Star of Wonder, Star of Night

  Posted on January 6, 2013

January 6 marks the Epiphany and the 12th day of Christmas. I took this picture a few weeks ago at the ranch and it made me think of the Star of Bethlehem and the wise men following it. Matthew is the only one of the gospels to mention the wise men, but it’s a pretty interesting story. Of course it took them a while to get there, a year at least. So that business about them showing up at the birth is not quite accurate, but it makes for a livelier manger scene, wardrobe-wise.

Sun and trees at Rancho La Zaca

This star happens to be the sun, shining above our beloved oaks at Rancho La Zaca

Here is an explanation of Epiphany from About.Com/Christianity, if you’re interested.

At Calvary Episcopal Church in Tarboro, NC, where I grew up, the Epiphany celebration was called the Feast of Lights, and the distinguished trio of Bud Shook (the insurance man), Mahlon DeLoatch (the banker), and Hyman Phillips (the lawyer) dressed up in the Tarboro interpretation of royal Persian finery and marched down the aisle one by one  holding their gifts for the baby Jesus.

Seriously, until I was about 12 I thought they were real kings. They were very grand, and each sang his respective gold, frankincense or myrrh verse of  ”We Three Kings” and the congregation sang all the other verses.  Everyone lit candles at the end and slowly processed out of the dark church. It was magical.

My mother told all of us to shussh about 72-hundred times. It’s hard to keep quiet when you have a real king marching right past you, let alone three. But my cousin Gray took the admonition to extremes and about a week later was still whispering. So much so that the kindergarten teacher Mrs. Heindrich called her mother worried about the child’s subdued voice. That had to have been a first.

Cousin Gray is soft-spoken, and a star of wonder, to this day, but she might get that from her mother.

Now I have built the whole thing up to where I have convinced His Grace, not exactly a Churchgoer of the First Order, to come with me this afternoon to St Mark’s in the Valley in Los Olivos  (sort of a California Tarboro) to see what the fuss is about.  He is going to want to be one of those kings, I just know it.

Posted in Blog, Humor, Insight & Inspiration | 26 comments

26 Responses to Star of Wonder, Star of Night

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  1. Diane Duvall King says: One of my favorite stories is "The Other Wise Man" by Henry Van Dyke. It was made into a beautiful movie. When I read it to my students while I was teaching in parochial schools, I always had at least one student who was moved to tears at the end of the reading. I also had students who asked in which book of the Bible the story was located. Since my birthday is the fifth of January, Epiphany has always been close to my heart. I loved your story of the three kings!
    January 7, 2013 at 7:06 pm
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    • Frances says: Thank you for this, Diane. I have heard of this story but not read it. Now I will. Happy Birthday and love, Frances
      January 8, 2013 at 11:29 pm
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  2. Renee KELLEHER says: I, too, was there at St Mark's and experienced the Epiphany celebration. It was a first in my long church-going life. Guess the Methodists and Congregationalists didn't do the 12 day trek and boar's head feast! It was a wonderful pageant and meal and the precious children will find it very memorable. Delightful!
    January 8, 2013 at 10:04 am
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    • Frances says: Darling Renee, it was a first for my husband as well, and he loved it! Wasn't it great?! Thank you for writing and I was so happy to see you, F
      January 8, 2013 at 11:32 pm
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  3. Kate Firestone. says: Next year we can certainly include the Fourth King at St. Mark's in Los Olivos. in fact I have put in an order for a royal outfit in a size to suit His Grace. I wonder what he brought to the manger just so we can write a verse for him to sing. He has plenty of time to practise. It was such a time of wonder and delight last Sunday. Ao glad you were there.
    January 9, 2013 at 12:23 am
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    • Frances says: Thank you Nina Kate, this is an excellent suggestion and we will take it under advisement. We loved being there, too.
      January 9, 2013 at 10:26 am
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  4. sylvia kallsen says: What incredible photos! Glad you convinced "his grace" to join you @ St. Mark's,sounds like you are keeping him busy and out of trouble! Happy New year. Tom's "younger" cousin, Sylvia Sue
    January 10, 2013 at 4:24 pm
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    • Frances says: Thank you dear Cousin Sylvia! How wonderful to hear from you. Happy New Year! Frances
      January 10, 2013 at 6:21 pm
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  5. Gus Pistolis says: Frances, Thanks so much for the trip back to our childhood. What an awesome description you gave of our Feast of Lights service and pageant! You are so right. Bud Shook, Mahlon DeLoatch and Hyman Phillips all three truly made their parts come to life for all of us. To this day, I have not seen a service that comes close in replicating the magic we felt being at Calvary Episcopal in those days. New Years blessings to you and yours, Gus
    January 17, 2013 at 5:17 pm
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    • Frances says: Dear Gus, it is so good of you to write and good to hear from you. Thank you for taking the time to write and for your kind words. I love how this post touched something in many people who "got it" and connected with their own memories and their own "Tarboro's". Best to you, Frances
      January 17, 2013 at 10:16 pm
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