A Concord Pastor Comments

1/4/26

NIGHT PRAYER: Epiphany 2026

Photo by MS

This prayer connects a photo of a simple street scene in Brookline, MA with the star in today's gospel, guiding the magi to the Christ Child...

A friend took this photo 18 years ago: a night shot wherein the darkness reveals more than daylight might have shown. A street light glowing like a star, a humble dwelling's greater light spilling out its doorway into the darkness: Epiphany!

I love this photo! (Click on the image for a larger version)

Although I'm out of touch with my photographer friend, I hope that she might see this post and know that her work is still inspiring believers following that Star of wonder, star so bright...

O Magi - were you confused?

Did you wonder if you'd taken a left for a right
or misread the bright star's GPS?

Was it all a big mistake? Could this really be

the town? the street? the place? the door?

But a light spills into night and beckons, calling:

"This way! Come this way!

Let go your thoughts of what should be,

what might have been, and

open up to what is here, what's now,

to where he is and where he dwells:

he whose light and presence warm

this chilled and darkened night!"

Teach us wisdom, Lord:

open our eyes to your star above

and our hearts to your glowing presence

living within us, all around us

and just across the street,

lighting the paths we walk each day,

lifting us up, out of our darkness,

to find your radiant, holy face...

Protect us, Lord, in the dark of night,

shine bright upon us while we sleep

that awake, we might keep watch with you

and asleep, rest in your peace...

Amen.

This musical selection is perfect for tonight's prayer and offers us an ingenious arrangement, coupling a relatively new song (1991) with an old (1857) and well known Christmas carol...

Come, Follow That Star by

Don Bresig and Nancy Price

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There's a star in the east and we must follow

if we want to find the love of the tiny Child

Follow that star,

come, follow that star

Sent from heaven above,

he will change the world with his love

We must find him

we must follow that star

Kings and travelers come from afar

filled with hope and wonder they are

seeking ever, doubting never

led by that shining light

Star of wonder, star so bright

guide us through the dark of night

now we seek him, soon to greet him

tiny Child of truth and light

There's a star in the east and we must follow

if we want to find the love of the tiny Child

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An Epiphany memory from 15 years ago...

Image source

First posted 15 years ago for Epiphany 2011... Be sure to read the whole post!

The Star of Epiphany,

the Morning Star of Easter

At the 11:30 Mass in my parish this morning, our sung prayer was especially beautiful and strong. Some days it all comes together, and this was one of those days.

We began by singing all five verses of today's standard selection, John Hopkins' We Three Kings. Once you've taken a good look at the hymn's verses (below) you can see how cutting it short stops a story in the telling, a story that brings us from Bethlehem's plain to Calvary and Easter.

1) We three kings of Orient are,
Bearing gifts we traverse afar,
Field and fountain, moor and mountain,
Following yonder Star.

Chorus:
O, star of wonder, star of might,
Star with royal beauty bright,
Westward leading, still proceeding,
Guide us to the perfect light.

2) Born a babe on Bethlehem's plain;
Gold we bring to crown Him again;
King forever, ceasing never,
Over us all to reign.

3) Frankincense to offer have I;
Incense owns a Deity nigh;
Prayer and praising, all men raising,
Worship Him, God on High.

4) Myrrh is mine; its bitter perfume
Breathes a life of gathering gloom;
Sorrowing, sighing, bleeding, dying,
Sealed in the stone-cold tomb.

5) Glorious now behold Him arise,
King and God and sacrifice,
Heaven sings, "Hallelujah!"
Hallelujah!" Earth replies.

But the Epiphany-Easter connection was to surface again, later in the liturgy!

My music director, Jim Barkovic, usually continues the Communion song instrumentally after all have received and often includes a subtle interpolation or a segue into the melody of another song with some connection to the day's feast, scriptures or homily. These moments are exquisitely subtle and if you're not listening, you might easily miss them.

Today we were all sitting in quiet prayer after Communion as Jim continued to play Gift of Finest Wheat. Then I began to hear a familiar tune making itself gently heard, rising out of the Communion music. Within a few moments, I was hearing Haugen's The Light of Christ Surrounds Us, a piece we do every year at Easter.

In the east the Morning Star rises bright upon us,

in its peaceful light shines the glory of the Lord...

The light of Epiphany's star and Easter's candle shone as one, as the entrance song had reminded us, "Glorious now behold him rise!"

The choir and people in the assembly began to hum softly the refrain of the Paschal piece we had sung t the Easter Vigil:

The light of Christ surrounds us,

the power of Christ enfolds,

the power of Christ protects us,

the presence of Christ watches over us...

and for a few moments, the two feasts of Christmas and Easter folded musically into that mystery every Eucharist celebrates throughout the liturgical year.

Praise God from whom all blessings flow!

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1/3/26

Going home by ANOTHER other way...

On Epiphany I often include James Taylor's Home By Another Way in one of my posts - as I did this year for today's Pause for Prayer.

But now I've found another "another way home" song - it's Take Us Home By Another Way, composed by Christoopher Grundy for the first anniversary of the January 6 insurrection. (If a video doesn't appear below, click here!)

