Did you pick up your star word for the year last Sunday? Receiving a star word has become a practice that many here look forward to during the season of Epiphany, a season of the church year where we consider how God continues to make himself known to us.
During Epiphany we remember how the Magi, the Wise Men, followed the star that led them to the Christ child. It was a journey of discovery. Unsure of exactly what they would find, the Magi let the spirit guide them. Our star words become guides for us, words that inspire and challenge us to experience Jesus in similarly unexpected ways.
Once you have received your star word, I encourage you to do several things. First, look the word up in a dictionary. You might discover meanings beyond your initial thoughts or reactions. Your word’s meaning may have popped up quickly. For others of you, there may not be any immediate significance, but during the year its meaning may become clear.
Next, look for the word in a Bible concordance – a listing of where in the Bible that word may be used. There may be a verse or two that are particularly meaningful. One year my star word was “confidence.” The verse that I connected with my star word was Romans 8:38-39: “For I am confident that nothing can separate us from God’s love in Christ Jesus our Lord: not death or life, not angels or rulers, not present things or future things, not powers or height or depth, or any other thing that is created.” That verse became a grounding word for me that year.
Place your star somewhere that you can see it on a regular basis. Maybe on your refrigerator, on the bathroom mirror, in your car, with your Bible – somewhere that it can serve as your guide. If you have not received a word, they will remain on the chancel rail for another week or so. You may come by during the week or let us know and we will send one to you.
My star word this year is “unify.” I will prayerfully be considering how God might be speaking to me through that word, and leading me, like the star of the Magi, to encounter him in ways that I cannot at this moment anticipate. May it be so for each of us.
Blessings for the journey+
