Epiphany

“Arise, your light is come!” These words greet us as Epiphany worshippers. How fitting for this liturgical season, as we savor the mystery and miracle of God’s love incarnate, and as we proclaim the good news that the love of our God extends to people of every nation and all of creation.

This beautiful hymn, written by UCC minister Ruth Duck, comes from a 1974 collection called “Because We Are One People,” published by the Ecumenical Women’s Center of Chicago. That year was a tumultuous one in American history, as the Watergate scandal unfolded, and Richard Nixon resigned from the presidency. Given the state of our democracy in 2021, we need the words of wisdom and encouragement from Rev. Duck today as much as then.

Arise, your light is come! What an invitation. May we all discern the ways that God is calling our Spirits to arise this Epiphany season, and may we experience God’s glory shining in unexpected ways.