The Season of Epiphany
Epiphany - Home By Another Way
The Feast of the Epiphany celebrates the arrival of the Magi from the East 
and Christ's revelation to the gentiles — to the world. During the Sundays after the Epiphany we explore Jesus acting in the world — changing water into wine, healing and anointing.
We are using the song "Home by Another Way" by James Taylor as the theme for the season. Instead of living our lives a bit distracted as we often do, let us make an effort to intentionally love everyone according to the teachings of Jesus. Like Jesus, let us also "act in the world" and change lives. We are also presenting The Wise Men—An Epiphany Legend, read it here.
The Epiphany—Invitation to Epiphany
The Christmas story that we have shared over the years through narrative and tradition, paints rich images of men bringing treasure chests of gifts to the Christ child. Some people may think of them as foolish men, rather than “the three wise men.” Ponderously travelling through the desert, risking their lives on a “sign” in the sky seems more foolish than wise. In the end, it was their foolish wisdom that gave them sight to see the light of God breaking into a dark world.
For God's foolishness is wiser than human wisdom, and God's weakness is stronger than human strength. 1 Corinthians 1:25
Suggested Reading: Psalm 72:1-14 • Ephesians 3:1-12 • Journey of The Magi
Consider: Slowly and intentionally pray the Lord's Prayer, seeking to experience the deepest meaning of your relationship with God. Allow the words to penetrate your inmost being.
First Sunday after The Epiphany—Theophany
The Orthodox Church celebrates the baptism of Jesus with an annual feast called Theophany. In Greek Literature, theophany describes an appearance of god to humanity. The Western Church celebrates this event during the season of Epiphany.
And when Jesus had been baptized, just as he came up from the water, suddenly the heavens were opened to him and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove and alighting on him. And a voice from heaven said, “This is my Son, the Beloved, with whom I am well pleased.” Matthew 3:16-17
Suggested Reading: Isaiah 43:1-7 • Mark 1:1-11
Consider: Reflect on the life and ways of Jesus. What does Jesus' example mean for you in your journey now? How are the ways of Jesus reflected in the way you live your daily life?
Second Sunday after The Epiphany— The Kingdom of God is for Everyone
Throughout the life of Jesus and his ministry he gave us a model as to how we should respond to those who are in emotional, financial, and spiritual poverty. Jesus show us that relationships can be built when we offer a hand to share in one another’s human need.
“Who can listen to a story of loneliness and despair without taking the risk of experiencing similar pains in his own heart and even losing his precious mind? In short: Who can take away suffering without entering it?” ―Henri Nouwen
Suggested Reading: Luke 6:27-42 • James 2:1-7
Consider: Proclaim the Word of God by your very being today, showing love, no matter what happens.
Third Sunday after The Epiphany— Letting Others Sustain Us
We must be willing to accept the bitter truth that, in the end, we may have to become a burden to those who love us. But it is necessary that we face this also. The full acceptance of our abjection and uselessness is the virtue that can make us and others rich in the grace of God. It takes heroic charity and humility to let others sustain us when we are absolutely incapable of sustaining ourselves. We cannot suffer well unless we see Christ everywhere-―both in suffering and in the charity of those who come to the aid of our affliction. ―Thomas Merton
Suggested Reading: Psalm 55:22 • 1 Corinthians 1:4-9
Consider: Look around you, who do you notice that needs help? Offer yourself in service to God.
Fourth Sunday after The Epiphany— Beauty and Wonder
When we see God’s beauty and wonder as revealed in his people, it can take our breath away. The generous act of a friend on the journey of truth can reveal the living God bursting into our lives with wonderful lessons of his love.
“Since love grows within you, so beauty grows. For love is the beauty of the soul.” ― St. Augustine
Suggested Reading: Isaiah 9:2-6 • 1 Corinthians 13
Consider: Consent to the Divine Presence within you to heal whatever needs to be healed or forgiven.
Fifth Sunday after The Epiphany— Seeking After God
"Deep within us all there is an amazing inner sanctuary of the soul, a holy place, a Divine Center, a speaking Voice, to which we may continuously return. Eternity is at our hearts, pressing upon our time-torn lives, warming us with intimations of an astounding destiny, calling us home unto Itself.
