A New season begins …..
Observed on January 6th, the Epiphany celebration remembers the three miracles that manifest the divinity of Christ. The name "Epiphany" comes from the Greek word Epiphania, and means "to show, make known, or reveal." The celebration originated in the Eastern Church in AD 361, beginning as a commemoration of the birth of Christ. Later, additional meanings were added - the visit of the three Magi, Christ's baptism in the Jordan River, and his first miracle at the wedding in Cana. These three events are central to the definition of Epiphany, and its meaning is drawn from these occurrences. For the Church, the Epiphany represents a responsibility to reveal Jesus as the Divine Son and Savior sent by God to atone for the sins of humankind. It is a time of healing and fellowship, where the Church comes together in the covenant of community to love one another as Christ ‘s love compels.

The Church observes a variety of Epiphany rituals and traditions. In places throughout Europe and Latin America, Christians commemorate Three Kings' Day by offering prayers, burning herbs that have been dried and blessed, sprinkling entryways with Holy water, and inscribing, as we will at St. Anne’s, the initials of the Magi (Caspar, Melchior, and Balthasar) on entrance structures in order to receive a blessing.

The 2012 Epiphany season extends this year for 7 weeks to Ash Wednesday Feb. 22, with the last Sunday of the season honoured as Transfiguration Sunday. The tradition of Twelfth Night, which marks the end of the Christmas season, occurs the night before Epiphany. On this night, Kings' Cakes are baked in preparation for the coming winter season. "King Cake" is the Louisiana term for the sweet bread served on Epiphany. Our Youth will be baking King’s cakes for us to eat Jan. 8th!! with Bishop Terry Dance : here is one of many recipes! They are often, but not always iced in yellow, purple and green. in a circle or ring and always have 3 small trinkets or beans to discover, the one who finds them is royalty for the day!

3 King’s Cake recipe:
2 packages dry yeast;  1/3 cup warm water;  1/2 cup sugar (divided, 1/3 cup plus remaining amount, 2 Tbsp.); 1 stick butter; 2/3 cup evaporated milk; 2 teaspoons salt; 4 eggs; 1 tablespoon finely grated lemon rind; 2 tablespoons finely grated orange rind; 5 cups flour plus 1 cup for kneading surface

Melt 1 stick butter, milk, 1/3 cup sugar and salt in a saucepan. Cool to lukewarm. Combine 2 tablespoons sugar, yeast and water in a large mixing bowl. Let stand until it foams (5-10 minutes). Beat eggs into yeast mixture, then add milk mixture and lemon and orange rinds. Stir in flour, 1/2 cup at a time, reserving 1 cup for the kneading surface. Knead dough until smooth (about 5-10 minutes). Place in large mixing bowl that has been greased. Turn dough once to grease top; cover and let rise in a warm place until doubled, about 1 1/2 to 2 hours. 

Filling: 1/2 cup chopped pecans 1/2 cup brown sugar, packed 3 plastic trinkets or 3 dry red beans 3/4 cup granulated sugar 1 Tablespoon cinnamon 1 stick butter, melted
Topping: Either 1 egg beaten or Confectioner's Sugar Icing (see below) Then 1/3 cup each colored sugar of purple, yellow and green

For filling, mix pecans, brown sugar, granulated sugar and cinnamon. Set aside.

For topping, tint sugar by mixing in food coloring When dough has doubled, punch down and divide in half. On a floured surface, roll half into a rectangle 30 x 15 inches (this takes a long time for me, and the dough gets to be very thin). Brush with half of the melted butter and cut into 3 lengthwise strips. Sprinkle half of sugar mixture and pecans on strips, leaving a 1-inch lengthwise strip free for sealing. Fold each strip lengthwise toward the center, sealing the seam. You will now have three 30-inch strips with sugar and nut mixture enclosed in each. Braid the 3 strips and make a circle by joining the ends. Repeat with the other half of the dough.

Decorate a St. Francis Tree ….. Don’t forget about your feathered friends this winter! A wonderful Epiphany project for you, the Sunday school, or your family: after the Christmas tree comes down, why not enjoy a long lasting St. Francis tree!!! A welcome treat for outside feathered friends (and a few squirrels and chipmunks too}

This tree can have small white lights but is more natural-looking with garlands of strung popcorn and cranberries, peanut butter balls rolled in seed, suet cakes, seed bells, orange and apple slices, and pinecones stuffed with suet. Balls and cut fruit may be tied onto the tree with raffia strands which birds will later carry off as nesting materials.
A large spot light may also be used instead of strung mini white lights. Inexpensive garden statues of St. Francis can usually be found in most garden shops, online, and make a great addition to the treescape. Don’t forget a water supply for the birds in the form of a birdbath or basin. The tree may be left up after Christmas and replenished throughout the cold winter months.

