LakewayChurch 2023 Advent Guide - Flipbook - Page 14
New Year’s Eve Watch Night
Epiphany - January 6
Many people enjoy gathering to ring in the New Year.
Here are a few ideas to help it have some spiritual
significance for you.
• If you’re gathered with others in a quiet setting,
take a moment to voice a prayer at midnight
asking God to guide you through the New Year
with peace, compassion, and wisdom. Suggested
readings might include:
• Colossians 1:9-14
• 1 Corinthians 13
• Ephesians 3:14-21
• If you’re in a more spirited setting, ask each
person to voice a hope for the New Year.
• If you’re at home by the fire, take a moment
to write a letter to yourself listing a few ways
you hope to see God at work in your life in the
coming year. Seal the letter and place it with the
Christmas decorations so you’ll find it next year.
Young children can draw a picture to help them
remember something special about Christmas
this year.
The word “epiphany” is the Greek for “appearance,”
especially of a divine being. The celebration of Epiphany began in the Eastern Church and is even older
than Christmas. In some churches, it celebrates the
baptism of Jesus, in other churches, it celebrates the
appearance of Christ to the Gentiles, and that’s why
the Magi–or Wise Men-represent all the non-Jews to
whom Christ came. The Twelfth Night after Christmas was once a time of merry-making marking the
end of the Christmas holiday and was celebrated
on the evening preceding January 6, now known as
Epiphany. Some churches actually wait till January 6
to celebrate Christmas.
To make Epiphany a celebration in your home, here
are a few ideas:
• As you take down the Christmas tree, talk about
your favorite memories of this holiday season.
• Ask each person what they think was important
about the gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh
that were brought to Baby Jesus.
• Read the story of the visit of the Magi from
Matthew 2:1-12. Go outside and look at the
constellations in the sky and try to identify some.
Talk about the wonder of God’s creation and how
the stars have been guiding ships and travelers
for centuries. Do an internet search of some of
the new images that have been received from the
James Webb telescope.