Wonderfully, we enter into what God is doing and can start the year with our eyes focused on new things God has in store for us, redemptive things. Like Anna and Simeon, we can rejoice in the salvation that reaches through many sorrows. And when temptation and despair weigh us down, we can ask God for the strength to imitate the constancy of Simeon and Anna who waited long in the temple, praying for God's salvation. This service is designed to help households and small groups celebrate Epiphany, January 6th. Traditionally, the feast of Epiphany signified the close of the Christmas season.
Many countries save their high feasting and gift-giving for Epiphany.
By saving our gift-giving for January 6th, we might better focus our Advent and Christmas celebrations on the birth of Christ. The gifts may be placed near the manger as they are brought in. Choose individuals or an agency to receive these gifts after your Epiphany celebration. In addition to choosing a leader and two readers, you will need to choose three magi to play the parts of Caspar, Melchior and Balthasar. One way to choose them is to bake three kings' cakes.