Practicing Faith

Throughout the year, this section of the newsletter will include ways for you to practice your Christian faith in your everyday life. We begin the year with a blessing for your home.

Blessing of the Home at Epiphany
In our home, Christ meets us in our family and friends, visitors and strangers. In the home, faith is shared, nurtured, and put into action. In the home, Christ is welcome, just as Christ welcomed his first visitors, the Magi from the East (Matt 2:10-11).

The beginning of the year provides a good occasion to grab your friends, family, and neighbors for a blessing of your home for a new year.

Greeting
May peace be to this house and to all who enter here. By wisdom a house is built and through understanding it is established; through knowledge its rooms are filled with rare and beautiful treasures. (Proverbs 24:3-4)

Reading
In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was in the beginning with God. All things came into being through him, and without him not one thing came into being. What has come into being in him was life, and the life was the light of all people. The Word became flesh and lived among us, and we have seen his glory, the glory as of a father's only son, full of grace and truth.
From his fullness we have all received, grace upon grace. (John 1)
Inscription

The three letters in the inscription stand for either the ancient Latin blessing Christe mansionem benedica (Christ, bless this house) or the legendary names of the magi (Caspar, Melchior, and Balthasar).

This inscription may be made with chalk above the entrance:
20 + C M B + 12

The magi from the East, known as Caspar, Melchior, and Balthasar followed the star of God's Son who came to dwell among us 20: two thousand and 12: and twelve years ago. + Christ, bless this house + Christ remain with us through the new year.

Prayer of Blessing
O God, you revealed your Son to all people by the shining light of a star.
We pray that you bless this home and all who live here with your gracious presence. May your love be our inspiration, your wisdom our guide, your truth our light and your peace our benediction; through Christ our Lord. Amen.

Everyone is invited to bless the house with incense or by sprinkling each room with water, perhaps using a branch from the Christmas tree.


Open the Scripture.
Give voice to your faith, and your questions.
The Monday evening and Thursday afternoon studies are currently discussing the Gospel and/or New Testament reading for the upcoming Sunday. Your wisdom may even show up in the sermon!

Meet in the Fellowship Hall: Monday at 7:30pm or Thursday at 2:00pm.

Annual Congregational Meeting and Potluck
January 29, 2012, after worship
Everyone is encouraged to participate in the Annual Meeting of the Congregation. This is the time when we tell the story of how God has been at work in this congregation during the past year as well as look forward to how our hands will engage in God’s mission in 2012.

*We’re electing 3 new council leaders. If you feel called to serve on council, please talk with Pastor Kristin or Elaine Miller.*

As we will also share a meal with one another, please sign-up in the narthex or call the office to take part in the potluck lunch.