Collect:Almighty God, who hast given us thine only-begotten Son to take our nature upon him, and as at this time to be born of a pure virgin; Grant that we being regenerate and made thy children by adoption and grace, may daily be renewed by thy Holy Spirit, through the same our Lord Jesus, Christ, who liveth and reigneth with thee and the same Spirit ever, one God, world without end. Amen.

Feast Days:

Tuesday, January 1, The Circumcision of Christ, also called The Holy Name of Jesus

The Feast of the Circumcision, or the Holy Name of Jesus dates to at least the sixth century. On this day, we remember three main events or themes: the giving of the name “Jesus” (which means, “Yahweh saves”), Jesus’s keeping of the Law in being circumcised — the mark of Jewish faithfulness instituted by God in His covenant with Abraham, and the first shedding of Jesus’s blood. The readings for the day are from Philippians 2:9-13 (“at the name of Jesus every knee should bow”) and Luke 2:15-21, which notes Christ’s circumcision and naming. Here is the collect:

“Almighty God, who madest thy blessed Son to be circumcised, and obedient to the law for man; Grant us the true circumcision of the Spirit; that, our hearts, and all our members, being mortified from all wordly and carnal lusts, we may in all things obey thy blessed will; through the same thy son Jesus Christ our Lord.

Hymns and Carols for the Week

December 30: Silent Night; Bring a Torch, Jeanette Isabella

December 31: O Holy Night, I Wonder as I Wander

January 1 (Feast of the Circumcision): The First Noel, Ain’t That a Rockin All Night

January 2: God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen, Here Betwixt Ass and Oxen Mild

January 3: Good Christian Men, Rejoice; I Saw Three Ships Come Sailing In

January 4: In the Bleak Midwinter, Ye Nations All (Babe in Bethlehem)

January 5 (Twelfth Night): The Twelve Days of Christmas, The Holly and the Ivy

Homely Links

•  It’s still Christmas until January 5! We are keeping the season by singing Christmas carols, keeping our decorations up, reading Christmas books. And, we’ll also color these great 12 days of Christmas cards — a free printable from Bley.

• Epiphany is on January 6! One traditional way to celebrate Epiphany with your family is through the Chalking of the Doors. You can also print out these Three Kings Crowns.
• A suggestion for celebrating Epiphany from Mary Reed Newland (and a great way to avoid Christmas gift overwhelm):.

…after the Epiphany enactment, all are “welcomed to eat Crown cake and open Epiphany presents (which are merely a few Christmas presents saved for Epiphany).  Incidentally, for parents who deplore satiation with gifts on Christmas Day and haven’t yet found a remedy for it, this is most practical.  It makes an additional surprise; it is like the children in so many lands who got their presents at Epiphany – “little Christmas” – and it frees the children to enjoy wholly a few toys or gifts at a time.”

Books to Buy or Borrow

• I just bought We Three Kings by Gennady Spirin to read to my children for Epiphany. What other Epiphany children’s books would you recommend?