The Lutheran Church of Our Savior January 2015 Volume 37, Number 1 The Voice News about our Vacancy Pastor Welcome to Pastor Les & Carol Stano! Pastor Stano was ordained in 1974 at St. Lucas Lutheran Church, St. Louis. MO. He has served congregations in Baltimore, Towson and Rockville, MD, along with teaching at Baltimore Lutheran High School. Pastor Stano served as a chaplain with the Veterans Administration and at Sinai Hospital in Baltimore. He worked with both Towson University and Goucher College as part of their campus ministries. Through his congregation in Towson, he helped found and served as the treasurer of ACTS, Inc., which ministers to survivors of domestic violence; and Timothy House, Inc., which provides apartment housing for middle-income elderly residents. Pastor Stano served as a Southeastern District Circuit Counselor and Pastoral Counselor for the Chesapeake District LWML. Additionally, he has provided service as a board member of Interfaith Community Against Domestic Violence of Montgomery County, Lutheran Mission Society, Baltimore Lutheran High School Association, and Lutheran Social Services of the National Capital Area. Pastor Stano has also been trained as an LCMS Disaster Response Coordinator and as a facilitator for "Bridge Builders," which helps congregations in conflict. Pastor Stano is a member of the Association of Clinical Pastoral Education and the Association of Professional Chaplains and he is recognized as an Associate Certified Chaplin (ACC). Pastor Stano and Carol were married in 1994. Carol Stano is a fantastic retreat leader and speaker, and has presented various programs for the Southeastern District, the LWML, and churches throughout the Southeastern District. LCOS welcomes the Stanos and we will be greatly blessed by the ministry they both will provide! What is Epiphany? In Western liturgical churches, Epiphany is both a specific feast day and a season. The feast of Epiphany falls on January 6 th (12 days after Christmas), and is a fixed feast, like Christmas, which means that if it falls on a Monday, it is celebrated on a Monday. (Although we are opt- ing to celebrate it here at LCOS when Pr. Stano joins us our vacancy pastor on the 4th of January.) The word Epiphany comes from the © James C. Christensen Greek epiphaneia , which means manifestation and it celebrates the revealing of Jesus as the Son of God. The gospel reading for the feast day tells the story of the wise men from the East and how they came to visit Jesus and offer him gifts of gold (a gift for a king), frankincense (used in worship at the temple) and myrrh (used in embalming, as well as in salves, including a salve for diaper rash). Quick Facts about Epiphany The season of Epiphany lasts for between three and eight weeks; from the feast of Epiphany un- til Ash Wednesday. (This year, Epiphany will cover 6 Sundays) The symbols which represent this season include the Star, The Magi, and the gifts they brought. The color for the season is white. In many places around the world Epiphany is a public holiday. th In the Eastern Orthodox Church, January 6 is when they celebrate the feast of the Nativity. Traditions There are many traditions associated with Epiphany. One tradition held that the Christmas tree be taken down on this day and burnt on a bonfire. In some European countries, such as the Czech Republic and Slovakia, children dress as the three kings and visit their neighbors’ homes. In their roles as the kings, or wise men, they sing about the Jesus’ birth and pay homage to the “king of kings”. They are rewarded with praise and cookies. Dia de los Reyes Magos is the Latin American celebration of Epiphany. In many Latin American countries, it is the three wise men and not Santa Claus who bring gifts for children. Children write letters to the wise men telling them how good they were and what gifts they want. In France Le Jour des Rois (the Day of Kings), sometimes called the Fête des Rois, is celebrated with parties for chil- dren and adults. The galette des rois, or “cake of kings”, highlights these celebrations. This cake is round and flat, sliced in the pantry, covered with a white napkin and carried into the dining room. Children in Spain fill their shoes with straw or grain for the three kings’ horses to eat and place them on balconies or by the front door on Epiphany Eve. The next day they find cookies, sweets or gifts in their place. The “three kings” make an entry in many cities in Spain on Epiphany Eve, accompanied by military bands and drummers in medieval dress. It is also traditional to bless homes on Epiphany, which can include chalking