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5 p.m. - Holy Eucharist with music provided by Junior and Senior Choirs
6 p.m. - Pot Luck Supper. Drinks and Kings Cake will be provided.
"Because in the mystery of the Word made flesh, thou hast caused a new light to shine in our hearts, to give the knowledge of thy glory in the face of his Son Jesus Christ our Lord." [The Book of Common Prayer, p. 346]
On January 6th we celebrate Epiphany, the coming of the Wise Men bringing gifts to visit the Christ child who, by so doing, "reveal" Jesus to the world as Lord and King. It is a time for thanking God for revealing Jesus as Christ in our lives. The celebration of Epiphany, also called Twelfth Night or Three Kingsı Day, is rich with traditions. Kings Cake is an Epiphany tradition especially dear to children. At the Chapel of the Cross, we will share in Kings Cupcakes at the potluck dinner following a glorious service featuring both the Junior and Senior choirs. The children who find the three cupcakes with a coin in them will be given a kingıs crown to wear and take home.
The tradition of a Kings Cake is found in many countries. Historically, the earliest Kings Cake can be found in ancient Rome as part of the celebration of the rebirth of Epiphany the sun at this time of year. A mock king, chosen by bean ballot, ruled the annual festival. This evolved into the practice of baking a cake containing a bean. Medieval versions contained a bean and a pea: one for the King and the other for the Queen. If a female got the bean or a male got the pea, then they had the honor of choosing the King or Queen. This tradition was later found in France, Spain, and Germany in Twelfth Night celebrations. Mexico and New Orleans kept the tradition strong in the New World.
Over the years, beans have been replaced by gold coins, jewelry, nuts, or miniature plastic or porcelain babies. Differing thoughts have developed on what it means to find the object. Most agree that finding the object is a good thing; however, in Mexico and New Orleans the finders are considered the losers because they are responsible for providing the party on Fat Tuesday, the end of the Epiphany season.
I hope you can make it to this yearıs service and potluck dinner featuring Kings Cupcakes. It will be a special time for finding Christ in our lives at the beginning of this Epiphany season.
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