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Season of Epiphany

The Season of Epiphany begins on January 6 and looks ahead to the mission of the church to the world in light of the Nativity. The one or two Sundays between Christmas Day and Epiphany are sometimes called Christmastide.  Northside observes the season of Epiphany from January 6th until Ash Wednesday, which begins the season of Lent leading to Easter.

The term epiphany means "to show" or "to make known" or even "to reveal." It recalls the coming of the wise men bringing gifts to visit the Christ child, who by so doing "reveal" Jesus to the world as Lord and King. During the season of Epiphany we observe the Baptism of the Lord on January 8 and the Transfiguration of the Lord on February 26.  The Season of Epiphany follows the twelve days of Christmas, and is the season of the manifestation of God’s Word made flesh, the revealing of the presence of God.  The central images include the Magi bearing gifts, the Christ child honored by all nations and peoples, the whole world in adoration of Emmanuel, God-With-Us (Matthew 2), the Baptism of the Lord (Matthew 3), the calling of disciples (John 1:29-42); the beginning of Jesus’ ministry (Matthew 4:12-23); and his Sermon on the Mount (Matthew 5:1-12).    It is a season of growing light where light expands into dark places, newness appears in our routines, and life bursts out of deadness in the natural world, if we have eyes to see or understand things in new or clear ways.

EPIPHANY BANNER – the Epiphany star, the star which led the Magi to the Christ child.  The colors of Epiphany are usually the colors of Christmas, white and gold, the colors of celebration, newness, and hope that mark the most sacred days of the church year.


 

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