Worship on January 5, 2025
Due to inclement weather we will worship only online this Sunday.
Friday and Saturday we filmed our worship for today. Please enjoy!
Keep scrolling to give online, to submit a prayer request, learn more about Star Words, and for an Epiphany Blessing for your home.
Prayer requests will go out in the News and Notes email this week.
Also, please let us know you were here! Fill out the form to let us know who was worshipping. We'll miss seeing everyone.
Stay safe and warm and join us in person next Sunday, January 12 for Baptism and New Member Sunday!
Today we celebrate Epiphany.
Epiphany is the day Christians remember the coming of the Magi to visit Jesus, bringing their gifts of gold, frankincense and myrrh. It occurs on January 6 every year, the 13th day of the Christmas season. The word "epiphany," from the Greek word epiphania, means appearance or manifestation. The arrival of the magi was a sign that the incarnation of God in Christ had been made known and was recognized by the heavens to the whole world, so that even Gentile magi from the East came to pay him homage. This is an observance of great majesty, solemnity and awe.
An even more ancient Christian celebration than Christmas, Epiphany originally focused on the nativity,
God’s incarnation (God made flesh) in the birth of Jesus Christ, and Christ’s baptism.
Friday and Saturday we filmed our worship for today. Please enjoy!
Keep scrolling to give online, to submit a prayer request, learn more about Star Words, and for an Epiphany Blessing for your home.
Prayer requests will go out in the News and Notes email this week.
Also, please let us know you were here! Fill out the form to let us know who was worshipping. We'll miss seeing everyone.
Stay safe and warm and join us in person next Sunday, January 12 for Baptism and New Member Sunday!
Today we celebrate Epiphany.
Epiphany is the day Christians remember the coming of the Magi to visit Jesus, bringing their gifts of gold, frankincense and myrrh. It occurs on January 6 every year, the 13th day of the Christmas season. The word "epiphany," from the Greek word epiphania, means appearance or manifestation. The arrival of the magi was a sign that the incarnation of God in Christ had been made known and was recognized by the heavens to the whole world, so that even Gentile magi from the East came to pay him homage. This is an observance of great majesty, solemnity and awe.
An even more ancient Christian celebration than Christmas, Epiphany originally focused on the nativity,
God’s incarnation (God made flesh) in the birth of Jesus Christ, and Christ’s baptism.
Prayer Survey
Our 2025 goal is: Members, visitors, and neighbors experience and grow their relationship with God and others in the church community through an identified framework for spiritual growth (Six Core Practices).
One of the strategies to complete this goal has to do with prayer - we want to provide ways for the congregation to expand and enhance our prayer lives. The first step in this is to get a sense of where we are with prayer as a community. So we're going to spend January collecting data to help us know where to begin.
We need your help! Please fill out the survey about your prayer life. This will help us get a picture of where we are as a church community. It will also be a great place to begin to consider your relationship with prayer and next steps. We'll take a similar survey at the end of the year to help us see how we have grown and identify gaps.
One of the strategies to complete this goal has to do with prayer - we want to provide ways for the congregation to expand and enhance our prayer lives. The first step in this is to get a sense of where we are with prayer as a community. So we're going to spend January collecting data to help us know where to begin.
We need your help! Please fill out the survey about your prayer life. This will help us get a picture of where we are as a church community. It will also be a great place to begin to consider your relationship with prayer and next steps. We'll take a similar survey at the end of the year to help us see how we have grown and identify gaps.
Star Words
Rev. Anna Strickland writes, "What are Star Words?
The use of star words, also called “star gifts,” is a prayer practice connected to Epiphany and the new year that has been growing in popularity in Protestant churches for nearly a decade now. The idea is that a list of intention words, or guiding words, are written or printed on paper stars. These paper stars are then arranged, most commonly face down, on the Communion Table or in a large basket. At some point during your Epiphany service, individuals are invited to
draw a word from the basket or off the Table, and to use that word as a guiding word throughout the year.
