Author: FELC Office

The feast of the Transfiguration is a bridge between the Advent-Christmas-Epiphany cycle that comes to a close as the Lent-Easter cycle begins on Ash Wednesday. On a high mountain Jesus is revealed as God’s beloved Son. This vision of glory sustains us as Jesus faces his impending death in Jerusalem. Throughout worship we offer “alleluia” which means “God be praised.” This word of joy is “buried” during the season of Lent and will be sung again at Easter. May we be “transformed into the same image” by God’s Spirit.

Light shines in the darkness, the psalmist sings. The biblical prophet Isaiah declares that when we loose the bonds of injustice and share our bread with the hungry, the light breaks forth like the dawn. In another passage from the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus, the light of the world, calls his followers to let the light of their good works shine before others. We are sent into the world to shine with the light of Christ.

Who are the blessed ones of God? For the biblical prophet Micah, they are those who do justice, love kindness, and walk humbly with God. For Jesus, they are the poor, the meek, the merciful, the pure in heart, the peacemakers, those who mourn, and those who hunger for relationship with God and neighbor. In baptism, disciples of Jesus find our blessed identity and calling for living and serving.

St. Martin’s Lutheran Church, 606 W. 15th Street. Tickets are $40 and $10 for all students, available at stolaf.edu/tickets/choir or 800-363-5487. For more than a century, the St. Olaf Choir from Northfield, Minnesota, has set the gold standard for choral singing, performing for millions around the world. Composed of 75 mixed voices, the choir, from one of the ELCA colleges, is renowned for its artistry and beauty of sound.

On January 25 we remember the life and ministry of the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., pastor, renewer of society, and martyr, born January 15, 1929 in Atlanta. An American prophet of justice among races and nations, Pastor King was an ordained minister in the Baptist tradition, a leader of the nonviolent resistance to race-segregated society, and recipient of the Nobel Peace Prize in 1964. Dr. King was assassinated April 4, 1968 in Memphis. In the Sunday liturgy, all the hymns and some of the music we offer Dr. King sang often. They are considered his “favorites” where he found the power and comfort of the Gospel of Jesus Christ. The scripture texts we proclaim are appointed and amended for renewers of society. The primary color for this commemoration is red/scarlet, reminding us of the power of the Holy Spirit and the bloodshed of martyrs.

This Sunday’s gospel story opens with further reflection on Jesus’ baptism. He is the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world and the one anointed by the Spirit. In the liturgy we come and see Christ revealed among us in word and meal. We go and invite others to come and worship the Holy One and to receive the gifts of grace and peace. We serve with and for our neighbors as we are made into God’s healing justice in the world. This is how we shine with God’s love. 

What is the time after the Epiphany? The manifestation of Christ to the peoples of the earth. Second century followers of Jesus chose this season to celebrate the various manifestations, or “epiphanies,” of Jesus’ humanity and divinity. These showings included his birth, the coming of the Magi, his baptism, the Wedding at Cana where he miraculously changed water into wine, his appearances, and his transfiguration. We continue to celebrate on Sundays leading up to Ash Wednesday. In the waters of the Jordan River, Jesus is revealed as the beloved. Through this great epiphany, Jesus becomes the servant of God who will bring forth justice and be a light. At the feast of the Baptism of Our Lord, God, who is rich in mercy and love, gives us a new birth into a living hope. We are united with all the baptized in the one body of Christ, anointed with the gift of the Holy Spirit, and joined in God’s mission for the life of the world. Our baptismal mission is to proclaim the good news of God’s love to all. Shine!

The feast of Epiphany (“manifestation”), traditionally on January 6, concludes the twelve-day Christmas season. It is a celebration of God’s glory revealed in the person of Jesus. Like the light of the star that guided the magi to Jesus, the light of Christ reveals who we are: children of God who are claimed in love and called to witness to that love, invited to be beacons of God’s light.

Epiphany Day, January 6 (or another day during the season of Epiphany) offers an occasion for gathering with family, friends, and neighbors for a blessing of the home or dwelling with readings, prayer, and chalking above the entrance to the home for the year. As the magi visited the dwelling of Mary, Joseph, and Jesus and brought gifts and blessings, we bless homes in the name of Christ. 

Would you like to bless your home? Access the 2026 Epiphany Blessing liturgy here.

“Let your grace be with us this whole year, and your peace upon all who enter here.”

FELC Welcome Statement

Welcome to First English Lutheran Church. You’re invited to fully participate in a community of faith and friendship that gathers for worship, relationship building, personal growth, and service in the community and the world. Following the example of Christ, this congregation welcomes you exactly as you are.

We are committed to the work of racial equity, justice, and advocating for marginalized groups. We welcome people in all places on the journey of faith and life. We celebrate differences in age, appearance, economic status, ethnic origin, nationality, race, family configuration, marital or relationship status, political leaning, religious background, and those who are differently abled physically or mentally.

Since 1989, FELC has openly welcomed persons of all sexual orientations and gender identities and expressions to full participation in the church and society.

We’re Lutheran, so that means we believe in grace for everyone. The good news of Jesus
Christ, who brings us the love and mercy of God as a gift, liberates us to love as we are loved, serve as we are served, and give as we have been given much. We rejoice in the diversity that has nurtured and enriched the whole church.

Whether you’re from another faith tradition, a seeker and questioner looking for more to life and a place to explore, or even a lifelong Lutheran, we’re glad to have you.

Information:

The FELC Reconciling in Christ Task Force, in collaboration with several ministry teams, committees, taskforces, and groups at FELC, began meeting in the Spring of 2022. A first priority was to develop a renewed statement of welcome. Reconciling Works, which sponsors the Reconciled in Christ ministry we have been part of since 1989, is asking all of its partners to review their welcome statement. Our Task Forced reviewed welcome statements from several Lutheran congregations, and reviewed our current welcome statement. A proposed statement was drafted for the church council to adopt. At the July 2022 council meeting the statement was adopted through a continuing resolution as our official welcome statement. We have begun using this prominently and continue striving to live it out faithfully.

What is the Feast of the Epiphany? The manifestation of Christ to the peoples of the earth. Second century followers of Jesus chose this season to celebrate the various manifestations, or “epiphanies,” of Jesus’  humanity and divinity. These showings included his birth, the coming of the Magi, his baptism, and the Wedding at Cana where he miraculously changed water into wine. The day was called “The Feast of Lights.” Celebration of the Son of God was added to the celebration of the sun. Baptisms were celebrated, and a season of preparation was instituted. By the fourth century, Jesus’ birth was celebrated on December 25 in both eastern and western churches. The western church commemorated the coming of the Magi on January 6. The eastern church continued to celebrate the Baptism of our Lord and the Wedding at Cana on January 6 and on Sundays leading up to Ash Wednesday. In the east, the day was called “Theophany” which is the manifestation of God. The light of Christ shines brightly through the lives of his disciples – that’s us! Where is Christ’s light shining in your life?