Presenting Bishop Jan with a copy of "Through Their Eyes"

Chalking the Door Service Some practical tips This service can work for a family or household at their own home, or it can be used by a group of people who go to each others’ homes to bless them. The section in the box can be left out if you want a shorter service: simply go straight from the Reading to the Chalking. If others join the household: • The words in normal print are for a ‘leader’ to say, but the leader’s part can be shared out, and any of the prayers can be said by everyone together if preferred. • The visitors would normally take the lead, but those who live in the home can be invited to do the chalking, and to read the Bible reading. • The visitors might bring a gift (gold chocolate coins work well), which can be given after the chalking prayer. • When the final prayer is said, visitors might lay a hand on the shoulder of those who live in the house, or extend a hand towards them. If the service is used by a family or household on their own: • Share out the parts of the service, including the chalking. • Adjust the final prayer to: ‘May the Lord watch over our going out...’ etc. What you will need • Copies of the order of service for everyone • Chalk (or some other way of marking the doorway) • Gold chocolate coins as gifts for the household Acknowledgements The service in this form is copyright © Mark Earey, 2013, 2018. It may be reproduced and adapted freely for local non-commercial use, with suitable acknowledgement of the source. The service is inspired by material by Paul Bosch & André Lavergne in the Evangelical Lutheran Church in Canada’s Gathered for Worship resources © 1995. The Bible reading is from the New International Reader’s Version (NIRV). Blessing a Home and Chalking the Door A service for Epiphanytide 6th January is the Feast of the Epiphany, which celebrates the visit of the wise men to the baby Jesus. Matthew 2 says that when they arrived they went into ‘the house’: this, and Herod’s command to kill all the male children under the age of two, has suggested that their visit took place after the night of Jesus’ birth. Their arrival at the home where Jesus was staying prompted a tradition, on or near Epiphany, of marking the doorways to our own homes with a reminder of that visit, and asking for God’s blessing on the household for the coming year. The traditional sign, which is marked in chalk (hence, ‘chalking the door’), is this: 20+C M B+XX The numbers at the beginning and the end give the year (20XX, where XX represents the last two numerals of the year - so, 18 in 2018). The three letters in the middle represent the names given to the wise men by ninth century tradition: Caspar , Melchior , Balthazar . The C M B may also stand for ‘Christus Mansionem Benedicat’, which is Latin for, ‘May Christ bless this dwelling.’ The letters C M B could be replaced with other signs, such as the name Jesus, or the Greek word ICHTHUS (meaning ‘fish’), used by the early Christians as a secret sign, standing for ‘Jesus Christ, Son of God, Saviour’. A simple picture of a fish would be another alternative. Order of Service The service takes place outside (or close to) the main door. Everyone joins in with the sections in bold print. Greeting Peace be to this place and to all who enter here. Amen. Gracious God, you led the wise men to Jesus by a shining star. Make us lights in the world, leading others to worship Christ. We ask it in his name. Amen. Bible reading – from Matthew 2 ...After Jesus’ birth, Wise Men from the east came to Jerusalem. 2 They asked, “Where is the child who has been born to be king of the Jews?” ... 8 King Herod sent them to Bethlehem. ...9 The star they had seen when they were in the east went ahead of them. It finally stopped over the place where the child was... 11 The Wise Men went to the house. There they saw the child with his mother Mary. They bowed down and worshiped him. Then they opened their treasures. They gave him gold, incense and myrrh. 12 But God warned them in a dream not to go back to Herod. So they returned to their country on a different road. Chalking the Door Chalk is used to mark the floor near the entrance, the door, the wall, or the doorframe, with this mark, or something similar: 20+C M B+18 This prayer is said: Loving God, we pray that all who cross this threshold and see this sign will know your faithfulness this year and be reminded of the story of Jesus. We ask it in his name. Amen. Gifts may be given by visitors to those who live in the home being blessed. A Prayer for those who live here May the Lord watch over your going out and your coming in, from this time forward and for evermore. Amen. Lord Jesus, God protected you and the wise men from Herod’s plans. Protect us from all evil this year. Lord Jesus, the wise men offered gifts to worship you. We offer you all that we are this year. This verse from the carol ‘In the Bleak Midwinter’ could be sung or said: What can I give him, poor as I am? If I were a shepherd, I would bring a lamb; if I were a wise man, I would do my part; yet what I can I give him - give my heart. Christina Georgina Rossetti (1830-94) Prayers Lord Jesus, wise men left home and safety to seek you. Help us to step out in faith this year.

Sandra wearing her Bishops Badge

Sandra getting her Bishops badge

St Edmunds this morning

yzgyasminxxxxsister,birthday,family,party,mum,nephew,nice

Tb to my nieces 1st birthday🙈 They all piss me off time to time but wouldn't change my family for the world☺️ #nice #nephew #mum&dad #sister #party #birthday #family