Seen Around Church: Week of December 29, 2024
December 31, 2024By Director of Spiritual Formation Rebecca Guzman
- It is a prayer practice in churches all over the world to give people a star word on this Epiphany Sunday. Many of us experience prayer as talking to God as opposed to silence or contemplation. However, this prayer practice invites a new prayer rhythm of reflection and review that can be a powerful way to connect with God. After worship, we will have children stationed at each door with a basket of words. The words will be placed facedown. Take a word, not looking to see what it is before choosing! Consider this a guiding word for the year ahead. We invite you to remember your star word often, seeking the ways God might be moving through the meanings and definitions the word contains. If you are worshiping online, please use this link to generate a star word online.
- Color a star coloring page, or draw a star. Here are some coloring pages you might enjoy. You also may enjoy chalking your door tomorrow for the actual celebration of Epiphany. You can learn about this tradition and how to chalk your door here.
- A wonderful story for today is The Christmas Candle by Richard Paul Evans. Listen to a readaloud of the story. When Thomas is given the Christmas candle, he doesn’t quite understand what it is, but as he travels, he discovers that the light of Christ makes us all into one family. This is also one thing that our passage today from Ephesians tells us—that we are adopted into God’s family through Christ, and so we are only family.
- Journal, considering the following:
- What does it mean for you to be chosen by God?
- How is a star word different than a new year’s resolution?
- How do you see yourself as part of the family of God?
