The 13th Day of Christmas

We're all familiar with the Christmas carol The Twelve Days of Christmas. It draws on the fact that the Church's Christmas Season includes 12 days, beginning December 25 and ending January 5.

But what's this about a 13th day of Christmas? It's more well-known name is Epiphany, which means "revelation of what was hidden." Epiphany Day recalls the arrival of the magi (wise men) to worship Jesus. For the first time in the New Testament we see Gentiles (non-Jews) receive Jesus as their Savior. For this reason Epiphany is sometimes called "Gentiles' Christmas."

Why does this matter to us? Well, how often have you heard Jesus called "King of the Jews" and remembered that you are not a Jew?! Epiphany reveals the formerly hidden truth that Jesus is the Christ for all people, not just the physical descendants of Jacob.

Epiphany is a season where mission work and evangelism come to the forefront. How fitting, then, that January at St. Luke is so filled with Missions activity. Our new Mission projects begin on January 1st. This year the Lutheran Heritage Foundation (LHF) continues as our Mission Partner, receiving 2% of our plate offerings to support their work in 70 countries of translating Lutheran materials into nearly 90 languages.

Pastors and missionaries around the world use the Catechisms, hymnals and other materials provided to them free-of-charge through LHF to bring the gospel to unbelievers, to train evangelists and pastors and to teach the basics of the faith to new converts. People may look and dress differently from us, but they need the exact same Gospel!

In 2009 we are supporting three LHF translations: a hymnal for the Hmong, a prayer book for the people of Afghanistan, and the Large Catechism for the people of Benin, Africa. We are also helping to provide one or more pastoral training events in Southeast Asia sponsored by the Garuna Foundation (an organization run by Rev. Ted NaThalang, LHF's Coordinator for Projects in Southeast Asia. You may remember Rev. NaThalang from when he has preached at St. Luke.

We are also excited and honored that at 3:00 PM on January 11th, St. Luke will host the Service of Installation for Rev. James Fandrey as he becomes the new Executive Director of the Lutheran Heritage Foundation. What a blessing to have Rev. Fandrey and His wife, Ruth, as members at St. Luke!

Some may ask why St. Luke is giving money to missions when we are in such financial straits. If you wonder about this, pay close attention throughout the Epiphany Season. We will hear that the spread of the Gospel is not an "extra," or an optional activity for the Church – missions and evangelism are the life of the Church! In Divine Service we receive the Holy Spirit and His good news of eternal life through faith in Chroist, and in mission work we send that message out to others. Not supporting missions would be like breathing in, but not breathing out.

Why do we continue to support missions in these difficult times? Well, how long can you hold your breath?

For more information about our Mission Partners, go to www.lhfmissions.org and www.thegarunafoundation.org.