A Time Called Epiphany & the Season After Epiphany

THE SEASON OF ADVENT – Advent is the beginning of the church year for most churches in the Western tradition. It begins on the fourth Sunday before Christmas Day and ends on Christmas Eve at sundown.  This year, the fourth Sunday of Advent was also Christmas Eve.  During Advent, we anticipate the arrival of the baby Jesus as well as the Second Coming of Christ.

THE SEASON OF CHRISTMAS – Christmas Day is December 25 and marks the beginning of the Christmas season, which runs through January 5 (the 12 Days of Christmas!) During this time we celebrate the incarnation of God in the baby Jesus.

THE SEASON OF EPIPHANY – The season of Epiphany starts on January 6 (Epiphany), celebrating the arrival of the magi bringing gifts to the baby Jesus and in turn, being given the insight to return home a different way.  The season runs through to Shrove Tuesday, the day before Lent begins on Ash Wednesday.  This period of the church year also includes the Baptism of Jesus (this year on January 7) and Transfiguration Sundays.  The word epiphany means a sudden insight or new understanding.

God is creating new paths and possibilities,
as we prepare for where we are going.

Christ is freeing us with newfound love and grace,
as we learn from where we have been.

The Spirit is revealing new dreams to guide us,
as we start our journey home on a new path.

We take courage in the assurance that God goes with us;
we affirm our call to go where Christ leads; and
we trust the Spirit to guide us through the challenging space between,
where we have been, where we are, and where we are going.
Surely, we are not alone.
Thanks be to God.

—adapted from Prayer for Times of Change, The United Church of Canada