As I write this we are in the tenth day of Christmas. I guess we should expect 10 lords a leaping. That classic song, the 12 Days of Christmas, has a fanciful list of gifts for each day of Christmas and it reminds us that Christmas is too big for a single day. We have 12 days to celebrate God coming to us in the birth of Jesus so that we can know God face to face. We count twelve days to share with family and friends in the spirit of celebration and giving. We have twelve days to recover from too many big meals and late nights. I hope that each of your 12 days of Christmas have been blessed in one way or another.
I would like to invite you to join me to celebrate the Twelfth day of Christmas with an Epiphany Evensong service at the Henry Chapel this Friday evening, January 5, at 7:00 PM. (https://www.sdchp.org/events/epiphany-evensong/) This service will start by candle light as we light individual tapers to fill the chapel with light. We will continue the themes of light and love with poetry, music and prayers. This service is part of our continuing series of ecumenical services shared with Broadview UCC and Luther Memorial Church.
As I was researching Epiphany prayers, I found this wonderful and ancient prayer that expresses the heart of Epiphany beautifully:
Eternal Light, shine into our hearts.
Eternal Goodness, deliver us from evil.
Eternal Power, be our support.
Eternal Wisdom, scatter the darkness of our ignorance.
Eternal Pity, have mercy upon us.
That with all our heart and mind and soul and strength
we may seek your face
and be brought by your infinite mercy to your holy presence;
through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
(Alcun of York, England, 8th century)
Yours in Christ,
David+