Find here 1) a retreat for anytime, but especially for Epiphany; 2) An Epiphany blessing for your home; 3) An invitation to receive a “star word”.
Get a star word to guide you this year! What is a star word? On the day that we remember the star that led the magi to Jesus, we pass out pieces of paper decorated with stars and a printed word.
The premise is this: the magi followed the star to find baby Jesus, bringing their gifts. We are also seeking Jesus, trusting God can and does use many signs (or stars) to guide us closer to the Divine presence.
People are invited to receive a star word and carry the word for the year using it, reflecting on it and stretching it so it stretches you! You will be amazed. I invite people to trust the word that selects them. Please message me or leave a comment on this Facebook page if you would like a star word. https://www.facebook.com/groups/3614505048672347
Epiphany Blessing for your Home: The inscription chalked above the main door of your home is *20+CMB+23*
The letters stand for either the Latin Blessing Christe mansionem benedicat, which means “Christ Bless this house”; or the legendary names of the magi- Caspar, Melchior, and Balthasar.
This simple ritual accompanies inscribing the blessing over your entrance: Use the parts below which are meaningful to your family.
Greeting:
May peace be to this house and to all who enter here. By wisdom a house is built And through understanding it is established: Through knowledge its rooms are filled With rare and beautiful treasures. (Proverbs 24:3-4)
Reading:
As we prepare to ask God’s blessing on this household Let us listen to the words of scripture: In the beginning was the Word, And the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was in the beginning with God. All things came into being through him And without him not one thing came into being And the life was the light of all people. The Word became flesh and lived among us and we have seen his glory, The glory as of a father’s only son, full of grace and truth. From his fullness we have all received grace upon grace. (John 1:1-4, 14, 16)
Inscription: Write the appropriate letter while speaking the text:
C Caspar
M Melchior
B Balthasar
Followed the star of God’s Son who came to dwell among us
20 two thousand
23 and twenty three years ago.
+ Christ bless this house
+ and remain with us throughout the new year
Prayer of Blessing:
O God, you revealed your Son to all people By the shining light of a star. We pray that you bless this home and all who live here with your gracious presence. May your love be our inspiration, Your wisdom our guide, Your truth our light, And your peace our benediction: Through Christ our Lord Amen
Then everyone may walk from room to room, blessing the house with incense or sprinkling with water using an evergreen branch. From Sundays & Seasons @2022 Augsburg Fortress. Used with permission under ONELICENSE #A-736624. All Rights Reserved
This beautiful Epiphany Retreat can be enjoyed over several days, or weeks, or pondered during one day: I have been invited to share this Epiphany (Women’s Christmas) retreat from Jan Richardson. It is also for men
Introduction: There is a custom, rooted in ireland, of celebrating epiphany (January 6, which brings the christ- mas season to a close) as women’s christmas. called Nollaig na mBan in irish, women’s christmas originated as a day when the women, who often carried the domestic responsibilities all year, took epiphany as an occasion to celebrate together at the end of the holidays, leaving hearth and home to the men for a few hours. celebrated particularly in county cork and county Kerry, the tradition is enjoying a revival. Click on this link for readings, reflections and ponderings
finding Grace in Surprising Ways 