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“And
going into the house [the wise men] saw the child with Mary
his mother, and they fell down and worshiped him. Then,
opening their treasures, they offered him gifts, gold and
frankincense and myrrh.” Matthew 2:11
Epiphany
Preparation?
I don’t
know about you, but I have been quite busy getting ready for
Epiphany. I have done a significant amount of Christmas
preparation, but this year I am more consumed with Epiphany
Day than I ever have been before. Usually my focus is on
preparing for the celebration of Christmas. Just like you I
decorate my home, buy gifts, bake cookies, practice music,
all the while getting into the holiday spirit. To speak of
Epiphany already seems a little like putting the sleigh
before the reindeer.
Traditionally speaking, Christ’s Epiphany (a.k.a.
revelation) to the magi is not
celebrated until after the twelve days of Christmas are
ended. If you count the days on your calendar it means that
Sunday, January 6 is Epiphany Day. Granted, I have yet to
see a Christmas program without the presence of wise men –
and understandably so. Who wants to be one of the three
kids who has to wait two more weeks to read his lines!?
Epiphany
is a celebration of God’s Son revealed to the nations.
Early on in Jesus’ young earthly life the magi stood – as
representatives for the Gentile world – at the door of what
may have been Joseph and Mary’s Bethlehem rental home. They
gazed inside to see the epiphany / revelation of the Christ
child. Even though Jesus was born as Israel’s King, the
visit of the magi shows that the Christ was born as King of
all nations – ours included!
Pastor Brian Larson
Epiphany
Worship
8:00 AM
and 10:30 AM
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