Happy Epiphany - it's officially permissible to take down Christmas decorations! I kid, but only somewhat. Blessedly, my parents raised me in the Episcopal Church, and I've been a stickler for liturgy for as long as I can remember. January 6th, the feast of the Epiphany, is when we celebrate the visitation of the magi to the newborn King, as well as the manifestation and baptism of Christ. It also represents the end of the liturgical season of Christmas - the origin of The Twelve Days of Christmas comes from the 12 days between December 25th and January 6th. I absolutely love Christmas decorations, and am perfectly happy to have a reason to celebrate well into the new year.
Several years ago, a priest at our church was preaching one Sunday after Christmas and told the story of how the Mary in the Christmas pageant that year exited stage left without the baby Jesus. David M. Bailey, a wonderful singer/songwriter, wrote a song for his Christmas album with the following chorus: "Don't leave the baby in the manger; it's only the first scene of the play; grow with Him to the empty tomb; the Prince of Peace lives today." The crux of the message of both that sermon and song is to not only remember that Christmas isn't Christmas without the incarnation, but that the mystery of the incarnation doesn't end the day after Christmas. Epiphany is a wonderful reason to remember and give thanks for all of the ways God manifests himself in our daily lives. God makes himself known to us in moments where we know we need Him, but also in times where we least expect it. It is my prayer for each of you that your year will be filled with numerous manifestations and epiphanies and you will give thanks and be blessed by them!
A Collect for Epiphany from the Book of Common Prayer: 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. Amen.
Sarah, I also don't take Christmas decorations down until Epiphany, even though I was raised non-denom and now go to a Baptist church ;) For about 8 months when I was pregnant and when Holder was first born we went to a Reform church. I LOVED it (Dave not so much) and I MISS it!
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