Epiphany, the 12th day after Christmas, celebrates the visit of the three kings or wise men to the Christ Child, signifying the extension of salvation to the Gentiles.
St. Michael’s will celebrate Epiphany this Sunday, January 6, at the 10am service with the Colossal Puppet Pageant. Of gigantic proportions and beautifully handcrafted by St. Michael’s members, these puppets will truly bring this important story to life. All are welcome.
A large group of volunteers, under the masterful coordination of Jeannette Ching, turned St. Michael’s sanctuary into a Christmas Wonderland today. When you come here for Christmas services, be sure to look EVERYWHERE . . . in the chapel, inside the children’s chapel, in front of the stained glass windows, and of course, on the high altar. There is beauty, and the loving service to create that beauty, in every space!
All are welcome to join the Flower Guild & Altar Guild on Sunday, December 23 at 1pm as they begin the “greening” of St. Michael’s. This is an open invitation to the whole parish to help decorate our beautiful church for Christmas services.
Cider and eggnog will be served and if you wish to bring a small plate of Christmas cookies to share with our friends in church while we are working, that would enhance the festivity!
The ring of the Advent wreath of evergreens decorated with candles was a symbol in northern Europe long before the arrival of Christianity. The circle symbolized the eternal cycle of the seasons while the evergreens and lighted candles signified the persistence of life in the midst of winter. Some sources suggest the wreath—now reinterpreted as a Christian symbol—was in common use in the Middle Ages, others that it was established in Germany as a Christian custom only in the 16th century.
Other evidence suggests that the Advent wreath was not invented until the 19th century. Research by Prof. Haemig of Luther Seminary, St. Paul, points to Johann Hinrich Wichern (1808–1881), a Protestant pastor in Germany and a pioneer in urban mission work among the poor as the inventor of the modern Advent wreath. During Advent, children at the mission school, Rauhes Haus, founded by Wichern in Hamburg, would ask daily if Christmas had arrived. In 1839, he built a large wooden ring (made out of an old cartwheel) with 19 small red and 4 large white candles. A small candle was lit successively every weekday during Advent. On Sundays, a large white candle was lit. The custom gained ground among Protestant churches in Germany and evolved into the smaller wreath with four or five candles known today. The custom spread to North America in the 1930s.
St. Michael’s Episcopal Church will offer two Christmas Eve services and all are welcome. The 4pm service on Monday, December 24 will feature St. Michael’s adult choir, youth choir and magnificent pipe organ. Beautiful choral Christmas music as well as beloved carols will be sung by congregation and choir, led by Marguerite Mullée, St. Michael’s Music Director. The 10pm service will offer organ music by James Bush and congregational singing of carols.
The church will be candlelit and adorned with evergreens for these festive and meaningful Christmas observances.
On Tuesday, Christmas Day, The Reverend Bevan Stanley will preach at a 10am service.
“So they hurried off and found Mary and Joseph, and the baby, who was lying in the manger. When they had seen him, they spread the word concerning what had been told them about this child, and all who heard it were amazed at what the shepherds said to them. But Mary treasured up all these things and pondered them in her heart. The shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all the things they had heard and seen, which were just as they had been told.” ~Luke 2:16-20
Christmas Eve – Saturday, December 24: 4pm 1st Eucharist with Choir & 10pm Lessons & Carols with Donald Sosin, organist, and Joanna Seaton, soloist
Christmas Morning – Sunday, December 25: 10am – Rite I, a quiet celebration
“I will send my messenger, who will prepare the way before me. Then suddenly the Lord you are seeking will come to his temple; the messenger of the covenant, whom you desire, will come,” says the LORD Almighty.
But who can endure the day of his coming? Who can stand when he appears? For he will be like a refiner’s fire or a launderer’s soap. He will sit as a refiner and purifier of silver; he will purify the Levites and refine them like gold and silver. Then the LORD will have men who will bring offerings in righteousness, and the offerings of Judah and Jerusalem will be acceptable to the LORD, as in days gone by, as in former years.” ~Malachi 3
“And there were shepherds living out in the fields nearby, keeping watch over their flocks at night. An angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified. But the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid. I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people. Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is the Messiah, the Lord.” ~Luke 2:8-11
May the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit be with you all. ~2 Corinthians 13:14
Christmas services at St. Michael’s-Litchfield
Saturday, December 24 @ 4pm with choir and Holy Eucharist and @ 10pm with Donald Sosin, organist and Joanna Seaton, soloist, and Holy Eucharist
Sunday, December 25, a quiet service at 10am with Holy Eucharist
Hark what a sound, and too divine for hearing
stirs on the earth and trembles in the air!
Is it the thunder of the Lord’s appearing?
Is it the music of his people’s prayer?
Surely He cometh, and a thousand voices
shout to the saints, and to the deaf and dumb;
Surely He cometh, and the earth rejoices,
glad in his coming who hath sworn: I come!
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