(Seasons Greetings from St. Paul’s)
EPIPHANY
The time between Jan. 6 and Lent is shorter or longer each year depending on how early or late is the date of Easter. The Theme of The Time after The Epiphany is:
Jesus, tell us who you are. Enlighten us!
Key Words you will hear when we gather:
(Three special holy days - each with a symbol -
tell us who Jesus grew up to be.)
The baptismal font
1. We begin on the Sunday after The Epiphany hearing the story of the baptism of Jesus received at the hands of John the Baptizer. That story and our baptismal font give us the clues we must study to see the light about who Jesus is and who we become when we are baptized into Jesus.
Candles
2. In mid-season, on Feb. 2 we read the story of the Presentation of the infant Jesus (Luke 2:22-40). We hear Jesus called “the light who will enlighten the Gentiles”. Later the adult Jesus will say, “I and my disciples are light for the whole human family.” So we bless candles this day and light candles all year ‘round.
Incense
3. The time after the visit of the Magi builds to a climax on the Sunday before Lent with….
· the question Jesus asks all who follow him: “…and you, who do you say I am?”
· the answer from a cloud and a voice: “This is my Son, the Beloved, listen to him.”
The cloud in the story called: The Transfiguration of Jesus (Mark 9:2-9) signals the closeness of God to all who remain in the fellowship of the Holy Spirit.
The incense we burn throughout the year reminds us of that cloud and God’s closeness to us
in the fellowship of the Holy
Spirit.
Parts
of the Bible’s message that are
The Themes of the time after the Epiphany:
1. Jesus is a Jew related to King David through Mary and through Joseph. Jesus is the David-son promised in the Old Testament. But Jesus is not only King of the Jews, but of the whole human family. So the gentile Magi bow to him.
2. Who Jesus is, was not so obvious at the time of his birth, but became clear gradually. The gifts of the Magi shed some light. John the Baptizer tells us Jesus is the sacrificial lamb of God. And finally the voice from the cloud assures us, “This is my son, listen to him.”
3. The point is that faith grows, gradually. But it must grow enough for us to stay
with the story all the way to the Cross, the empty tomb and the fellowship
of the Holy Spirit. Our faith
must grow enough for us to stay with the unfolding story of our life so
we are prepared to meet the tests that will surely come.
Carpe diem…Seize
the time!
So during the cold and windy months of January and February,
the Church of Jesus Christ gathers to ponder a call and a question.
+ The call: “Come, follow me.” Come and listen to the words until the words change you.
+ The question, waiting for your answer: “And you, who do you say that I am?”
We invite you…
· to join with us in the warmth of our fellowship;
· to listen with us to the words
…and when the time is right…
· to answer with us, “You are the Christ, the Son of the Living God.
To whom shall we go?
You have the words of eternal life.”
Dear friends,
Christmas ended for us on January 6, a day we call Epiphany (ee pif a knee) the visit of the Magi to the baby Jesus. For time after January 6, we call simply, time after The Epiphany - a time filled with special stories that tell us who Mary’s baby grew up to be. The weather may be chilly, but we at St. Paul’s will continue to gather each Sunday at 11 am in the warmth of the fellowship of the Holy Spirit. We hope you will join us. (Call us at 718-266-1831)
Seasons greetings,
Pastor von Harten