After Christmas many pastors start planning for Lent. As a consequence, Epiphany becomes an overlooked season. But it could be the perfect season to preach on the Word and sacraments, a good way to start the new year. By doing this every year, congregations would develop an identity and a joy in Luther’s rediscovery of the certainty of salvation, outside of us, in spite of us.
If multiple congregations focus on the Word and sacraments every Epiphany, this practice could help develop a camaraderie and robust Lutheran identity for future generations.
There are usually five to seven Sundays in Epiphany that could be devoted to the following:
- Epiphany, the coming of the light
- Christ, the Word
- The preached Word
- Baptism
- The Lord’s Supper
- Confession, absolution
- Prayer
- Ministry