Typically, participants are encouraged to trust the word they have drawn, and not to replace the word. Individuals are often encouraged to place their star word somewhere they will see it regularly throughout the year to allow consistent reflection on how God has moved through, around, or in connection to that word.
There Are Several Theological Statements Being Made in this Tradition:
1. The Magi followed a star, which ultimately led them to Jesus. Therefore, we too use all the resources we have available to us—including creative prayer practices and intention words for the new year—to move closer to Jesus.
2. We trust that God uses multiple ways to guide us and speak to us. Star words offer a tool to actively seek and reflect on God's presence among us, both in the moment and in hindsight.
3. We recognize that it is often easy to miss God throughout our daily lives. Having an intention word to consider both in present days, as well as to reflect on at the end of the year, allows for us to see God in ways we may not have seen God before. This is the greatest gift.
4. We know that the most common prayer practice for many involves speaking to God as opposed to silence or contemplation. We believe that star words invite a new prayer rhythm of reflection and review that can be a powerful new way to connect with God.
5. By not looking at or sorting through the star words at their selection, we practice the spiritual task of receiving. It is not we who are in control in this moment. Instead, we trust that God is present, and we let go of our desire to cultivate or control.
Liturgy by Rev. Anna Strickland | A Sanctified Art LLC | sanctifiedart.org
The use of star words, also called “star gifts,” is a prayer practice connected to Epiphany and the new year that has been growing in popularity in Protestant churches for nearly a decade now. The idea is that a list of intention words, or guiding words, are written or printed on paper stars. These paper stars are then arranged, most commonly face down, on the Communion Table or in a large basket. At some point during your Epiphany service, individuals are invited to
draw a word from the basket or off the Table, and to use that word as a guiding word throughout the year.
Typically, participants are encouraged to trust the word they have drawn, and not to replace the word. Individuals are often encouraged to place their star word somewhere they will see it regularly throughout the year to allow consistent reflection on how God has moved through, around, or in connection to that word.
There Are Several Theological Statements Being Made in this Tradition:
1. The Magi followed a star, which ultimately led them to Jesus. Therefore, we too use all the resources we have available to us—including creative prayer practices and intention words for the new year—to move closer to Jesus.
2. We trust that God uses multiple ways to guide us and speak to us. Star words offer a tool to actively seek and reflect on God's presence among us, both in the moment and in hindsight.
3. We recognize that it is often easy to miss God throughout our daily lives. Having an intention word to consider both in present days, as well as to reflect on at the end of the year, allows for us to see God in ways we may not have seen God before. This is the greatest gift.
4. We know that the most common prayer practice for many involves speaking to God as opposed to silence or contemplation. We believe that star words invite a new prayer rhythm of reflection and review that can be a powerful new way to connect with God.
5. By not looking at or sorting through the star words at their selection, we practice the spiritual task of receiving. It is not we who are in control in this moment. Instead, we trust that God is present, and we let go of our desire to cultivate or control.
Liturgy by Rev. Anna Strickland | A Sanctified Art LLC | sanctifiedart.org
Because we will not be together in person to receive star words you have two options:
1. Wait, and draw a star word from the basket next Sunday, January 12 - Baptism and New Member Sunday
OR
2. Click below to receive a star word online.
OR
2. Click below to receive a star word online.
Prayer
Submit a pray request below. We'll include them in this week's News and Notes email newsletter so our whole community can be praying for your request.
Let us know you were in worship today!
An Epiphany Blessing of Homes and Chalking the Door
Bring the celebration of Epiphany into your home!
Each year, using chalk, people mark the doorpost of their home with an inscription of the new year separated by C+M+B.
In 2025 the inscription is 20+C+M+B+25
CMB stands for the Latin words Christus Mansionem Benedicat, which means “May Christ bless this house.” The letters can also stand for the traditional names of the magi who visited Christ: Caspar, Melchior, and Balthazar.
So, find some chalk, gather together, bless your house, and chalk your door!
In 2025 the inscription is 20+C+M+B+25
CMB stands for the Latin words Christus Mansionem Benedicat, which means “May Christ bless this house.” The letters can also stand for the traditional names of the magi who visited Christ: Caspar, Melchior, and Balthazar.
