Dear Friends in Christ,

What a privilege it was to experience all of the celebrations of Advent and Christmas with you. The older I become the more I appreciate being with a community of believers who do want to keep Christ central in their celebrations and lives. The Christmas play and the Choir cantata involved so many people and evidenced the outstanding leadership which inspired and guided the performances. Likewise, I thoroughly enjoyed the Candlelight Christmas Eve Services and worship on Christmas and New Year’s days. And, then, all of the wonderful outreach ministries!

Partly, I am sure, because my biological family is so scattered and busy, you have become my surrogate family during this period of pastoral transition. I know that God has great things in store for you as individuals and a congregation. The Planning Conference on January 8th is a time to not only coordinate past programs that have been effective, but, also, dream of new possibilities.

The Epiphany Season may be some what of a relief from all of the secularization and intensity of Christmas. If you worshiped with us Christmas Eve, you may recognize the poem that appears in this article as the Benediction I shared on those occasions. I have incorporated it into every such Service I have been fortunate to lead. (My children know it by heart.)

In a sense, Epiphany is an appropriate time to focus on the “the work of Christmas.” The word epiphany comes from the Greek, “epihanea,” which means “appearing” or “manifestation” – the revelation of God in the life and work of Jesus. As liturgical customs have merged and emerged – the Season begins on January 6th and continues through the day before Ash Wednesday; this year that includes seven Sundays. I have distinguished the emphases of Christmas and Epiphany by saying that if Christmas is the story of the divine becoming human, then Epiphany is the evidence and recognition that in the human was the divine.

I invite you to remember some of the stories associated with God’s manifestation in Jesus as we continue Christ’s work in the world.

With you in Christ’s service,

Stan
The Rev. Dr. Stan Possell