“And behold, the star that they had seen at its rising preceded them, until it came and stopped over the place where the child was.”
Source: “Lectio Divina for the Solemnity of the Epiphany” USCCB.org
Matthew, chapter 2:9
For Parents to Teach to Their Children
Today is January 6th, The Monday After Epiphany.
“Epiphany means manifestation. What the Church celebrates today is the manifestation of our Lord to the whole world; after being made known to the shepherds of Bethlehem He is revealed to the Magi who have come from the East to adore Him. Christian tradition has ever seen in the Magi the first fruits of the Gentiles; they lead in their wake all the peoples of the earth, and thus the Epiphany is an affirmation of universal salvation. St. Leo brings out this point admirably in a sermon, read at Matins, in which he shows in the adoration of the Magi the beginnings of Christian faith, the time when the great mass of the heathen sets off to follow the star which summons it to seek its Saviour.”
From CatholicCulture.org
Our Art Gallery
Our Reading
Sunday, January 5, 2020, “The Solemnity of the Epiphany of the Lord”
Source: “Lectio Divina for the Solemnity of the Epiphany” USCCB.org
Matthew 2:1-12
“When Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judea, in the days of King Herod, behold, magi from the east arrived in Jerusalem, saying, ‘Where is the newborn king of the Jews? We saw his star at its rising and have come to do him homage.’ When King Herod heard this, he was greatly troubled, and all Jerusalem with him. Assembling all the chief priests and the scribes of the people, He inquired of them where the Christ was to be born. They said to him, ‘In Bethlehem of Judea, for thus it has been written through the prophet: And you, Bethlehem, land of Judah, are by no means least among the rulers of Judah; since from you shall come a ruler, who is to shepherd my people Israel.’ Then Herod called the magi secretly and ascertained from them the time of the star’s appearance. He sent them to Bethlehem and said, ‘Go and search diligently for the child. When you have found him, bring me word, that I too may go and do him homage.’ After their audience with the king they set out. And behold, the star that they had seen at its rising preceded them, until it came and stopped over the place where the child was. They were overjoyed at seeing the star, and on entering the house they saw the child with Mary his mother. They prostrated themselves and did him homage. Then they opened their treasures and offered him gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh. And having been warned in a dream not to return to Herod, they departed for their country by another way.”
Our Reading for Children
“The Human Family”
By, Lisa Reno
MagnifiKid! January 5, 2020. Vol.17. Part 2. Section 2. Page 3
“In this week’s Gospel, the wise men come from far away to adore Jesus. We call them “wise” because they knew how to track the movement of the stars. They noticed the new star that appeared at Jesus’ birth. They were very different from the people of Israel. They probably had different customs, different prayers, different languages, and even very different clothes. There is a legend that says that they were a European, an African, and an Asian. The legend also says that one was an old man, one was a middle-aged man, and the third a young man. Thus, the three of them represent all of us, the whole human family on earth. Their visit reminds us that Jesus, even from his birth, came to love the entire human family, to love each of us, no matter where we are from.”
Our Epiphany Song
“We Three Kings of Orient Are”
Source: Hymnary.org
1 We three kings of Orient are;
bearing gifts we traverse afar,
field and fountain, moor and mountain,
following yonder star.
Refrain:
O star of wonder, star of light,
star with royal beauty bright,
westward leading, still proceeding,
guide us to thy perfect light.
2 Born a King on Bethlehem’s plain,
gold I bring to crown him again,
King forever, ceasing never,
over us all to reign. [Refrain]
3 Frankincense to offer have I;
incense owns a Deity nigh;
prayer and praising, voices raising,
worshiping God on high. [Refrain]
4 Myrrh is mine; its bitter perfume
breathes a life of gathering gloom;
sorrowing, sighing, bleeding, dying,
sealed in the stone-cold tomb. [Refrain]
5 Glorious now behold him arise;
King and God and sacrifice:
Alleluia, Alleluia,
sounds through the earth and skies. [Refrain]
United Methodist Hymnal, 1989
“We Three Kings of Orient Are” Kings College Cambridge
We Learn Through Writing
For Epiphany, “The Manifestation of our Lord,” it is the custom to write the following formula in chalk over the door to your home:
20 + C + M + B + 20
Caspar, Malchior, and Balthazar are the names of the Three Kings or Wise Men. Source: OnePeterFive.com
“Epiphany (also known as Twelfth Night, Theophany, or Three Kings Day) marks the occasion of a time-honored Christian tradition of ‘chalking the doors.’ The formula for the ritual — adapted for 2020 — is simple: take chalk of any color and write the following above the entrance of your home: 20 + C + M + B + 20.
The letters have two meanings. First, they represent the initials of the Magi — Caspar, Malchior, and Balthazar — who came to visit Jesus in His first home. They also abbreviate the Latin phrase, Christus mansionem benedicat: ‘May Christ bless the house.’ ‘The ‘+’ signs represent the cross, and the ’20’ at the beginning and the ’20’ at the end mark the year. Taken together, this inscription is performed as a request for Christ to bless those homes so marked and that He stay with those who dwell therein throughout the entire year.”
Our Art Projects
I used the charming wooden Nativity scene as the model for my painted Nativity scene above. The purple background is a print that when dry, was painted on. The original painting of six purple columns was reproduced by this simple printing process which made two more prints. All three painting were made in this way:
Three Prints, Three Different Uses
“Advent Candles” “Star of Bethlehem” “The Nativity”
Here is how to make one painting and two copies:
1. Squirt an Oreo-size glob of both white liquid glue and liquid acrylic paint onto a paper plate, for the back ground color.
2. Mix with brush and start painting the watercolor paper, rapidly. You can make stripes or any design you like on the glue/paint mixture.
3. When done, quickly place a new, clean sheet of watercolor paper on top of the wet, first sheet.
4. Press down, all over, with your hands, then peel off.
5. Repeat twice or three times depending on how mach paint is still on original sheet of paper.
6. Let all sheets of paper dry completely, then decorate or paint as desired.
Our Materials and Process
Expect that the sheets of paper will look different with each printing. Feel free to add anything you’d like to the prints–gold paint, cut-outs, new paintings, etc. The three paintings at the very top of the page are all based on the same printed background.
Paper and Chalk Art Project of the Three Kings
For a simple art project, use children’s soft pastels on dark-colored construction paper to make a night scene depicting the Baby Jesus in the manger, Mary, The Three Kings, and the brilliant star. You can have the children draw the gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh. The rectangle boxes above the kings’ heads are symbols of the gifts.
Suggested Homework Activities–Week Fourteen
There is no homework this week. Religious education class resumes January 11. I have a class of second and third graders who will begin preparing for First Holy Communion. I will share materials from the class, as well as additional enrichment for the families, on this website. Happy New Year! Connie Goldin