The Sun conquers
And the steps by which it approaches its zenith
Show forth a mystery.
Lo! It is twelve days since he began to mount upward
And today is the thirteenth day.
It is the perfect symbol of the Son and his twelve apostles.
The darkness of winter is conquered,
To show that Satan is conquered.
The sun conquers, so that all may know
That the only begotten Son of God
Triumphs over all.
- Epharaem the Syrian, Fourth Century

Epiphany
"a moment of sudden revelation or insight"
"a manifestation of a divine or supernatural being"

We have entered the season of Epiphany, the showing forth of God’s glory in Jesus Christ. It is the season in which we rejoice in the coming of God’s epiphany to the Gentiles – the non-Jewish peoples living in the world of Jesus’ time – the invitation from God sent to all people, as the angel announced in Luke’s gospel: "I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people."

The good news of Christ’s coming to earth as God incarnate is for all – rich and poor, young and old, delightful and annoying, happy and depressed, male and female, Jewish and non-Jewish, white and black, and every color in between. This epiphany, this moment of sudden revelation, and revealing of the divine gives all of us the opportunity to begin to know God, just as we are known by Him.

As we celebrate the next several weeks of this season, ponder what epiphany God might be bringing to you: will you find yourself in the midst of a sudden insight or revelation? Will you see more clearly the glory of God? Will you see Christ more clearly in that person whose personality is a challenge to you? All of these outcomes are possible. All that is necessary is that we pay attention, as the wise men did.

A star burned in the sky more brightly than all the others; its light was indescribable, its newness marvelous, and all the other stars, along with the sun and moon, formed a chorus around this star, the light of which reached farther than that of any other…then all magic was destroyed, and every bond wrought by wickedness was broken, and the ancient kingdom was razed. When God appeared in human form to bring the newness of eternal life, his counsel began to be fulfilled.
- Ignatius of Antioch

Debra's Midweek Meditation
"Jesus did this, the first of his signs, in Cana of Galilee, and revealed his glory; and his disciples believed in him."
John 2:11

The surprise of a sky filled with the Aurora Borealis never ceases to stop me in my tracks.
I grew up with its irregular appearance all through the arctic winter and spent many nights bundled against the cold staring into the night-the colors of light a respite in an otherwise black and white landscape.
Light can have this refreshing effect upon us.
Light can make us stand still and look.

Manifestations of light abound in the scriptures and they
make us pay attention to the Creator of Light.
The burning bush,
The star of Bethlehem,
and most particularly the
Glory of the Lord,
shine into our eyes and touch our hearts with a knowledge
of otherness and beauty.

At Cana, Jesus begins his ministry as he means to go on-
each moment is an opportunity to shine God's glory
to an unbelieving people.

The Old Testament uses the word "shekinah" to indicate this indescribable light that reminds us that God is present.
Shekinah connotes not just light and presence but dwelling.
The temple and the tabernacle were the known dwelling places of God to the Israelites, now Jesus, at Cana,
demonstrates God's desire to dwell with us wherever we find ourselves.

God is longing to join our feasts and our moments of
everyday living-
to convert our darkness into light and to
manifest God's glory so that all might be persuaded toward worship and praise.

Jesus took water and made wine at Cana.
within the heart of the wedding feast
the glory of the Lord was revealed
so that we, disciples, might believe in Him.

How will we answer the beauty of this miracle in our lives today?

Blessings,
Debra

Daily Morning Prayer:
http://www.episcopalchurchingarrettcounty.org/churchonthewebpage.htm

This Week at St. James:

Thursday: 10-12 SJA Open House
Friday: 5:00 Vestry retreat begins at Claggett
Sunday: Services at 8:00, 9:00 and 10:15
Monday: MLK Day. Church office and school closed.
Wednesday: 8:30 Healing Eucharist; 9:15 Bible Study

Upcoming Events:
Sunday January 21st, Confirmation for 9th grade and the Inquirer’s class for adults begin.

Art’s Ordination to the Priesthood is Saturday January 27th at 4:00 with reception following. Come and join in the celebration.

Knitting retreat at Rock Hall, beginning Monday Jan. 29th at 3:00 and ending Tuesday at 5:00. We will knit or crochet ourselves around the cycle of the daily office, stop for food and fellowship, and a movie in the evening, and learn more about he how-to’s of both the practice and the ministry opportunities that knitting affords. Call Marie in the office if you’d like to go. The only cost is your contribution to meals.

Prayers Etc.

Ann; Pete; Anna; Avery; The Mari family; Dot
Ken; Nancy; Sue; Brittany; Craig; Jason; David
The Parker family; Pam
For those who are deployed and their families.
For Laura and Lyle

In Closing:

God has called you out of darkness

Into his wonderful light.
May you experience his kindness and blessings,
And be strong in faith, in hope and in love.

Because you are followers of Christ,
Who appeared on this day as a light shining in darkness,
May he make you a light to all your sisters and brothers.

The wise men followed the star,
And found Christ who is light from light.
May you too find the Lord
When you pilgrimage is ended.
- Solemn Blessing, Roman Rite

Pax et Bonum,
Loree+

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