Epiphany

We three kings of Orient are
Bearing gifts we traverse afar
Field and fountain, moor and mountain
Following yonder star

O Star of wonder, star of night
Star with royal beauty bright
Westward leading, still proceeding
Guide us to thy Perfect Light

Gaspard (or Gaspar or Caspar)

Born a King on Bethlehem's plain
Gold I bring to crown Him again
King forever, ceasing never
Over us all to reign

Refrain

Melchior

Frankincense to offer have I
Incense owns a Deity nigh
Prayer and praising, all men raising
Worship Him, God most high4Refrain

Refrain

Balthazar

Myrrh is mine, its bitter perfume
Breathes of life of gathering gloom
Sorrowing, sighing, bleeding, dying
Sealed in the stone-cold tomb

Refrain

Glorious now behold Him arise
King and God and Sacrifice
Alleluia, Alleluia
Earth to heav'n replies

Refrain

      

This will be our hymn of the day this morning, because on January 6 in the Western Church we celebrate The Epiphany by reading Matthew’s story of the Magi. Astrologers see a star that they believe announces the birth of a great king, and they come seeking him, finding him in Bethlehem. It’s part of Matthew’s nativity story and we love it and we stir it all up with Luke’s nativity narrative and let our Christmas Season last until today. 

There being three visitors, and their being kings, and their names being (among other names over the centuries) Caspar, Melchior and Balthazar, are traditions that have grown up that make the story more and more real and appealing and that make our Christmas pageants charming and colorful, as ours was indeed.

At Holy Nativity this morning we’ll have breakfast between services, perhaps including Epiphany cake that usually has the royal gold and purple colors of the Mardi Gras festival at New Orleans. And if anyone comes after eating breakfast we’ll have Sunday School in which I may or may not tell some of the background of the Gospel (which is printed below) -- “may or may not” because some fear that digging into the background of Bible stories, doing historical criticism, discounts or even disparages them! It isn't meant to discount or disparage, but to deepen and enrich and help us understand what the author was working to proclaim. 

But the highlight of our Sunday worship today will be at ten-thirty, baptizing Christian Grant Cole, who is just turning six months old.

Come!

Tom+

Matthew 2:1-12

Revised Standard Version (RSV)

2 Now when Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judea in the days of Herod the king, behold, wise men from the East came to Jerusalem, saying, 2 “Where is he who has been born king of the Jews? For we have seen his star in the East, and have come to worship him.” 3 When Herod the king heard this, he was troubled, and all Jerusalem with him; 4 and assembling all the chief priests and scribes of the people, he inquired of them where the Christ was to be born. 5 They told him, “In Bethlehem of Judea; for so it is written by the prophet: 

6 ‘And you, O Bethlehem, in the land of Judah, are by no means least among the rulers of Judah; for from you shall come a ruler
who will govern my people Israel.’”

7 Then Herod summoned the wise men secretly and ascertained from them what time the star appeared; 8 and he sent them to Bethlehem, saying, “Go and search diligently for the child, and when you have found him bring me word, that I too may come and worship him.” 9 When they had heard the king they went their way; and lo, the star which they had seen in the East went before them, till it came to rest over the place where the child was. 10 When they saw the star, they rejoiced exceedingly with great joy; 11 and going into the house they saw the child with Mary his mother, and they fell down and worshiped him. Then, opening their treasures, they offered him gifts, gold and frankincense and myrrh. 12 And being warned in a dream not to return to Herod, they departed to their own country by another way.