It is a light within which illumines the face of God and casts new shadows and new glories upon our faces. It is a seed stirring to life if we do not choke it. It is the Shekinah of the soul, the Presence in the midst. Here is the slumbering Christ, stirring to be awakened, to become the soul we clothe in earthly form and action. And he is within us all." —Thomas Kelly
Suggested Reading: Psalm 91 • John 14:1-4
Consider: Welcome Christ's spiritual coming into your inner most being.
Sixth Sunday after The Epiphany— Be and Do
Our own happiness, our own peace, can never be complete until we find some way of sharing it with people who know the way things are now and have no happiness and know no peace. Jesus calls us to show this truth forth, live this truth forth. Be the light of the world, he says. Where there are dark places, be the light especially there. Be the salt of the earth. Bring out the true flavor of what it is to be alive truly. Be truly alive. Be life givers to others. That is what Jesus tells the disciples to be. That is what Jesus tells his Church, tells us to be and do. Love each other. Heal the sick, he says. Raise the dead. Cleanse lepers. Cast out demons. That is what loving each other means. If the Church is doing things like that, then it is being what Jesus told it to be. If it is not doing things like that—no matter how any other good and useful things it may be doing instead—then it is not being what Jesus told it to be. It is a simple as that. —Frederick Buechner
Suggested Reading: Deuteronomy 30: 19-20 • Romans 5:1-8
Consider: Write on a piece of paper something you wish to let go of at this time.
It might be a place of unforgivingness or perhaps some lingering bitterness. Light a match to this piece of paper. Let it go. Give it to God.
Seventh Sunday after The Epiphany— Allow God
"I have done nothing but open windows—God has done the rest. There has been a succession of marvelous experiences of the friendship of God. I resolved that I would succeed better this year with my experiment of filling every minute full of the thought of God than I succeeded last year. And I added another resolve-—to be wide open toward people and their need as I am toward God. Windows open outward as well as upward. Windows open especially downward where people need the most!" —Frank Laubach
Suggested Reading: Psalm 23 • Matthew 11:28-30
Consider: You might like keeping a brief daily gratitude journal. Each day, write down everything for which you are grateful. Notice what situations recur; notice any changes over time in your relationship to gratitude.
Eighth Sunday after The Epiphany— Be Ready
We must be ready to allow ourselves to be interrupted by God. God will be constantly crossing our paths and cancelling our plans by sending us people with claims and petitions. We may pass them by, preoccupied with our more important tasks, as the priest passed by the man who had fallen among thieves, perhaps — reading the Bible... it is part of the discipline of humility that we must not spare our hand where it can perform a service and we do not assume that our schedule is our own to manage, but allow it to be arranged by God. ―Dietrich Bonhoeffer
Suggested Reading: Proverbs 15:33 • Ephesians 4:1-7
Consider: Realizing that all situations can be accepted with peace and confidence in God's healing graces, pray to be able to meet the challenges of the day, knowing that you are being held in God's grace.
Last Sunday after The Epiphany— Home by Another Way
Prayer for Spiritual Renewal
Disturb us, Lord, when
We are too well pleased with ourselves,
When our dreams have come true
Because we have dreamed too little,
When we arrived safely
Because we sailed too close to the shore.
Disturb us, Lord, when
With the abundance of things we possess
We have lost our thirst
For the waters of life;
Having fallen in love with life,
We have ceased to dream of eternity
And in our efforts to build a new earth,
We have allowed our vision
Of the new Heaven to dim.
Disturb us, Lord, to dare more boldly,
To venture on wider seas
Where storms will show your mastery;
Where losing sight of land,
We shall find the stars.
We ask You to push back
The horizons of our hopes;
And to push into the future
In strength, courage, hope, and love.
―Sir Francis Drake
Suggested Reading: Micah 6: 1-8 • Matthew 5:1-12
Consider: Where is it that God is calling you to move more deeply in your journey of faith? How is your faith journey being manifested in daily life?
From the Rector
Worship Services
We offer 3 Sunday Services:
- 8 am - Traditional
- 9:15 am - More informal and family-oriented
- 11:15 am - More formal with classical chior