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Pause for Prayer: SUNDAY 1/4

Image source

Here's James Taylor's musical reflection on the gospel for today's feast of the Epiphany. Most of us know the story of the Magi coming with gifts to visit the Christ child but many may be unfamiliar with "the rest of the story" which ends with the Magi taking a nap and dreaming and going home by another way... So, take a few minutes to read the whole story here - and then listen to Taylor's wonderful song, before moving on to today's Pause for Prayer...

Home By Another Way by James Taylor

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Those magic men the Magi
Some people call them wise
Or Oriental, even kings
Well anyway, those guys
They visited with Jesus
They sure enjoyed their stay
Then warned in a dream of King Herod's scheme
They went home by another way

Yes they went home by another way
Home by another way
Maybe me and you can be wise guys too
And go home by another way
We can make it another way
Safe home as they used to say
Keep a weather eye to the chart on high
And go home another way

Steer clear of royal welcomes
Avoid a big to-do
A king who would slaughter the innocents
Will not cut a deal for you
He really, really wants those presents
He'll comb your camel's fur
Until his boys announce they've found trace amounts
Of your frankincense, gold and myrrh

Time to go home by another way
Home by another way
You have to figure that God's saying play the odds
And go home by another way
We can make it another way
Safe home as they used to say
Keep a weather eye to the chart on high
And go home another way

Home is where they want you now
You can more or less assume that you'll be welcome in the end
Mustn't let King Herod haunt you so
Or fantasize his features when you're looking at a friend

Well it pleasures me to be here
And to sing this song tonight
They tell me that life is a miracle
And I figured that they're right
But Herod's always out there
He's got our cards on file
It's a lead pipe cinch, if we give an inch
Old Herod likes to take a mile

It's best to go home by another way
Home by another way
We got this far to a lucky star
But tomorrow is another day
We can make it another way
Safe home as they used to say
Keep a weather eye to the chart on high
And go home another way

-James Taylor

Pause for Prayer

Where is my journey leading me, O God?

Where is my road trip taking me?

Am I looking for Jesus?

Am I finding Jesus?

Are the lights by which I live my life

leading me to Jesus

- or some other destination?

Do I know what I'm looking for?

Do I know where I'm heading?

Do I know how to get there?

Is my path bringing me closer to you

or leading me down dead ends?

Are my dreams real enough, true enough

to hold me up and sustain me

when the journey is rough and threatening?

when I fear I’ve lost my way?

When the Magi found Jesus they did two things:
they offered him presents
and then went home - by another way...

Finding Jesus, meeting Jesus, changed the Magi.

Though the way home may have been obvious,

meeting Jesus recharted their journey

- and they went home by another way...

The Magi's story challenges me, O God,

to look at my life’s maps and to discern

where I'm going and how I'm getting there...

Does my journey need some course correction?
Do I need to look to go home by another way?

Help me find the light, the star of Jesus,

shining in my life, in my heart.

in my thoughts and my dreams...

Help me find the star, the light

no darkness can extinguish

the One who came to change my life,

to change my heart, to change my path

to lead me home to you, O God,

home by another way...

Amen.

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1/2/26

A starting point for Christians...

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1/1/26

Travel time

I'll be flying back to Boston on Friday and then I have a busy day on Saturday so I won't be posting until Sunday morning, January 4 - Epiphany!

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A good song for January 1

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10... 9... 8... 7... 6... 5... 4... 3... 2... 1...

I hope and pray that 2026

will bring peace to you,

to those you love,

to our nation,

and to the world...

I pray that the New Year

will bring us all closer

to the mercy and love of God

revealed in Christ Jesus...

And I pray that the New Year

will find us all growing together

in holiness, health and happiness!

Happy New Year!

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New Year's Buffet: reflection and song...

Here's a buffet of reflections

from which to choose on New Year's Day...

New Beginnings by Every Nation Music

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This is the day of new beginnings

The old is passing

Change is coming by your Spirit

It's a new season of revealing

Your Word is true

and You will never ever fail

Your presence will lead us

Always providing in the desert

And filling our souls with living waters

And lighting the night with Holy fire

You're turning dead ends into doorways

Chorus

Always providing in the desert

And filling our souls with living water

Lighting the night with Holy fire

You're turning dead ends into doorways

And He's never failed me yet

He's never failed me yet

My heart and my soul confess

God is my confidence

He's never failed me yet

A Prayer for When There's Too Much Going On!

When there's too much going on, Lord:
   give me your peace...

When I'm feeling overwhelmed,
   come lift me up...

When things are moving much too fast,
   then slow me down, Lord...

When it seems I just won't make it,
   give me hope...

When I don't know where to turn,
   show me the way...

When I'm totally confused,
   give me your wisdom...

When I hurting inside and out,
   touch me with healing...

When I wonder where you are,
   show me your face, Lord...

When I cannot find an answer,
   speak your truth...

When I don't know how to pray,
   send me your Spirit...

When I'm feeling all alone,
   stay by my side...

When I'm tired and worn out,
   refresh my strength...

And when I cannot fall asleep,
send me good dreams...

Yes, when there's too much going on,
Lord, give me peace...

Amen.

- ConcordPastor.blogspot.com

A Sung Christmas Blessing

We're still in the Christmas season! Here's a blessing written by Michael Joncas and Alan Hommerding, sung by Concord Pastor and the people of Holy Family Parish in Concord.

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