St. Mark's Episcopal Church in Little Rock will host an Epiphany service at 7 p.m. Friday.
The Rev. Steve Hancock, senior pastor of Second Presbyterian Church, will be the guest preacher and the Rt. Rev. Larry Benfield, bishop of the Episcopal Diocese of Arkansas, will preside over the Eucharist.
The Feast of Epiphany is celebrated each year on Jan. 6. For Catholics and many Protestants in the Western church, the day commemorates the visit of the Magi (wise men) to see the newborn Christ. For Orthodox churches in the East, the day is known as the Feast of Theophany and it commemorates the baptism of Christ.
Despite the differences, both occasions celebrate the manifestation of Christ.
"It's a feast day in the church where we celebrate the light of Christ being made manifest to the gentiles," said the Rev. Michael McCain, curate at St. Mark's Episcopal, 1000 N. Mississippi St. "What that means for us today is really that the light of Christ and the love of God is for all people. God is yearning for a relationship with each and every one of us."
According to Holidays, Festivals, and Celebrations of the World Dictionary, Epiphany is one of the oldest Christian feast days, dating to the end of the second century. The day is sometimes referred to as Twelfth Night, the Feast of Jordan, Old Christmas or Three Kings' Day.
In Protestant and Catholic churches as in Orthodox churches, Epiphany is not simply one day but a season that continues until the beginning of Lent.
The story of the wise men is told in the second chapter of the Book of Matthew, but the details are few.
"The Gospel of Matthew doesn't really say a lot," McCain said. "It says wise men came from the East and they go and talk to King Herod first and he tells them to go look for the baby Jesus, but it's really a ploy because he wants to kill him."
The Scriptures don't specify the number of wise men or say much about where they came from or who they were. The Scriptures say the wise men followed a star to Bethlehem and "on coming to the house, they saw the child with his mother Mary, and they bowed down and worshipped him. Then they opened their treasures and presented him with gifts of gold, frankincense and myrrh. And having been warned in a dream not to go back to Herod, they returned to their country by another route."
"Scholars have guessed who those wise men were, but the Gospel is pretty silent on the details," McCain said. "But what they come to represent is Christ wasn't born for just a certain people, but for the entire world. They represent the rest of us and everyone."
The service at St. Mark's is a convocation service, meaning that several Episcopal churches will participate. The public is also welcome. The service will include Holy Eucharist, as well as special additions to mark the day, McCain said, including a procession of the wise men or three kings.
"It's a really fun way to bring to life the very serious story of the Gospel and the wise men coming to visit the infant Jesus," McCain said.
The service also will feature candlelight in a symbolic act that McCain finds especially meaningful.
Each worshipper will receive a candle to light at the end of the service that they will then carry outside.
"They take it out to represent the light of Christ," McCain said. "And each and every one of us are to take that light out into the world."
A reception will follow in the parish hall.
"There will be champagne and food and drink," McCain said. "It's a good time to celebrate."
Information is available online at st-marks.com or by calling (501) 225-4203.
Religion on 12/31/2016