A MESSAGE FROM THE REV. J.C. AUSTIN: RISE AND SHINE
This Sunday, we will be celebrating Epiphany Sunday. As I have said before, Epiphany is often an afterthought of the Christian calendar in the United States, since observance of the season of Christmas is largely absent except for the famous “Twelve Days of Christmas” song, and Epiphany marks the transition out of that season.
But it is still a major Christian holiday in many other cultures, 
and historically, it was behind only Easter and Christmas in terms of religious significance for Christians. Which raises the simple question of, “Why?” Why is Epiphany important?
Epiphany Sunday commemorates the visit of the Magi to pay homage to the Christ child, which we generally include as part of the Christmas season but according to Scripture took place much later, months or even a year or two. But the point of both that story and the observance of Epiphany is celebrating the manifestation of God in Jesus; the word “epiphany” literally means “manifestation” or “appearance.”
In common usage, it has been adopted to refer to a sudden insight or realization, and there are some good reasons for that. But the primary insight or realization that we are celebrating is that God has sent Jesus into the world to redeem and save the world, and often in surprising and even unsettling ways.
So, we will be celebrating the Epiphany season this year through a new sermon series called, “Rise and Shine,” in which we look at different stories in which both God and God’s purposes are manifested and recognized in Scripture, and how that helps us look for, recognize, and understand what God may be doing with us here and now. I look forward to this season of exploration and insight with you!
Speaking of sudden manifestations, as I write this article on Thursday morning, there are still strong predictions for a significant snowfall on Saturday and early Sunday morning, our first significant snow in the Lehigh Valley in more than two years.
So let me remind you how that may impact services on Sunday. There will be Sunday worship offered by First Pres regardless; the question is whether that will include an in-person option or if it will be only online. We may be able to hold both services in person; we may have to cancel the early one but be able to have the
11 a.m. service in person if the roads are clear enough by that time; or we may be exclusively online.
Please make sure you check the church website, look in your email for a special update, scan the church Facebook page for real-time messages, call the Church office voicemail, check WFMZ.com or their TV station messages, or all of the above BEFORE you physically come to church on Sunday.
We will make the call for the 9 a.m. service no later than 7 a.m., and for the 11 a.m. service no later than
10 a.m., so make your plans accordingly. In any case, please make a safe decision for yourself. But one way or another, I look forward to being in worship with you on Sunday!
Grace and Peace,
J.C.