" ...The story of the Magi in the Gospel of Matthew allowed the Jewish followers of Jesus to imagine the unthinkable - God's grace extending to the outsiders, the gentiles. Who are the outsiders in our world? Can we imagine the favor of God extending beyond the human boundaries of race, class, nationality, ethnicity, religious devotion and gender? The Epiphany story portrays people on a journey in search of the truth and a glimpse of the divine, people "seeking God with a sincere heart"... if we recast the story of the Magi, who will play these seekers of the divine? Consider the possibilities: those without power or wealth, young people, women ..."

 Barbara Marian
         copyright 2001

Epiphany copyright 2003 Janet McKenzie, collection of Barbara Marian

Naming Epiphany Presbyterian Church

For quite some time, our church was referred to as a "New Church Development."  As we began to refine our vision for a new community of faith, we became more and more eager to create a special name for our congregation.  We spent several weeks brainstorming, listing names that were meaningful and appropriate. Finally, we culled the list to six names.  We voted until we narrowed our list to three and then to one.  At that time, our group of "midwives" gave the name Epiphany Presbyterian Church to our newly born New Church Development.

Why did we choose the name Epiphany?  Epiphany is celebrated on January 6 as a commemoration of the manifestation of Christ to the gentiles.  The Gospel of Matthew tells us that King Herod of Jerusalem, fearful of the prophecy of the birth of the Messiah, sent the Magi to find the child and report back to Herod so that the King could go and pay "homage."  Having followed a star, the Magi found the baby Jesus in Bethlehem.  Overwhelmed with joy, they gave precious gifts to this baby.  After the Magi were warned in a dream that Herod did not have good intentions for Jesus, they chose not to return to Herod with their news but instead to go back to their homeland. The Magi had an intuition that Jesus' birth was an extraordinary event.  In experiencing the phenomenon of a moving star, in their dreaming, and in their giving gold, frankincense and myrrh, we believe that the Magi recognized in a child of humble birth the promised Christ.  Hence, the word Epiphany describes, defines, and commemorates this event.

Epiphany has other meanings, such as "the sudden intuitive perception of something" or "the realization of the reality or essential meaning of something." It can also mean a flash of insight.  An epiphany can be a scene or experience that "occasions" a moment of vision.

The Reverend Elizabeth Kaeton has written of Epiphany:  "Intuition. Insight. Dreams.  All stuff of God. All manifestations of the divine spark we were given at the beginning of our creation ... when we allow ourselves to trust the divine spark within each of us, and follow where it leads, we may find ourselves smack in the presence of God. We, like the three Magi, may find ourselves overwhelmed with inexplicable joy."

Rev. Kaeton's words express in a beautiful way how our church feels about the experience of Epiphany ... and epiphanies ... and what it all truly means to us.  As our church continues to grow, we want everyone who yearns to find themselves "smack in the presence of God" to join with us.  We seek to foster a place in which you might experience great intuition and insight and fully realize the presence and love of God for you.

Think of it!  How exciting to be Epiphany Presbyterian Church.

Janice L.Sullivan