Epiphany 2015

Our "3 Kings" at the Festival of Lessons and Carols held December 19, 2014

The current season of the Church Year is entitled Epiphany.  The term epiphany literally means manifestation.  The season begins with the story of the Three Kings who visit the baby Jesus in Bethlehem.  In this visit, the wise ones who journeyed from afar were successful in their quest to see the newborn King.  From the standpoint of Christian faith, God’s Son was manifested to these seekers who, in turn, presented the well-known gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh.  Christians refer to this story as the Epiphany because God was revealed (in an epiphany) to the Three Kings in the person of Jesus of Nazareth. The season of Epiphany, then in a more personal sense, asks us to consider how it is that the Holy is made known to us in our own experiences.
  
The story of the Wise Men from the East takes on a more immediate relevance for our own lives when we ask about our own journeys.  Where are we looking for meaning and purpose?  How do we know when we have found these things?  What is our authority?  The Episcopal Church counts Richard Hooker among its great theologians.  Hooker wrote, in the 16th Century, that authority in faith should be based on scripture, tradition, and reason.  This has become known as the “three-legged stool.”  The inclusion of reason means that faith for Hooker was not an irrational clinging to something.  Put simply, being faithful means to trust….it does involve reason but does not claim certainty.  Epiphany Season is a good time to be reminded that theology is not an exact science, and this should lead us to appreciate those who have differing paths.

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First thing back at school from the Christmas holiday, I learned that Trinity Third Grade teacher Stacy Wisner earned the top spot as best teacher in the 2014 Best of Galveston Awards.  The top three vote recipients in each category have been published on Galveston.Com.  Well over 100,000 votes were cast overall in what the Houston Chronicle referred to as "The Oscars of The Gulf Coast."  Congratulations, Stacy!

Please note: TES will be closed on Monday, January 19, as we observe the Martin Luther King, Jr. holiday, and  on Monday, February 16, as we observe Presidents’ Day.

Faithfully,

The Rev. David C. Dearman, Head of School

Line drawing by TES 5th Grader Ryan Dorado