Can I be a Christian and have no idea what Epiphany is? Yes, Yes you can.

2025 crept up on me. Before I knew it- it was New Years Eve. Maybe it’s because I’m so pregnant or have a toddler running around or because Penn State was playing in their first (ever?) playoff game that night but I totally forgot. In years past I would have spent ample time thinking about intentional resolutions and reflecting on the past year. I would have wanted that day to be a ritual that marked something- meant something. But this year-I hadn’t even thought of NYE- no new years resolutions for 2025 or reflections about 2024. I didn’t even make an Instagram reel of my last year in 30 seconds or look at my spotify unwrapped of all the music I consumed. It never even crossed my mind that I would make it to see the ball drop. The thing with time though is it waits for no one, so despite me not being ready, 2025 still came.

As a pastor, I always spend a lot of time thinking about how our cultural celebrations can help us better live into our religious ones. New Years is all about starting anew- starting fresh. Well on January 6^th in the church we celebrate Epiphany- which is when the Magi actually saw Jesus- the manifestation of God with their own eyes. On Christmas we celebrate the coming of God but it’s not until the visual manifestation of God that it becomes so real. Epiphany the word has roots in light- remember the star is what led the the Magi to the baby Jesus. The Light also connotes how light has now come into the darkness- things are possible now that were not before. It is the awareness that God had come to be with His people that has the power to change us and the world.

 In the new year, everything seems possible. We have the urge to reinvent ourselves, do things differently, give something one last go. For some reason, even though we can do this anytime- we wait for January 1 to mark the beginning of that newness. At covenant we do a similar thing- we give out star words to celebrate Epiphany. These words are meant for us to reflect and pray on for the next year as we discern how God is using that word in our lives. We use these words as a way to refocus- “get it together” and that’s not bad- we are a people of rhythm and routine.

I hope we treat these star words differently though than our newly adopted exercise routine or diet- well intentioned improvements which we will inevitably give up on as soon as we falter in the smallest of ways. Star words aren’t meant to be a competition for how many days in a row you can think about them or apply them to your life. They are supposed to be a tool for reconnecting with your spirituality in a way that makes you open and curious to what God is already doing in your life. Maybe we do use star words as an easy way to get back on track but unlike new years resolutions- we don’t have to disregard them as soon as they are broken.

When you get yours this year- ponder about what that word has to do with you. Be curious about what it could teach you, how you could grow from it. Think about what that word has to do with God or faith. Besides becoming physically and mentally healthier this year, how can you become spiritually healthier this year?

Whether or not you were ready for the new year- new you- new outlook- God is always ready for you. God is already doing a new thing in you. Use this new year, this Epiphany, your star word as a chance to become aware of the ways in which God is already working. 

Rev. Maggie Niles is the Associate Pastor for Congregational Life at Covenant Presbyterian Church