Friday, January 6, 2012

Dear God,

Epiphany, one of my favorite days of the year!  I was overjoyed when 24 people said yes to attend my epiphany dinner party.  I had my tables beautifully set in the dining room, living room, and writing room.  I had candles burning all over the house and my Christmas tree and mantle lights were all aglow.  A roaring fire and Susan Boyle singing Christmas songs had my heart already stirring before the first person arrived.

As each guest stepped across the threshold, I invited them to take a number to determine who they would join for dinner.  Eventually as we all stood around visiting, I asked everyone to take the hand of someone else in the room for an evening prayer.  During the course of the next three hours we enjoyed a five-course meal. We shared Christmas memories from a "meal. conversation starter" sheet I had drafted.  It was wonderful watching new and old friends get better acquainted with one another. 

It was 10:00 p.m. when we filled the area around my makeshift altar that held my olive wood creche and figures.  I passed out sheets with an epiphany quiz and promised a prize.  And then I read the epiphany story from Matthew 2.  How beautiful that wise men wanted to know the location of the infant messiah so they could go and pay homage.  When I posed my question about what inspires us to find Jesus and what gift we would carry to you all year long, I was pleased to hear some of the answers.  People were nodding as they reflected upon their own faith.

But it was when we all stood to sing that a beautiful thing happened.  Our voices seemed richer and fuller like others had joined us in our singing.  Several of us had lumps in our throat as we noticed the quality of the four-part singing.  "We three kings of orient are bearing gifts we traversed afar..."  As we continued to sing, tears glistened in many eyes as together we all felt the awesomeness of your living presence in our midst.  We were overwhelmed by the majesty of a savior standing with us.  Although our choir director later queried us about the possibility of our cathedral ceiling making the sound of our singing so beautiful, the rest of us smiled knowing full well that your own son was with us.

Living God,
full of grace
and wondrous love,
thank you
for your appearance
in our home tonight.
Thank you
for joy
that filled
every heart.
Thank you too
for the sounds
of angels
singing with us.
Thank you,
O God,
for every gift
you gave
to every one
of us.
Blessings upon you,
Holy God.

Love, Andrea