Happy 2021 faith family! Wednesday, January 6, 2021 is Epiphany. In the interest of health and safety, we will not be celebrating in our traditional ways this year. However, this is still an important date in our calendar. At noon, there will be a special Intercessory Prayer service with music and Holy Eucharist. Tomorrow at noon, connect to our YouTube page and here is the accompanying service leaflet.
“Chalking your door” is another way to remember this day in a socially distanced way. This year, perhaps more than ever, is a year in which we need to invite Jesus into our homes, our Domestic Churches.Instructions for Blessing the Home:Using chalk, mark the lintel of your front door as follows:
20 + C + M + B + 21 saying:
The three Wise Men, Caspar, Melchior, and Balthazar followed the star of God’s Son who became human two thousand and twenty one years ago.
May Christ bless our home and remain with us throughout the new year.
Amen.
Then, say the following prayer:
Visit, O Blessed Lord, this home with the gladness of your presence.
Bless all who live or visit here with the gift of your love;
and grant that we may manifest your love to each other
and to all whose lives we touch.
May we grow in grace and in the knowledge and love of you;
guide, comfort, and strengthen us in peace,
O Jesus Christ, now and for ever.
Amen.
What does the inscription ‘20 + C + M + B + 21′ mean?
The letters have two meanings. First, they represent the initials of the Magi – Caspar, Malchior, and Balthazar – who came to visit Jesus in His first home. They also abbreviate the Latin phrase, Christus mansionem benedicat: “May Christ bless the house.”
The “+” signs represent the cross, and the “20” at the beginning and the “21” at the end mark the current year.
Taken together, this inscription is performed as a request for Christ to bless those homes so marked and that He stay with those who dwell therein throughout the entire year.
On Thursday, Deacon Cecily will continue her Thursday night Compline service at 7 p.m. via ZOOM. ALL are Welcome.
This Sunday, January 10, 2021, we will have our regular 9 a.m. worship service, coming to you LIVE on YouTube and in-person by sign-up. Following the service, Fr. Howie will be offering Drive/Walk Through Communion and Prayers from 10-11 a.m. ALL are Welcome.
This Sunday also begins the new year of Adult Christian Education at 10:30 a.m. via Zoom. The first session will focus on the book “Tolkien’s Ordinary Virtues: Exploring the Spiritual Themes of the Lord of the Rings”. A Zoom invitation will be sent on Sunday. Please contact the office with any questions.
To see all events or news, visit our website, check FaceBook, or check out the posted events on the board next to the name tag station. Recent Newsletters, Sermons, or Announcements are also available.
Kind Regards,
Cana Hartman, Parish Administrator
StThomassOffice@googlegroups.com or (302) 368-4644