Epiphany and the Feast of Lights

As the Feast of the Epiphany is a major feast day of the church, there will be a celebration of the Holy Eucharist at 12 noon in the church.

In the evening, the monthly pot luck supper will be held at 6:00 PM , followed by the Feast of Lights service at 7:00 PM .

The Annual Feast of Lights is a Candlelight Service that marks the Coming of the Wise Men and the Manifestation of Christ to the World.

The season of Epiphany begins with this celebration of the wise men's coming to worship the newborn king with their gifts that symbolize the meaning of the life of this newborn King. The gold, which represents wealth and royalty, was the sign that he would be king. The frankincense, incense which was burned daily in the Jerusalem temple as a holy offering to God, was the sign that he was holy, our "Great High Priest.” And the myrrh, a bitter spice used to wrap the bodies of the dead, was the sign that, royal and holy though he was, he would die.

Many young people of the Parish take part in this service of Light, taking parts of the disciples who are sent into the world to spread the gospel. As the congregation leaves the church at the end of the service, they carry candles as the light of Christ into the darkness of the world.

This Feast of the Epiphany not only marks the end of the Season of Christmas, but the beginning of its own season, the season of Epiphany. Through centuries of tradition, Epiphany has been the season to remember and celebrate the mission of the church, as it spreads throughout the world, just as the light of the sun strengthens and lengthens each day of this season.

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(The above information is quoted from a press release to the Bennington Banner.)