The Rev. Drew Foisie, Vicar
"From the Vicar" monthly article
Joy to the world the Lord is come, let earth receive her king! Let every heart prepare him room and heaven and nature sing!
'Tis the season to belt out the above tune with all the energy and gusto that one can muster, even if it takes all one has just to get started with the first line. (Often, once rolling, the act of praise supplies its own energy, more than is ever there at the beginning.) It’s been a long, long year and this season of joy is needed now more than ever. Not to mask the pain and loss and loneliness that so many are feeling because of a pandemic that has put the well being of people around the world at risk. No, joy and good news and glad tidings defeat themselves when they become mere wrapping paper used to make unpleasant things look pleasing and bright. Covering over deep wounds and pains with saccharine cheer when they need to be uncovered, given light and the chance to heal, is the opposite of love, peace, and joy. Christmas, and the 12 days of Christmastide, are much more than an effort to paper over and forget our struggles and those of our families, neighbors, and friends. Christmas, rather, is an invitation for the attendant joy of the season to befriend all the realities of this world and our present circumstances. Christmas is so much more of an invitation than an escape. God in Christ has entered the fray of human existence and drawn near to us in the most vulnerable and real way. God in Christ brings the truth of love home to roost in the most fundamental sense when God dwells in human flesh. This is good news and glad tidings, indeed.
The season of Christmas does not entirely end when the 12 days are up. The Feast of the Epiphany, and the season after, extend the Christmas truth beyond the confines of home and hearth and church nave. For some Christian traditions Christmas doesn’t even begin until January 6th. I’m not ready to go there, but the emphasis is worth taking note of. When the travel-weary Magi finally reached the baby Jesus and recognized him as the rightful king, the Prince of Peace, something changed in history. A line had been erased, a seam had been busted open and the light of Christ shown on every person on earth, like the stars of heaven who can do nothing but radiate their glory on everyone. This occurrence, and its remembrance, has been a principal feast, or celebration, of the Church for nearly 1,800 years, and perhaps longer. Like All Saints, Christmas, Easter, Pentecost, Trinity Sunday, and Ascension Day, Epiphany anchors the prayers, intentions and rhythms of our year. To remember the Epiphany, the revelation of Christ to all people, a service will be held on January 6th at 7:00 p.m. live on Facebook. (One upside to a mostly virtual Epiphany service is that the incense won’t be a factor for most!)
As part of the Epiphany service there will be the chalking of the church doors to mark the passing of 2020, to welcome the arrival of 2021, and to bless every person entering or going forth from the church throughout the year. If there was ever a time to invoke such a blessing, this is it!
Grace and Peace and Joy to you.
Yours in Christ,
Drew+
Joy to the world the Lord is come, let earth receive her king! Let every heart prepare him room and heaven and nature sing!
'Tis the season to belt out the above tune with all the energy and gusto that one can muster, even if it takes all one has just to get started with the first line. (Often, once rolling, the act of praise supplies its own energy, more than is ever there at the beginning.) It’s been a long, long year and this season of joy is needed now more than ever. Not to mask the pain and loss and loneliness that so many are feeling because of a pandemic that has put the well being of people around the world at risk. No, joy and good news and glad tidings defeat themselves when they become mere wrapping paper used to make unpleasant things look pleasing and bright. Covering over deep wounds and pains with saccharine cheer when they need to be uncovered, given light and the chance to heal, is the opposite of love, peace, and joy. Christmas, and the 12 days of Christmastide, are much more than an effort to paper over and forget our struggles and those of our families, neighbors, and friends. Christmas, rather, is an invitation for the attendant joy of the season to befriend all the realities of this world and our present circumstances. Christmas is so much more of an invitation than an escape. God in Christ has entered the fray of human existence and drawn near to us in the most vulnerable and real way. God in Christ brings the truth of love home to roost in the most fundamental sense when God dwells in human flesh. This is good news and glad tidings, indeed.
The season of Christmas does not entirely end when the 12 days are up. The Feast of the Epiphany, and the season after, extend the Christmas truth beyond the confines of home and hearth and church nave. For some Christian traditions Christmas doesn’t even begin until January 6th. I’m not ready to go there, but the emphasis is worth taking note of. When the travel-weary Magi finally reached the baby Jesus and recognized him as the rightful king, the Prince of Peace, something changed in history. A line had been erased, a seam had been busted open and the light of Christ shown on every person on earth, like the stars of heaven who can do nothing but radiate their glory on everyone. This occurrence, and its remembrance, has been a principal feast, or celebration, of the Church for nearly 1,800 years, and perhaps longer. Like All Saints, Christmas, Easter, Pentecost, Trinity Sunday, and Ascension Day, Epiphany anchors the prayers, intentions and rhythms of our year. To remember the Epiphany, the revelation of Christ to all people, a service will be held on January 6th at 7:00 p.m. live on Facebook. (One upside to a mostly virtual Epiphany service is that the incense won’t be a factor for most!)
As part of the Epiphany service there will be the chalking of the church doors to mark the passing of 2020, to welcome the arrival of 2021, and to bless every person entering or going forth from the church throughout the year. If there was ever a time to invoke such a blessing, this is it!
Grace and Peace and Joy to you.
Yours in Christ,
Drew+
St Aidan's Episcopal Church
1318 SR532, Camano Island, WA 98282
PO Box 145, Stanwood, WA 98292
Office@StAidansCI.org
(360) 629-3969 ~ Like us on Facebook
Copyright © All rights reserved.
1318 SR532, Camano Island, WA 98282
PO Box 145, Stanwood, WA 98292
Office@StAidansCI.org
(360) 629-3969 ~ Like us on Facebook
Copyright © All rights reserved.