Dear friends,
Today we celebrate the Feast of the Epiphany, marking the coming of the Wise Men to the Christ-child following the star. You may wish to take some time today to read the Gospel passage from the second chapter of Matthew and to join with many Christians across the world in the ritual of chalking your front door and praying a blessing on your home and all those who will enter it during the year ahead. Here is a sheet you can download containing more information and a prayer.
You will have heard, no doubt, that churches are now closed for public worship and private prayer until the end of January. Our all-age Epiphany Celebration at 4 p.m. today has moved on-line. If you wish to join the nine families with children who intend to attend on Zoom at 4 p.m., please email Liz Owen on events@stmarysdunblane.org for the link. This Sunday, our ‘Poems and Prayers for Epiphany’, a reflective introduction to the new season, will be sent to you as a video and as written Materials for Worship.
During the weeks ahead, I will be celebrating the eucharist in the church every Sunday at 10.30 a.m. You are invited to join me at home in prayer and worship using the materials which will be sent out to you. The Provincial Eucharist will be broadcast at 11 a.m. every Sunday. A link can be found at www.scotland.anglican.org/broadcast-sunday-worship/ With the help of the Ministry Team, I am also hoping to put together videos of reflective services for Candlemas and Ash Wednesday.
In order to keep us in touch with each other, the congregational newsletter will resume next week. Feel free to send contributions to me at rector @ stmarysdunblane.org. Please don’t hesitate to phone me on 824225 if you are in need of support or prayer during this difficult time. I am never too busy for a chat! If I’m not able to answer, please leave a message and I’ll get back to you as soon as I can. I intend to be at the Rectory every day except Mondays.
During Advent, I discovered the art of Virginia Wieringa and have enjoyed meditating on her series of Advent banners, many of which were commissioned by churches in the States. She explains on her website Virginia Wieringa Fine Art that her work often reflects the mysteries she perceives in the world and that the Advent series was inspired by words by the German poet, Rainer Maria Rilke:
Have patience with everything unresolved in your heart and try to love the questions themselves… Don’t search for answers now, because you would not be able to live them. And the point is to live everything. Live the questions now. Perhaps then, someday far in the future, you will gradually, without even noticing it, live your way into the answer.
Like the Wise Men, we as individuals and as a church are on an uncertain journey depending on God’s guidance. I invite you to join me in praying the Collect for today for ourselves, our country and our world:
Eternal God, who by a star led wise men to the worship of your Son, guide by your light the nations of the earth, that the whole world may know your glory; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen.
with love to you all,
Nerys
