A Blessed Epiphany Happy New Year 

Yes, we have reached another milestone in January 2025! A new season of the church as well as a new year of the calendar. One is a very concrete one, affecting our daily lives directly, - our planning for each day of the next year. The other is a “religious” one, an unseeable concept that few people have heard of, even church attenders.

EPIPHANY - a wonderful word, but not one used often in our regular conversation. In terms of meaning, we can go in two directions: ordinary, every day use - a moment of sudden revelation or insight - such as “a few years ago I had an epiphany about how I could change my displays…”; 

a Christian view - the manifestation of Christ to the world - God come to earth just as God promised in the Old Testament. This child - proclaimed by angels, visited by shepherd, sought out by the wise men, is recognized as the Promised One.

Another image of epiphany is that of light breaking into our world, bringing life-changing actions into the lives of all who believe. God made known the birth of the Son by the light of a star. When life is changed, transformed; when life is turned up-side down, we realize that we have received more than a life-improvement plan. We have received the gift of transformation. 

This prayer, whose author is unknown, spoke to me as a very good reminder and prayer as we start a new year:

Lord, We are your people,

 the sheep of your flock.

Heal the sheep who are wounded,

Touch the sheep who are in pain,

Clean the sheep who are soiled,

Warm the lambs, who are cold.

Help us to know the Father’s love

 through Jesus the shepherd

 and through the Holy Spirit.

Help us to lift up that love,

 and show it all over the land.

Help us to build love on justice

 and justice on love.

Help us to believe mightily,

 hope joyfully,

 love divinely,

Renew us that we may help renew

 the face of the earth.

                        Amen.

In Jesus Name,

Pastor Marion