Although the world more or less ends its celebration of Christmas on Christmas Day, the church continues to celebrate the Savior’s birth throughout the twelve days of Christmas. And then on January 6th we celebrate the Feast of the Epiphany of our Lord,  a festival that has been called “the Christmas of the Gentiles” because the wise men from the east were the first Gentiles to come and worship the Savior of the whole world (Matthew 2:1-12). Their coming is the beginning of the ingathering of all the nations. The Feast of the Epiphany provides a joyous encore to the celebration of the Savior’s birth. More’s the pity that it is a festival which is widely ignored, though in many parts of Europe the Epiphany festival is still not only a holy day but also a holiday. Be that as it may, here at Our Saviour we still keep the feast. We will sing such familiar carols as The First Nowell, What Child is This, We Three Kings of Orient  Are, together with the ancient Epiphany hymn of Coelius Sedulius – The Star Proclaims the King is Here – which Luther translated from the Latin into German, and also the lovely hymn of William Chatterdon Dix (1837-1897), As With Gladness Men of Old.

Those of you who were present on Christmas Eve know that again this year our worship was enriched by Sylvia Witt’s marvelous singing of Adolphe Adam’s well loved Cantique de Noel, “O Holy Night.” And we were also blessed by the presence with us of Pastor Lucas Witt and their children. Thank you, Sylvia!

There is good news: we have an organist! Kenneth Kepler’s first Sunday with us will be January 18th. He is a member of the American Guild of Organists and comes highly recommended. He has played in a number of churches including Ascension LCMS Church in Landover Hills, Maryland. I believe that he will be a blessing to our congregation. There is an unfortunate shortage of organists nowadays, and so we are fortunate indeed in this happy outcome of our search for an organist.

January 18th is also the date for our winter Voters Meeting. Every member of Our Saviour, 18 years old and older is eligible to participate.

Bernie Knox informs me that through the generosity of members of our congregation we were able to provide Aldi gift cards each in the amount of $140 for 12 families identified as needy by the Waverly School.

As we celebrate the birthday of the Prince of Peace we continue to pray for a just and lasting peace in those parts of the world where human beings continue to suffer the ravages of war. Remember that you can provide help through our Synod’s Contributor Care Line (888-630-4439) or secure website (lcms.org/givenow.mercy). You can also send a check to LCMS World Relief and Human Care, PO Box 66861, Saint Louis, MO 63166-6801. Make your check payable to LCMS and mark it for LCMS World Relief and Human Care. Closer to home we continue to respond to the apparently growing problem of hunger and homelessness through our support of the GEDCO Food Pantry and the Helping Up Mission. Food items can be left outside the church office  There is also a box for personal items for the Helping Up Mission.

We continue to remember in prayer Bridget Bauman, James Bauman, Christopher Bell, Bertha Buchanan, Dana Carmichael, Tim Doswell, Quilla Downs, Bunny Duckett, Joyce Eaves, Frank Ford, Iris Ford, Yolanda Ford, Sean Fortune, Lynne Funck, Katherine Gray, Sherry James, Gloria Jones, Byron Masterson, Crista Mohr, Mary Mokris, Elliott Robertson, Julia Silver, Robert Siperek Jr., Lawrence Smallwood, Paul Swank, George Volkman; Gary Watson, Marvalisa, Sierra, Jonathan and Steven Gibson. Yolanda Ford remains at Autumn Lake Healthcare at Perring Parkway, 1801 Wentworth Road, Parkville, MD 21234. Paul Swank has moved to the Lighthouse Senior Living at Hopkins Creek, 1813 Old Eastern Avenue, Essex, MD 21221.

It was on the eighth day after He was born that the Christ Child was given the name Jesus which means “The Lord saves” (Luke 2:21). And so each new year begins with the giving of the saving name of Him in whom is all our hope and joy. God bless us each and every one in this new year!

Affectionately in our risen Lord,

Pastor McClean