Blessed Epiphany!

As is traditional, our observance of Epiphany (transferred to yesterday) included the solemn announcement of the dates of the sanctorial cycle for the year 2014.  Hopefully, I was not a lone voice among Lutherans in attending to this.  I give high value to the ways in which we draw attention to the sanctorial cycle and, indeed, the whole church year, in the minds and lives of our people.

Know now, brothers and sisters, that, as we have rejoiced at the Nativity of our Lord Jesus Christ, so by leave of God’s mercy, we announce to you also the joy of His resurrection, who is our Savior.  For on the fifth day of March will fall Ash Wednesday and the beginning of the Lenten season.  On the twentieth day of April you will celebrate with joy Easter Day, the Paschal feast of our Lord Jesus Christ.  On the twenty-ninth day of May will be the Ascension of our Lord Jesus Christ.  On the eighth day of June, the feast of Pentecost, and so the festival cycle of our sanctorial year is marked through the Year of our Lord, 2014.  Amen.