Wise Men—and Women—Come To Bethlehem

I enjoy the Christmas season, even after I learned who Santa Claus really was. One of the reasons that I like it is that it carries on from some time in Advent at least to Epiphany, or Russian Christmas as my wife is wont to say. As a child she always had two Christmases, her German Lutheran grandparents celebrated on 25 December of course, and her Ukrainian Orthodox grandparents celebrated on 6 January.

There are a lot of good songs to sing after Christmas too, e.g.—We Three Kings of Orient Are: I found this here.




Prince of Peace Catholic Church and Crown of Life Lutheran Church, see picture above, both here in Sun City West, were both decorated as for Christmas Day when celebrating Epiphany today. The older priest at Prince of Peace, sorry, don't know his name, gave a quiet dignified homily today, emphasizing the theme of journeys once again, and of bringing something to Mass rather than "getting something out of it."

I wonder why some people clean up their Christmas decorations on Boxing Day, or maybe the evening before. Maybe they are the ones that put them up on the day after Thanksgiving.

The picture to the right is from Peg's place in Issaquah WA. We were in Novato CA on Christmas Eve, courtesy of Southwest Air, at the 10pm Mass, a little early for Midnight Mass.

Most of the parishioners were unfamiliar with the recent changes in the liturgy. What does one do when all those around you are sitting when you know the usual posture is standing?