Epiphany

Tonight it is time to:

1.  Gather all the candles in the house onto the table.

2.  Light them all.

3.  Decorate with purple, gold and green.

4.  Sing “We Three Kings of Orient Are”.

5.  Have a slice of the King Cake I will bake today.

6.  Read Ephesians 3: 1-12 and Matthew 2: 1 - 12

7.  Celebrate Christ’s Epiphany (manifestation) to the whole world as the light of the world shown through the visit of the Kings, the Magi.

Growing up at St. Matthew Lutheran Church and School in Detroit, Epiphany was a big celebration.  It didn’t matter which day of the week it was, we always had a ½ day of school, and we all gathered at night for a worship service as big as Christmas Eve.  Three men with big, deep voices sang “We Three King” as they processed in.  The choir had beautiful numbers.  The lights were dim.  The biggest, live Christmas tree I had ever seen was lit.  And this was the night we all held candles and lit them.  Not Christmas Eve.  I fell in love with Epiphany at St. Matthew.

My son Jason proposed to his wife Erin on Epiphany with lots of candles in a church.

My first grandchild, Ellis, has Epiphany as her middle name.

My love for Epiphany grew.

When I went on my first trip to New Orleans to help with Katrina recovery, I learned that Mardi Gras begins on Epiphany, January 6th, and lasts until Ash Wednesday.  It covers the whole Epiphany season.  I learned the significance of the King Cake and the story it tells of the journey of the Wisemen.  I learned the religious significance of the Mardi Gras colors of purple, green and gold.  I fell even more deeply in love with Epiphany as I also learned it is the oldest church celebration - even older than Christmas.

Today my prayer for you is that you feel the light and love of Christ in your life.  May you feel the warmth that light gives.  May it move us to share Christ’s warmth, both physical and spiritual, with those who need it this day and all days.

God bless your Epiphany celebration!

Hope

A couple pictures of my Epiphany home altar