Epiphany, January 6, 2015 (full size gallery)
A small crowd of 12 turned out for the Epiphany service on a typical winter night reaching into the high 20’s. Sickness, flu and related maladies affected attendance on Sunday and this service.
Catherine was away originally to support a classmate the Rev. Benson Shelton who was being installed as rector at St. Stephens, Culpeper. However, she had a hospital call for a parishioner and was not able to attend. The service was planned as Evening Prayer, a modification of the Morning Prayer service with Epiphany elements. Elizabeth Heimbach was our officiant.
The service began in low light and a reading from Isaiah 60
"Arise, shine; for your light has come,
And the glory of the Lord has risen upon you.
For darkness shall cover the earth, and thick darkness the peoples;
But the Lord will arise upon you, and his glory will appear over you.
Nations shall come to your light,
And kings to the brightness of your dawn. "
A central group of 6 candles are lit. The reason for Epiphany is the light of Christ coming into the world, the light that we are to transmit outward to the world today. After hymns, the lessons are heard particularly the Gospel from Matthew features the story of Herod and the 3 kings. The emphasis is that with the birth of Christ, the existing kings such as Herod are terrified. Jesus comes as God’s chosen king, the one who is to bring about the peace, justice, and equity of the kingdom of God. The world as represented by the magi take notice and respond accordingly.
The sermon was a reading – "A Reflection on Epiphany" from Treasures Old and New by Gail Ramshaw
The service ends was many of the Morning Prayer collects and a hymn, "As with gladness men of old" which William Dix wrote in bed in 1860 for Epiphany which ends this way
"Holy Jesus, every day
Keep us in the narrow way;
And, when earthly things are past,
Bring our ransomed souls at last
Where they need no star to guide,
Where no clouds Thy glory hide."