So, find some chalk, gather together, bless your house, and chalk your door!
The following liturgy comes from The United Methodist Discipleship Ministries Worship website.
Sections marked C are to be spoken by the entire group of family, friends, worshippers, congregation — the "Community" — and those marked L are for a solo Leader, which may be one person or several in turn.
Sections marked C are to be spoken by the entire group of family, friends, worshippers, congregation — the "Community" — and those marked L are for a solo Leader, which may be one person or several in turn.
A Blessing of the Home
L: The Lord is with you;
C: And also with you.
All: Peace be to this house and to all who live, work, and visit here.
L: The three magi came to Bethlehem in search of the Lord. They brought to him precious gifts: gold to honor the newborn king, incense to the true God in human form, and myrrh to anoint his body, which one day would die like our own.
L: Let us pray,
O God, you once used a star to show to all the world that Jesus is your Son. May the light of that star that once guided magi to honor his birth, now guide us to recognize him also, to know you by faith, and to see you in the epiphanies of the daily experiences of our lives.
L: Arise, shine, for your light has come, and the glory of the Lord — Jesus born of Mary — shall be revealed.
C: And all flesh shall see it together, for the mouth of the Lord has spoken it.
All: As the magi once sought your brilliant light, O Lord, so may we week to live and work in your splendor.
L: O God of Light, bless this house and the people and pets who live in it. May this be a place of peace and health. May each person cultivate the gifts and graces you have bestowed, dedicating our talents and works for the good of all.
L: Make this house a shelter in the storm and a haven of rest for all in need of your warmth and care. And when we go out from this place, may we never lose sight of that Epiphany star.
C: As we go about our work, our study, our play, keep us in its light and in your love.
C: And also with you.
All: Peace be to this house and to all who live, work, and visit here.
L: The three magi came to Bethlehem in search of the Lord. They brought to him precious gifts: gold to honor the newborn king, incense to the true God in human form, and myrrh to anoint his body, which one day would die like our own.
L: Let us pray,
O God, you once used a star to show to all the world that Jesus is your Son. May the light of that star that once guided magi to honor his birth, now guide us to recognize him also, to know you by faith, and to see you in the epiphanies of the daily experiences of our lives.
L: Arise, shine, for your light has come, and the glory of the Lord — Jesus born of Mary — shall be revealed.
C: And all flesh shall see it together, for the mouth of the Lord has spoken it.
All: As the magi once sought your brilliant light, O Lord, so may we week to live and work in your splendor.
L: O God of Light, bless this house and the people and pets who live in it. May this be a place of peace and health. May each person cultivate the gifts and graces you have bestowed, dedicating our talents and works for the good of all.
L: Make this house a shelter in the storm and a haven of rest for all in need of your warmth and care. And when we go out from this place, may we never lose sight of that Epiphany star.
C: As we go about our work, our study, our play, keep us in its light and in your love.
A Blessing of the Chalk for Marking the Door
L: Lord Jesus, through your Incarnation and birth in true human form, you have made all the earth holy. We now ask your blessing upon this simple gift of your creation — chalk. We use it as a tool to teach our children, and they use it as a tool in their play and games. Now, with your blessing, may it become a tool for us to mark the doors of our home with the symbols of your wise servants who, so long ago, came to worship and adore you in your first home.
People in turn mark the doorway with one or more of the symbols:
20 + C + M + B + 25
L: May we, in this house, and all who come to visit, to work, and to play, remember these things throughout the coming year. May all who come and go here find peace, comfort, joy, hope, love, and salvation, for Christ has come to dwell in this house and in these hearts.
All: May we be Christ's light in the world. Amen!
People in turn mark the doorway with one or more of the symbols:
20 + C + M + B + 25
L: May we, in this house, and all who come to visit, to work, and to play, remember these things throughout the coming year. May all who come and go here find peace, comfort, joy, hope, love, and salvation, for Christ has come to dwell in this house and in these hearts.
All: May we be Christ's light in the world. Amen!