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Birthday WishesWe would like to wish the following people born in January a very Happy Birthday! Jan. 10 - Olivia Assam Jan. 19 - Markus Adler Jan. 23 - Jim Balfour Jan. 31 - Sue Engelbert
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Come for the Choir AnthemsBack in December, our choir had been preparing two special anthems to present at our festive Advent 4 Service. Due to the snow several members were not able to come because of the treacherous road conditions and so the choir was only able to share a "muted" version of their songs. However, you can't put a good choir down. They have been rehearsing diligently since then and are looking forward to giving us the "full bodied" presentation of their anthems this Sunday, January 8 during the 10AM Service. You won't want to miss it! Come out and support our choir and enjoy worship for the first Sunday in the Season of Epiphany. |
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See the Smiles You Can Create Now!At Gloria Dei, we love to gather around tables - not only around altar tables but all kinds of tables to break bread and enjoy fellowship. We have had a longstanding tradtion of enjoying converation over a cup of coffee or tea and cookies every Sunday following the worship service. See the smiles you can create now by signing up as a coffee host! There is a sign-up sheet at the church outside the office. Jesus sent us out two by two - so a pair of coffee-time smile volunteers are needed for each Sunday. You can also call Shelley or send her an email to let her know which Sunday you wnat to create smiles by putting on the coffee! And creating smiles is gender inclusive - anyone can volunteer! 604-988-5838; gloriadei5838@gmail.com |
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Feast of the EpiphanyToday, January 6 is the Feast of the Epiphany also known as Theophany in Eastern Christian traditions, or simply Three Kings Day. The feast unites three events in the life of Christ when His divinity shines through His humanity: the adoration of the Magi; the baptism of Christ in the Jordan; and the first miracle at the wedding feast of Cana. Epiphany is a complex feast. Originating in the Eastern Church, the Feast of the Epiphany is like a rich Oriental tapestry in which the various themes are woven and interwoven. The first idea of the feast is the manifestation of Christ as the Son of God to the three kings at Bethlehem. A second important idea is the revelation of Christ as the Messiah not only to shepherds or Magi but to the whole world. A third idea running through the Epiphany feast: that of light. Again, the Light of Christ shone forth and was first seen by Mary and Joseph and the shepherds, but at Epiphany the Light bursts forth to all nations and the prophecy is fulfilled: "The Gentiles shall walk in Thy light, and kings in the brightness of Thy rising." The Orthodox celebration of Epiphany includes a procession outdoors to local bodies of water to commemorate the baptism of Christ in the Jordan. The blessing often involves a festive plunge into the water as if every body of water has become the promised river of life. Martin Luther may well have drawn on this Orthodox all-water-becomes-holy-water theology when he wrote in his Flood Prayer that through the baptism of Christ, God “has sanctified and set apart the Jordan and all water for a saving flood.” Traditionally on this day the entire Orthodox assembly would drink from the local stream or lake to celebrate its blessedness. Today, such an act—perhaps undertaken by a deacon or a priest—might be a poignant critique against the poisoning of God’s free gift of water.
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Chalking the DoorsEpiphany also marks the occasion of a time-honored Christian tradition of “chalking the doors.” You can bless your house or apartment by: taking chalk of any color and writing the following above the entrance of your home: 20 + C + M + B + 23. The letters have two meanings. First, they represent the initials of the Magi — Caspar, Malchior, and Balthazar — who came to visit Jesus in His first home. They also abbreviate the Latin phrase, Christus mansionem benedicat: “May Christ bless the house.” The “+” signs represent the cross, and the “20” at the beginning and the “23” at the end mark the year. The letters also abbreviate the Latin phrase, Christus mansionem benedicat: “May Christ bless the house. As you chalk you can say the following: The three Wise Men, You can end with the following prayer. May all who come to our home this year rejoice to find Christ living among us; and may we seek and serve, in everyone we meet, that same Jesus who is your incarnate Word, now and forever. Amen. photo: David Paulsen/Episcopal News Service |
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A Prayer for LightThe twelve days of Christmas culminate at the Feast of the Epiphany. The season that follows gives thanks for light, illumination, and the new understanding of God that we receive through Jesus.
~ from the Taize Community photo: Photo by Ilja Tulit on Unsplash
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