A Letter From Our Rector
Christmas? Isn't Christmas over? No. There are 12 days of Christmas: from December 25 to January 6 - from Christmas Day to the Day of Epiphany.
You know the song, “The Twelve Days of Christmas”. It is said that each of the gifts in the song represents a teaching of the Christian (Catholic) Faith, so it's called a “catechism song”. Whether it was written with that in mind, or someone put that interpretation to it later on, doesn't really matter. The meanings can help us to remember certain teachings of our Faith.
“On the first day of Christmas, my True Love sent to me a Partridge in a pear tree.”
My “True Love” who gives me wonderful, surprising gifts is God himself. The “me” who receives the gifts is each baptized person. The Partridge represents Jesus Christ, sent to us by God. Jesus said he cares for us as a Mother Hen shelters her chicks under her wings (Luke 13:34).
“On the second day of Christmas, my True Love sent to me two Turtle Doves…..”
The Turtle Doves represent the Old and New Testaments of the Bible.
“On the third day of Christmas, my True Love sent to me three French Hens…..”
The Hens represent the three Theological Virtues -- Faith, Hope, and Love (1 Corinthians 13:13) -- by which we partake in the divine nature of God.
“On the fourth day of Christmas, my True Love sent to me four Calling Birds…..”
The Birds represent the Four Gospels or Four Evangelists: Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John.
“On the fifth day of Christmas, my True Love sent to me five Gold Rings…..”
The Gold Rings are the first Five Books of the Old Testament, the "Pentateuch," or what Jews call the “Torah”: Genesis, Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers, and Deuteronomy.
“On the sixth day of Christmas, my True Love sent to me six Geese a-Laying…..”
The Geese represent the six Days of Creation in the first chapter of Genesis.
“On the seventh day of Christmas, my True Love sent to me seven Swans a-Swimming…..”
The Swans are the seven Gifts of the Holy Spirit: Wisdom, Understanding, Counsel, Fortitude, Knowledge, Piety (included in some early Bibles), and Fear of the Lord (Isaiah 11:1-2); Or the seven Sacraments: Baptism and Holy Eucharist (called Sacraments of the Gospel) and Confirmation, Ordination, Holy Matrimony, Reconciliation of a Penitent, and Anointing of the Sick (called Other Sacramental Rites).
“On the eighth day of Christmas, my True Love sent to me eight Maids a-Milking…..”
The Milking Maids are the eight Beatitudes: “Blessed are the Poor in spirit…, those who Mourn…, the Meek…, those who Hunger and Thirst for righteousness…, the Merciful…, the Pure in heart…, the Peacemakers…, those who are Persecuted for righteousness' sake… (Matthew 5:3-10).”
“On the ninth day of Christmas, my True Love sent to me nine Ladies Dancing…..”
The Dancing Ladies are the nine Fruits of the Holy Spirit: Love, Joy, Peace, Patience, Kindness, Generosity, Faithfulness, Gentleness, and Self-Control (Galatians 5:22).
“On the tenth day of Christmas, my True Love sent to me ten Lords a-Leaping…..”
The Leaping Lords are the Ten Commandments.
“On the eleventh day of Christmas, my True Love sent to me eleven Pipers Piping…..”
The Pipers represent the eleven Faithful Apostles.
“On the twelfth day of Christmas, my True Love sent to me twelve Drummers Drumming…..”
The Drummers are the twelve points of doctrine in the Apostle's Creed.
Be sure to celebrate all twelve days of Christmas! Then, join us on the evening of Sunday, January 8 at 6:30 pm, to celebrate the conclusion of the Christmas season with an Epiphany Chili Cook-off.
MERRY CHRISTMAS AND HAPPY NEW YEAR TO ALL!
God's Peace,
Eileen+