the door. In this tradi- tion, chalk is blessed and used to write the year and the initials CMB on the doors or lintels of hous- es, marking them as places of Christ’s hospitality. What follows is a simple prayer you can use to bless your house and ask God’s blessing on those who live there, work there, or visit in the coming year. AN EPIPHANY BLESSING FOR THE HOME O God, you once used a star to show to all the world that Jesus is your Son. May the light of that star that once guided wise men to his birth, now guide us to recognize him in the epiphanies of the daily experiences of our lives. As we go about our work, our study, our play, keep us in its light and in your love. May all who enter here find your gracious hospitality, for Christ has come to dwell in this house and in these hearts. May Christ bless our home! Amen. (You can then use chalk to mark your door in the following fashion ) 20 + C + M + B + 15 The letters have two meanings. They are the initials of the names of the Three Magi: Caspar, Mel- chior and Balthasar. They also abbreviate the Latin words “Christus Mansionem Benedicat”, “May Christ bless the house”. The year is divided before and after these letters. The crosses (+) repre- sent the protection of the Christ. Why do we do that? Why do we worship the way we do at LCOS? Why do we pray the prayers we pray, repeat the creeds we recite, work through the liturgy, and sing the songs we sing? All of the elements of our Sunday services replicate acts of worship found in Scripture and in the historical development of the Christian Church. Seeing what we do in this light can help us see our traditions as more than “we’ve always done it that way.” Instead, we can see that the Church has been “doing it that way” for a sacred reason for a long time. Each month in 2015, we will explain a portion of our worship service. When you understand the “why”, hopefully it will add a new level of meaning to the often repeated words and give you a re- newed sense of peace and connectedness with God when you participate in worship. Invocation and Confession & Absolution Our service begins with the Invocation, with the name of God (Matthew 28:19b). We invoke (call up- on) God to bless that which will be done in His name. We call upon Him, remembering that He has promised to be where His name is (Matthew 18:20). The Invocation also invites us to remember our baptism. In Baptism, God’s name was placed upon us in the Word and through the water. The sign of the cross is often made by worshippers during the Invocation to remind us who we are and whose we are because of Jesus Christ (Titus 3:5-8). As God’s children, we are called in to His presence to worship. Psalm 51 reminds us that we are sin- ful beings and in need of God’s forgiveness. In the Confession, we seek that forgiveness, trusting that God is present and ready to forgive (1 John 1:8-9). Through the words of the worship leader, we hear that by God’s grace and mercy we are indeed for- given. The Absolution speaks the Gospel into our ears and hearts. Through these words we again receive the salvation earned by Christ upon the cross. This is God’s forgiveness, not the leader or pastor’s forgiveness. Thus having our “slate wiped clean”, we commence to worship the One who creates, sustains, redeems, and sanctifies us. Prayer Ministry Kickoff Workshop We will be developing a whole-church prayer ministry, be- ginning in February 2015. This will involve short prayer ser- vices during the week, a suggested weekly prayer focus, education and resources to help you improve your prayer life, and an online prayer group. This initiative will kick off on January 24 ( NOTE CHANGE IN DATE) with a prayer workshop for all members. The workshop will be a time of learning about prayer and partici- pants will receive a “prayer handbook” with resources and suggestions for prayer. The retreat will run from 10am-2pm and include lunch. We will take a free will offering to help defray the cost of food and materials. Please sign up to join us for this day of learning and spiritual growth by calling the church office or emailing Sister Deb, [email protected]. This ministry is for ALL, men & women, young & old. As we begin a new year and a new time of ministry for LCOS, it is more important than ever to surround it all with prayer! LOL Women’s Ministry News (Ladies of LCOS) LCOS Book Club News We have a great list of books that we will be discussing in 2015! Our meetings consist of discussing the book and then we enjoy a meal together, either a pot- luck, something provided by one or more members, or dining out at a local res- taurant.