Epiphany Resources and Ideas from: Anglicans Online
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About an hour ago I celebrated the second annual 'placing of three cards' on our
front sidewalk.
On the front of the card: A picture of the Magi and 'To you who pass by our
house: Please take one—just one'. There's a quarter taped on each card and each is
sealed in its own clear zip-locking small plastic bag.
Inside the card: 'There's an old Pennsylvania Dutch custom that on the eve of the
new year, three silver coins are placed outside the house where the Magi can find
them and cast their blessings as they travel toward Bethlehem seeking the Babe.
The blessings of the Magi are peace, love, and health to all who live therein. Please
take one of the quarters. It's unlikely that the magi will be coming through WinstonSalem on their way to Bethlehem, and maybe you can spread the blessings of peace,
love and health in your life, at home or work or wherever. And by your taking the
coin, the Magi will leave their blessing at our house, too'.
I just peeked out the front door. They're all three still there. That's the way it was
last year, but when I got up (customarily late) on New Year's morning, one was
gone, and by the time I had fixed us a celebratory breakfast and eaten it, the other
two had gone. The blessing of the Magi had been spread abroad.
My parish, the Episcopal Church of St John the Evangelist in San Francisco,
celebrates Twelfth Night with a parish party. A coin is placed in a cake (and yes,
people are warned to be careful when eating their cake), and the finder of the coin is
crowned the King or Queen of the parish for the year. This entails a mock coronation
with a cheap plastic crown, and pictures of the event are posted on the bulletin
board for the amusement of all. The event has nothing at all to do with the liturgical
meaning of the day, but it is great fun.
St John's in Columbia, South Carolina, has celebrated 'Feast of Lights' since the
1950s. It opens without fanfare: one man in the pulpit and another in the back of
the church, singing back and forth to one another 'Watchman, tell us of the night'.
The first half of the pageant continues with the Annunciation through the ministry of
John the Baptist. Of course, the Three Kings process with pages, each singing a
verse of their hymn. Each scene emphasizes that Jesus was manifest, shown to each
character in some special way. The first half closes with an interesting offertory,
during which everyone in the church gets up, drops money into one of the Three
Kings' pages' basins, and then files past the baby and parents playing the Holy
Family. It's kind of fun; you think you're really looking at baby Jesus for a moment,
until you recognize him under all that swaddling clothes business. The fun part for
me, though, IS the recognition that HE is always among us, in each face. Okay, so
that's very cool.
The second half of the pageant traces Pentecost through modern day. I find it
very moving to see contemporary librarians, lawyers, contractors, and office
managers lining up next to the apostles, saying in essence, 'He came for me, too'.
There's a ton of congregational singing (no Eucharist, which I think is odd), and
we file out with candles to sing 'Joy to the World' in the courtyard. A reception
follows, where King Cakes have been baked. Certain items are baked into them.
Whoever gets the dime must invest it towards next year's celebration. (This year's
'investor' brought back over $150.) Others find items in their slices which designate
them as hosts of the next year's reception, etc. We think a rector brought the text
and traditions here with him from somewhere else. God forbid we should change
anything, but it does get added to now and then, apparently.
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Since Epiphany is the time for gifts, the Catholic, Lutheran and Methodist churches in
Stevenson, Washington are going to do the following: Each person picks a colored
ribbon bow upon entering the church. At the Offertory, each person reflects on what
gift they bring to the Lord in 1998 or what they will do in the new year. They then
will either place the ribbon in the collection plate or bring it up to the crèche and
place it before the crib.
At St Christopher's, Rantoul, Illinois we have an Epiphany party every year, after
mass and a pot-luck dinner. We have an Epiphany cake with three wooden stars in
it. The three people who get the stars are the Kings for the night. We then seat
everyone in a big circle of chairs and play 'pass the parcel'. A gift is wrapped many
times, and as music is played, the gift is passed. When the music stops the person
has to unwrap, read, and do what a note says. The last person to unwrap gets the
gift and takes the lead in a slow dance. By the end of the night every one is dancing
... We have a great time.
At St John the Evangelist, Stockton, California, we always have a Solemn Mass on
the evening of Epiphany. The homily is geared toward children. Afterward, we have
an 'ethnic' supper (Filipino this year, previously Mexican, Chinese, Italian, CajunCreole, BBQ) in token of the manifestation of Christ to 'all nations'. Many years,
there is the traditional Sunday School pageant following the dinner.
The Epiphany Blessing of a Home (From a reader in Ohio, USA. This service assumes a
leader in Holy Orders.)
(The electric lights are dimmed in the room where the opening section of the service is to be
celebrated. All the domestic supply of candles have been lit and arranged on a table, around
which we stand.)
All: + In the Name of God: the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit! Amen!
Leader: Peace be to this house!
All: And to all who enter it in this jubilee year of God's favor and grace!
Leader: The Wise Ones came from the East to worship the Lord Jesus.
All: And falling at his feet and beholding the radiance of his glory, the glory he had with the
Father before the world began, they gave him precious gifts of mystic meaning.
Leader: They presented him with gold because he is the world's only true King, the one
merciful Lord worthy of our gifts, our service and our vows! They blessed him with incense
that sweet-smelling smoke might evermore rise up from our altars to the Throne of his
majesty, worshipping and blessing and magnifying him, the one, true God! They offered him
myrrh because it would soon anoint his immaculate body, preparing it for his burial.
[Read the Scripture for this liturgy.]
All: Our Father, who art in heaven....
Leader: Gracious God, you revealed your Son to the nations by the brilliant Star of
Bethlehem! O Uncreated Light, Morning-Star of Epiphany and the world's New Dawn, lead
us, warm our hearts, fortify our wills, enkindle our devotion to you, enlighten and illumine
our inward vision! Lead us, guide us all the days of our earthly pilgrimage until we are
received into your glory. We implore your great mercy through Jesus Christ our Lord!
All: Amen
[With chalk, the leader makes this inscription on the lintel: 20+C+M+B+01. The letters
stand for the Magi Caspar, Melchior, and Balthasar and
the numbers are for the year of our Lord.]
Leader: Eternal God, + bless this home. + Sanctify this water to be a sign of our baptism, a
token of our consecration to Christ's service. May this water + made holy on this Day by the
baptism of Christ + drive far from this house and all who enter it all snares and assaults of
the enemy. Wherever this water is sprinkled may safety be guarded and hospitality be made
manifest. Grant that faith, charity, and good health triumph over evil in this house. May
your Word always be cherished and obeyed here. We give praise and thanksgiving to you,
and to your Son, and to the Holy Spirit.
All: Amen
[The leader blesses him/herself with the Epiphany water and then all who are present.
Exchange the sign of peace. All move through the other rooms of the house, sprinkling the
rooms, blessing God, and singing.]