As a youngster, Christmas season began the day after Thanksgiving (now known as “Black Friday, the busiest shopping day of the year) and ended on Dec. 26. That’s when holiday ornaments were put away, the tree was disposed (its shedded…
Teaching my grandson about sacred curiosity and Epiphany
The soft light seeping around the edges of the blinds gave me the mistaken impression that the sun was rising. I arose from my bed and headed toward the living room to begin my day by journaling. Stepping into the…
The gospel as epiphanic moment
In her short story Revelation, Flannery O’Connor writes of the great judgment: Until the sun slipped finally behind the tree line, Mrs. Turpin remained there with her gaze bent to them as if she were absorbing some abysmal life-giving knowledge….
To celebrate Epiphany, reject Herodian Christianity
If you’ve read or watched the national news this week, you’ve seen two stories dominate the coverage. One story is the Omicron variant and the increasing number of COVID cases all around the country. Part of that story has included…
It’s hard to quit Herod, but we must worship another
After the events of Jan. 6, I spent days not knowing what to think, much less what to write in a pastoral letter to my congregation. Since that day was Epiphany on the church calendar, for a while, I was…
Remember that Epiphany ends with Herod’s terror
In the days and verses after the Epiphany story, Herod goes on a campaign killing boys under the age of 2 in fear of losing his power. I imagine there were some in the region who could not believe that…
Pastors respond to unbelievable events at Capitol on Epiphany 2021
Baptist pastors and leaders took to social media Wednesday, Jan. 6, to express outrage and remorse and calls to prayer as supporters of President Donald Trump stormed the United States Capitol in an attempt to disrupt certification of Trump’s loss…
On Epiphany, let us resolve to go on
Today is the Day of Epiphany. It is the day the church sets aside to remember the journey of the magi to see the young child Jesus and his family as recorded in the second chapter of the Gospel of…
On Epiphany, tend the light of Christ with truth and love
On Epiphany, which the worldwide church celebrates today, we should ask ourselves how we, the church, will rise and shine in these dark days of discouragement so that we will be a light to the world. The answer has to…