Sunday, January 23 was the third Sunday after epiphany; altar and vestment colors continue to be green and our hymns are the beautiful epiphany hymns, which are always sung during this season. In the Anglican tradition all elements of the service – music, vestments, scripture readings – are integrated and connected to the Christian year.
Fr. Glen based his sermon on the gospel for the day, St. John 2:1, the wedding at Cana. During epiphany all the scripture readings reflect the theme of the epiphany or showing forth of Jesus to the world at large, beginning with the arrival of the Magi or Three Wise Men, continuing with the baptism of Jesus by John the Baptist and now Jesus’s first public miracle changing water into wine at Cana. It is in this episode that Jesus is shown to the worlds as the savior of mankind who can work miracles. Fr. Glen explained the historical background of this story, that wine was very important in this culture and the lack of it was a serious breach of hospitality. The story is sometimes interpreted as an allegory in which the water represents the old covenant between God and the Jews and the wine represents the new covenant between God and the world established by Jesus.
Everyone is welcome at St. Francis Anglican (Traditional Episcopal) Church where Fr. Glen Hartley conducts services Sundays at 10:30 a.m. and Wednesdays at 6:30 p.m. Visit our website at stfrancisavamo.org.
