your family already has a prayer rhythm, consider using the Epiphany prayer as an opening or a closing to your family prayer time. Find a place to display the star as a reminder of the season and the heart of the prayer.

MAKE YOUR OWN STAR: If you prefer to be more spontaneous or creative, feel free to have your child pray their own prayer each night and you or your child can write it down on a star. Over the 8 weeks of Epiphany, display the collection of stars that represent the prayers of your children.

EPIPHANY CANDLE

Light is the central image of the and therefore candles are amazing ways to remind us of both the light of God’s presence and our calling to be salt and light for the world. Many choose to place the candle in a visible spot, like a window, for all to see. If you’d like to make your own candle, check out the instructions in the appendix. EPIPHANY LETTERS

Epiphany is a season to reflect on how God is being revealed to us. Many of the ways this happens is through people. Take time to write a few people who have helped you see or experience God in new ways and share your gratitude for them as a way to brighten this season for them. Consider being specific with your letter, noting the words or actions that impacted you.

You may also consider writing letters to those whom God puts on your mind or heart. Letters are beautiful ways to let someone know you care for them and become powerful ways to extend the light of God’s love to the “other.” This could be someone who you are close with or it could be someone you barely know like a neighbor, a police officer, a city councilperson or your building’s personnel.

THREE GIFTS

Epiphany is about showing God’s love in tangible ways. The Magi from the East visited the Christ child with gifts to honor and welcome him. Who might you buy a gift for during this season to show honor and welcome? You may consider practicing the old tradition of placing 3 gifts in your child’s or roommate’s shoes on the Saturday morning of Epiphany, January 6th. Finally, you may consider 3 people you want to bless this year beyond your home. It is often fun to ask as a family or apartment, “who do we want to bless together?”

FRANKINCENSE

If you have an essential oils diffuser, consider buying Frankincense and diffusing on Sundays during the season or as often as you want. Scent is powerful - so powerful that it has become a significant part of branding schemes with companies like Apple creating custom scents that consumers associate with their brand. It is a beautiful practice to infuse the air with a distinct scent that signals to the senses that something unique is happening. Let this scent become something that reminds you of all the stories and themes you explore in Jesus’ life during Epiphany. T.S. ELIOT POEM

This forty-three line poem has become a classic meditation on the significance of the Magi journey then and now.

‘A cold coming we had of it, Just the worst time of the year For a journey, and such a long journey: The ways deep and the weather sharp, The very dead of winter.’

And the camels galled, sorefooted, refractory, Lying down in the melting snow. There were times we regretted The summer palaces on slopes, the terraces, And the silken girls bringing sherbet.

Then the camel men cursing and grumbling and running away, and wanting their liquor and women, And the night-fires going out, and the lack of shelters, And the cities hostile and the towns unfriendly And the villages dirty and charging high prices: A hard time we had of it. At the end we preferred to travel all night, Sleeping in snatches, With the voices singing in our ears, saying That this was all folly.

Then at dawn we came down to a temperate valley, Wet, below the snow line, smelling of vegetation; With a running stream and a water-mill beating the darkness,

And three trees on the low sky, And an old white horse galloped in away in the meadow. Then we came to a tavern with vine-leaves over the lintel, Six hands at an open door dicing for pieces of silver, And feet kicking the empty wine-skins. But there was no information, and so we continued And arrived at evening, not a moment too soon Finding the place; it was (you may say) satisfactory. All this was a long time ago, I remember, And I would do it again, but set down This set down This: were we led all that way for

Birth or Death? There was a Birth, certainly, We had evidence and no doubt. I had seen birth and death, But had thought they were different; this Birth was Hard and bitter agony for us, like Death, our death. We returned to our places, theseKingdoms, But no longer at ease here, in the old dispensation, With an alien people clutching their gods. I should be glad of another death.

FAT TUESDAY PARTY

As Epiphany is winding down, it is good to begin preparation for Lent, considering the ways we plan to fast and seek God with deeper intent. Fat Tuesday (also called Shrove Tuesday) is the final day of Epiphany before the fasting season of Lent. Many take the final week of Epiphany to prayerfully consider the spiritual practices they will embrace during Lent so the turn of the season doesn’t catch them unprepared.

The term “shrove” is the past tense of the verb “to shrive” meaning to confess. On this day before Ash Wednesday, Christians approach the season of Lent with confession of sin and intent. Because it was common to fast from rich or fatty foods during Lent, Shrove Tuesday was the last day to use the ingredients — a way to clean out the pantry for Lent. This is why many host pancake suppers to symbolize this last rich meal. Epiphany Star Pattern w/ Words

O God, by the leading of a star you manifested your only Son to the peoples of the earth; Lead us, who know you now by faith, to your presence, where we may see your glory face to face; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. Amen. Epiphany Star Pattern (Blank)