Epiphany

From the East came the Magi to Bethlehem to adore the Lord; and opening their treasures, they offered costly gifts: gold to the Great King, incense to the true God, and myrrh in symbol of his burial, alleluia!


Epiphany - the final day of Christmas and the day in which we get to recognize that the gift of Christmas was presented to Gentiles as well as the Jews. The light shines for all of us, all who are willing to follow the star. We prepared for Epiphany by making spiced muffins for our dinner...

and making pomanders, our gifts of gold and spices.

The magi are ready for the final leg of their journey.

I was inspired by the spices that the Magi gifted to Christ as I created the dinner menu for this Holy day. I served an egg and sausage casserole, cinnamon streusal muffins, applesauce spiced muffins, spiced baked apples, and spiced tea. The table was set in purples and blues. The wise men were added to the nativity that was placed beneath my metal 'candelabra' whose candleholders suggest crowns of kings to me, three of them, in fact. Also, at the foot of the 'candelabra' we place the gifts of gold, frankincense and myrrh and the pomanders that Bishop and I made as our representations of the gifts of gold and spices.

O Lord, Almighty God, bless this house that it may become a shelter of health, chastity, self-conquest, humility, goodness, mildness, obedience to the commandments, and thanksgiving to God, Father, Son and Holy Spirit. Upon this house and those who dwell herein may Your blessing remain forever, through Christ our Lord, Amen.

Final inscription made with chalk above doorway will read 20+C+M+B+11

The three wise men,

Caspar, C

Melchior, M

and Balthasar, B

followed the star of God's Son who became man

two thousand, 20

and eleven years ago, 11

May Christ bless our dwelling,

and remain with us throughout the new year, +

and grant that our comings and goings, +

will be in search of truth. +

The inscription will stay up through pentecost.

Happy Epiphany everyone!