When I want to make bird seed ornaments I pull out a glass mixing bowl, and place a suet cake in the bowl. Then I pop it in the microwave for 20 second intervals.. When the suet cake is all melted, I add a half a jar of peanut butter. I use non-hydrogenated. I like to make a few pine cone ornaments while I’m making bird seed ornaments. I add a little bird seed to the mixture, about 1/4 to 1/2 cup. Then I dip the pine cones in. The pine cones should come out with a layer of the seeds, suet and peanut butter mixture.
You can also add dried fruit, cranberries, chunks of apples, nuts, or popcorn to the ornament mixture. The next step is the messy part. Grab a small handful of the mixture, and a string. Lay the string on top of the mixture in your hand, then add another small handful on top. Work the mixture with your hands to form a ball with the sting in the center. When you are happy with the shape lay the ornament aside on a cookie sheet, or sheet of aluminum foil to cool and dry. Once the ornaments are cooled hang them on the nearest tree for all your feathered friends to enjoy. You can also add a decorative ribbon to the ornaments and give a collection of them to your nature, or garden loving friends for Christmas.

What Is a Chalking the Door Service? 
This short liturgy is a way of marking or hallowing our dwelling places, usually at the front or main entrance, with sacred signs and symbols as we ask God's blessing upon those who worship, live, work, or visit throughout the coming year. In Exodus, the Israelites marked their doors with blood so that the Lord would pass over their homes; but in this service, we mark our doors with chalk as a sign that we have invited God's presence and blessing into our family homes and spiritual home, the church.

The parish priest may bless the chalk, giving out to any who wish to mark their homes.  Many households mark their entrance door lintels with the Cross of salvation, the year and the inscription CMB, (the initial Caspar, Melchior and Balthasar, the names of the three magi not recorded in scripture but found in 9th century records). The inscription also stands for Christus Mansionem Benedicat, which means "Christ, bless this home." The inscription for this year would be 20+C+M+B+10. It remains above the doorway until Pentecost or if the outside door, until the elements wash it away. The symbols are usually written on the upper horizontal piece of the door frame of the front entrance to a church, home, or room; but if younger children or people in wheelchairs participate, they are encouraged to place the symbols anywhere on the door frame they can comfortably reach.  Below is a simple liturgy you can say at home.

A Blessing of the Home For Your Personal Use
L: The Lord is with you;

C.:  And also with you. 

All: Peace be to this house and to all who live, work, and visit here.
One or all of the readings that follow may be said:
A reading from Proverbs: "By wisdom a house is built, and through understanding it is established; through knowledge its rooms are filled with rare and beautiful treasures."

A reading from Isaiah: "The effect of righteousness is peace, and the result of righteousness, quietness and trust forever. My people will abide in a peaceful habitation, in secure dwellings, and quiet places."

A second reading from the prophet Isaiah 60:1-6:  Arise, shine; for your light has come, and the glory of the Lord has risen upon you. For behold, darkness shall cover the earth, and thick darkness the peoples; but the Lord will arise upon you, and His glory will be seen upon you. And nations shall come to your light, and kings to the brightness of your rising.
Lord God of Heaven and Earth, as a shining star once guided the magi to the birthplace of your Son,  guide  us to be your light in the world.  Your first earthly home was a stable.  Bless our home and all who inhabit it. Fill them with the light of Christ, that their love for others may truly reflect your love. We ask this through Christ our Lord. Amen.

Different family members are now invited to mark the doorway with the chalk symbols: 20+C+M+B+10, and then join hands continuing …
L: O God of Light, bless this (our) home and this (our) family. May this be a place of peace and health. May each member of this family cultivate the gifts and graces you have bestowed, dedicating our talents and works for the good of all.

L: Make this home a shelter in the storm and a haven of rest for all in need of your warmth and care. And when we go out from this place, may we never lose sight of that Epiphany star.

C: As we go about our work, our study, our play, keep us in its light and in your love.

L: May we, in this house, and all who come to visit, to work, and to play, remember these things throughout the coming year. May all who come and go here find peace, comfort, joy, hope, love, and salvation, for Christ has come to dwell in this house and in these hearts.

C: Our Father...  
L:  May the Lord watch over our going out and our coming in, from this time forth and forevermore. ?
All: May we be Christ's light in the world. Amen