It’s time for Shrove Tuesday, also called Pancake Day, Mardi Gras, and Carnival. And I’m excited, not only because we will eat pancakes but also because it means we are only a day away from Lent, my favorite season of the year! The End of the Carnival The word Carnival comes from the Latin expression,…
Today in the Spirit: Epiphany World Mission Sunday A
The Book of Common Prayer 2019 has designated the second to last Sunday of Epiphany every year to be World Mission Sunday. This accomplishes two important things: 1) it causes us who spend most our time and energy following Jesus in one locality among a small circle of people to lift our eyes over the…
10 Ways to Preach the Baptism of our Lord
In 2016, I led a tour of 30 adults through the Holy Land, and one of our stops was the newly renovated site on the Jordan River, commemorating John the Baptist’s baptism of our Lord. I led our group in the renewal of vows, sprinkling and praying over 29 of the 30 pilgrims. Then, one…
Epiphany and Epiphanytide: A Rookie Anglican Guide
Christians celebrate the feast day of Epiphany on January 6, the day after the twelfth and final day of Christmas. Many also know this holiday as “Three Kings’ Day,” although the three “kings” were actually magi—astrologers from eastern countries such as Persia. While Western churches celebrate this event as “Epiphany,” our Eastern brothers know it…
What They Are Saying About Epiphany
Epiphany is January 6th. And as the magi discovered Jesus as King, others have and will. Lord Jesus may your light shine our way, as once it guided the steps of the magi: that we too may be led into your presence and worship you, the Child of Mary, the Word of the Father, the King of…
Here’s Why You Should Celebrate an Epiphany Festival
Anglicans often speak of the tradition of the 12 Days of Christmas, emphasizing that the holiday is not merely one day but an extended season. The season spans from December 25 (or the evening of December 24) through January 5 and includes several nativity-oriented feast days, as well as separate saints’ days. Many families and…
Collect Reflections: The Third Sunday of Epiphany
This post, in addition to being a part of Rookie Anglican, is part of a series on the Collects of the Christian Year (ACNA), called “Collect Reflections.” If you’re just jumping in, make sure to check out the introductory post, “Announcing Collect Reflections.” All Collect Reflection posts can be found here. The season of Epiphany is directed outward;…
Collect Reflections: The Second Sunday of Epiphany
This post, in addition to being a part of Rookie Anglican, is part of a series on the Collects of the Christian Year (ACNA), called “Collect Reflections.” If you’re just jumping in, make sure to check out the introductory post, “Announcing Collect Reflections.” All Collect Reflection posts can be found here. The Second Sunday of Epiphany Almighty God,…
Collect Reflections: The First Sunday after the Epiphany; The Baptism of Our Lord
This post, in addition to being a part of Rookie Anglican, is part of a series on the Collects of the Christian Year (ACNA), called “Collect Reflections.” If you’re just jumping in, make sure to check out the introductory post, “Announcing Collect Reflections.” All Collect Reflection posts can be found here. Epiphany-what? Sadly, the time for saying “Merry…
Epiphany: A Bridge to the Season of Lent
Next week, Christians worldwide will turn their hearts and minds—and foreheads—to Ash Wednesday. People have begun pondering and discussing what their Lenten practices will be this year. Worship pastors and musicians select hymns and worship songs to ensure we have plenty of ‘alleluias’ before that word is silenced for forty days. Your weekend grocery shopping…
“The Day Beyond Christmas” (A Christmas Poem)
The Day Beyond Christmas “Hey! Good News has come here! I bring you Good News.”That’s the message I heard as I woke from my snooze.The daylight had gone, I had fallen asleep.I was cold to the bone and darkness was deep. I’m lonely at night like most young shepherd boysWith only some sticks and a…
