Episcopal Church Foundation Vestry Papers - for leading congregations

I miss the tree burning.

For many years my community celebrated 12th night by burning Christmas trees at the beach. As darkness approached people would add their trees to the pile collected by town workers. A member of the local clergy offered a blessing; firefighters then set the mound of trees ablaze.

As the inferno grew, the crowd of families with young children, teenagers, older people, and dogs instinctively stepped back as the blazing heat spread out from the bonfire. People stood in silence, mesmerized by the flames and the crackling and popping of the burning pines. Smoke blew in all directions as the wind shifted; people momentarily turned away then again looked upon the fiery blaze.

The eve of Epiphany marks the end of the Christmas celebration. Today we begin the season of Epiphany, a time to celebrate Jesus’ divinity. It is a time to reflect on our own baptism and to rededicate ourselves to the ministry of sharing the Good News. It is a time to share Jesus’ light.

Epiphany reminds me to set goals which include giving back to my community.
At St. Andrew’s Episcopal Church in Seattle, members are coming together to name and claim their gifts, reflecting on how to use their gifts in service of their baptismal call. I’m using the gifts inventory developed by Dorothy Gibson and Barbara Larson of St. Andrew’s to help name and claim my gifts. (See “Let Your Light Shine Through” in the January 2011 Vestry Papers.)

What are you and your congregation doing to welcome the season of Epiphany such as chalking the door, baking Kings’ Cake, or a Feast of Lights service? Does your parish have a special way for members to rededicate themselves to their ministries and missionary task of spreading Jesus’ light in the world? Please share your Epiphany practices in the Comment section below or in Your Turn.