Puritan Lad, author of the blog Covenant Theology, has written an excellent post on the proper celebration of Communion. I highly recommend checking this one out.

Today, January 6th, is known as Epiphany on the liturgical calendar. It is a day of celebration in remembering the incarnation of our Lord. Whereas Advent focuses on the incarnation event itself, Epiphany is a celebration of the visitation of the Magi, Jesus’ childhood, and his baptism. In the Western churches- the celebration is primarily a rememberance of the visitation of the Magi, which symbolizes the revelation of the Jewish Messiah to the Gentiles (non-Jews; the Magi themselves were Gentiles). In the Eastern tradition, the celebration reaches past the visitation to the baptism of Jesus by John. The baptism of Jesus is celebrated at a trinitarian theophany- where we hear the voice of the Father from heaven, see the Son being baptised, and witness the Holy Spirit descending upon Jesus.

Thomas, of Everyday Liturgy, has written an excellent peace on welcoming the King. I suggest checking it out as you meditate on the incarnation of our King.

With permission from Everyday Liturgy.

We come before the Lord and wait
—he will come again
We come before the Lord and sing
—he has risen from the dead
We come after the Lord and praise
—him who was born of the Virgin Mary
We come after the Lord and cry
—he has saved all the world
We come before the Lord
—he will come before us
We come before the Lord
—he will come after us
We come unto the Lord
—he is with us already
We come unto the Lord
—he will come again

The following verse is part of the evening prayers (“vespers”) on the seven days before Christmas eve. This is the antiphon for December 23rd.

The following verse is part of the evening prayers (“vespers”) on the seven days before Christmas eve. This is the antiphon for December 22nd.

The following verse is part of the evening prayers (“vespers”) on the seven days before Christmas eve. This is the antiphon for December 21st.

The following verse is part of the evening prayers (“vespers”) on the seven days before Christmas eve. This is the antiphon for December 20th.

The following verse is part of the evening prayers (“vespers”) on the seven days before Christmas eve. This is the antiphon for December 19th.

The following verse is part of the evening prayers (“vespers”) on the seven days before Christmas eve. This is the antiphon for December 18th.

The following verse is part of the evening prayers (“vespers”) on the seven days before Christmas eve. This is the antiphon for December 17th.