Beloved,

When I was a child, the days between Christmas and Epiphany unrolled slowly and delightfully. Those days were filled with quiet times to read new books; time outside trying out new snow pants or jackets or sleds; time in front of the fire listening to music and staring at the sparkling Christmas tree; and time gathered at the dinner table, lighting the glockenspiel and enjoying deserts of Christmas cookies, date and nut bars, and snowballs. It was all so deliciously slow as we moved through the delights of Christmas, toward the unveiling of the Epiphany.

These days that time seems more frantic with lots of traveling, cooking, cleaning, comings and goings, and so on. Yet it still remains a precious time to delight in the birth of the One; to hold concern about the safety of all children; and to cheer on the Magi as they defeat the evil desires of Herod by not returning to him. Such an interesting beginning for our Savior and our salvation.

This time reminds me that everything is complicated! That great love requires great sacrifice. That Christian life is not meant to be boring and stable but lively and ever-changing. That we are continually called to transformation, not stagnation. And also, that we are to make time to see and glory in the wonder of new life, of creation, of beauty, and of stillness.

Our liturgical year pushes us through the time of the unveiling of Christ in the world and quickly to Lent. During this time, let us imagine and remember how new Jesus was to a world sorely in need of him. Let's imagine the first time anyone met him, or heard one of his parables, or was present for one of his miracles. We have heard the stories hundreds of times. Perhaps this year, we can hear them with new ears, as if it was our first time.

Beloved, let us embrace all of the good news we can this year. And know that it is meant for us.

Beloved, I love you, and God adores you.

Greta+

Celebrate the 16th Anniversary of Deacon Stan Baker's Ordination

We hope you will join us during coffee hour after worship this Sunday to celebrate the 16th anniversary of Deacon Stan Baker's ordination to the diaconate.

We feel so fortunate to have Stan as a member of our community!

The Feast of the Epiphany: Worship, Undecorating, and Festive Coffee Hour

This Sunday, January 5, we will celebrate the Feast of the Epiphany in one service at 10:00 a.m. Immediately following the service, we hope you will join us to remove the Christmas decorations and participate in a festive coffee hour.

We'll also be unveiling the new Epiphany dossal created by Judith McManis and a dedicated team of volunteers.

This Week in Adult Forum: Epiphany

This week's Adult Forum covers the Epiphany – the Feast and the season – as we continue our conversation on the Seasons of the Church Year, begun before Christmas. What is an Epiphany? Or a Theophany? How are they different?

Come find out this Sunday after worship and a snack. Questions and discussion are encouraged. 

Nativity Scene Scavenger Hunt Drawing this Sunday

Participants in our Nativity Scavenger Hunt should check in with Katie Gonyaw on Sunday after worship to see who found the most nativity scenes around the Cathedral!

Five names will drawn and $20 donations will be made to the charity requested. The drawing will happen January 5th.

Cathedral Arts Presents Alan Chiang on Piano

Alan Chiang, from South Burlington, has performed at Carnegie Hall in association with the Adamant School in Vermont. He has attended and performed at many international summer music festivals, including Boston University’s Tanglewood Institute, the Bowdoin International Music Festival, and the Walnut Hill Music Festival. Concurrent with his pursuits in piano performance, he writes, tutors, walks and sits dogs.

Program:

Bach English Suite No. 2 in A minor, BWV 807

- Prelude

- Allemande

- Courante

- Sarabande

- Bourrée I & II

- Gigue

Beethoven Variations and Fugue in E-flat major, Op. 35 ("Eroica Variations")

Chopin Sonata in B-flat minor, Op. 35

- Grave -- Doppio movimento

- Scherzo

- Marche funèbre

- Finale: Presto

Tuesday, January 7 at noon. This is a free concert. Donations to Cathedral Arts are always gratefully accepted.

Cathedral Arts and Lake Champlain Chamber Music Festival Present J.S. Bach Complete Sonatas and Partitas for Solo Violin

Prepare to be captivated by an extraordinary weekend of concerts featuring Artistic Director Soovin Kim’s celebrated interpretations of these iconic and transcendent works. 

Friday, January 10, 2025, 7:30 p.m.

Sunday, January 12, 2025, 4 p.m.

This is a ticketed event. Tickets available via the LCCMF website.

VT Community Wash & Learn to Present at Adult Forum

Our adult forum social justice speaker series resumes on January 19. Our guest will be Andrew Christiansen of King Street Laundry and the associated non-profit, Vermont Community Wash and Learn, Inc.

We will learn that our neighborhood laundromat is so much more than that! This business was closed due to vandalism and theft in 2022 but is now a thriving community resource offering not just free weekly laundry but a workforce readiness program and job fair, financial literacy workshops in multiple languages, community art programming, Safe Harbor COVID vaccines and a lot more.

Please join us after the 10 a.m. service to learn more.

Coming up at St. Paul's

• Sunday, January 5: The Feast of the Epiphany (transferred), Holy Eucharist, 10 a.m. Worship followed by festive coffee hour and undecorating of the Nave.

• Tuesday, January 7: Cathedral Arts Presents Alan Chiang, Pianist. Noon. This is a free concert. Donations to Cathedral Arts are always gratefully accepted.

• Friday, January 10 and Sunday, January 12: Cathedral Arts and LCCMF Present Soovin Kim performing J.S. Bach Complete Sonatas and Partitas for Solo Violin. This is a ticketed event.

• Sunday, January 12: The First Sunday After the Epiphany: The Baptism of Our Lord Jesus Christ, Holy Eucharist, 10 a.m.

• Sunday, January 19: The Second Sunday After the Epiphany Holy Eucharist, 10 a.m. King Street Laundry to present during Adult Forum.



• Sunday, January 26: Holy Eucharist, 10 a.m., followed by the Annual Meeting.