The Good Samaritan

The Sunday before last we had a very small group, and I presented the Good Samaritan material to a few children for the first time. The children were really engaged with the work and made some wonderful observations. I've been enjoying one reflection ever since.

We've talked a lot about the History of the Kingdom of God, and the children know about parousia - the time yet to be when Christ will come again and God will be all in all. I was thinking of this when I wondered with the children what it would be like if everyone was like the Good Samaritan. In a joyful voice, one child said, "it would be the Earth of God - all in all!"

I just love that!

Epiphany Star

My friend Betty reminded me that I wanted to post an update on our Epiphany star on the blog this year. I decided to buy this star last year when I was putting away the Christmas decorations. You can read about the idea in the post Try This: Epiphany.

I brought out the Epiphany star on January 6th this year. It did exactly what I hoped it would do! I love having this beautiful light in our home, especially when it is cold and dark outside. I also love having a visual reminder of the season of Epiphany and a sign of the light of Christ in our living room. I keep it on all day and evening and we have really been enjoying it.

For a refresher on the season of Epiphany, read Epiphany - Growing Time! I'm praying for many blessings for you and yours this season!

Epiphany Celebration

With Epiphany falling on a Sunday, we had to work with several interruptions in the True Vine Atrium last week. Children and catechists were coming and going to lead and to observe the Chalking of the Church and procession at the 10:30 service.  Somehow, we still managed to have a very nice morning together!

In honor of Epiphany, we prepared a little celebration for our atrium. To be clear - this is not a Catechesis of the Good Shepherd work, but something we put together ourselves based on an idea from a friend.

We had pondered the scripture and worked with the material of the three wise men the Sunday before Christmas. In atrium last week we remembered the significance of strangers from a foreign land coming to honor Jesus. We wondered at this sign that Jesus' light wasn't just for people in one country or even in one time but for all people and all time. In fact, since that day Jesus' light has spread around the world and across time to us today!

To celebrate this good news, children who were not involved in the Church celebration had the time to choose a country and make a flag to represent it and it's people. We hung these flags in our prayer corner.

After returning from the celebration downstairs, we talked again about the gifts the wise men brought to Jesus and their significance and passed around little samples of each gift. For our celebration, everyone took part in a procession, led by children carrying the Good Shepherd statue and our star lantern. Children carried the three gifts and we sang "We Three Kings" as we processed in and set the prayer table. Once gathered we prayed together, with the children offering special prayers for the countries represented by the flags, and other countries of the world.

It was a sweet morning, and a welcome reminder to me that God can work through imperfect plans and less than ideal schedules!

Happy Epiphany!

Happy Epiphany! Because it is unusual for Epiphany to fall on a Sunday, we had a special celebration in our 10:30 service today led by Rev. Peter.

The three Magi, the Royal Page and the Star from our Christmas Eve Pageant reappeared! We began our service with a blessing of our sanctuary. Each Magi wrote her initial on the lintel of the door.

Caspar

Melchior

and Balthasar.

Rev. Peter added the years. (He didn't need the step ladder!)

The Star led the way down the aisle as we sang "We Three Kings."

To learn more about the season of Epiphany, read Epiphany - Growing Time! Many blessings to you as we head into this lovely season!