The word Epiphany means to show or manifest It is the manifestation of the Glory of God in sending Christ into the world. The reason the kings are so important is that their coming and worshiping, shows that Jesus came for the Jews and the Gentiles.
The celebration of Epiphany as the Three Kings Day lasts only one day. However, the season of Epiphany lasts until Ash Wednesday.
Other names for Epiphany: Twelfth Night, Three Kings Day
Symbols of Epiphany:
star, light, gifts, crowns, gold/frankincense/myrrh
(represents Jesus as king, deity, and sufferer).
Gold is obvious sign of wealth & power,
frankincense is a kind of incense used in many religious traditions
to symbolize people's prayers going up to God,
myrrh was used in burials in ancient times.)
Other symbols of the season: water, dove, shell (a baptism symbol), world.
This relates to the other stories of Jesus often read during the Epiphany season:
his baptism, calling the disciples, his first miracles, the manifestation of
'who he is' to the world. Mission is a typical emphasis at this time.
"Bring We the Frankincense of Our Love"
Bring we the frankincense of our
love to the feet of the holy child.
Ever remembering God's great gift
of a love that was undefiled.
(Refrain) Holy the infant and holy
the mother
and precious and holy the gifts
that we bring.
Praise to the Father and praise
to the Spirit
and praise to Christ Jesus the
king.
This hymn is #62 in the Presbyterian
hymnal.
Verses 2 and 3 talk about the "myrrh
of humility"
and the "gold of our faithfulness"
Epiphany Story with Bells:
Collect 8 or 9 bells (or other sound making instruments). Each bell will represent something from the story of the Wise Men. The following list will give you some ideas as to what to look for when you select bells:
The Story:
When Baby Jesus was born (5) in a stable (6) in Bethlehem (1), Wise Men (2) came on camels (4) from the East to see and worship Jesus (5). When they (2) passed through Jerusalem, the Wise Men (2) spoke with King Herod (3).
The Wise Men (2) asked King Herod (3), Where is this child (5)? We have followed the star (1) on our camels (4) and want to worship him (5).
King Herod (3) couldn't answer their (2) questions, but he (3) told the Wise Men (2) to go to Bethlehem (1) on their camels (4) and look for the christ child (5) there. Herod (3) also told the Wise Men (2) to return to Jerusalem, and tell Herod (3) about the child (5) because he (3) wanted to worship the baby, too.
The Wise Men (3) rode off on their camels (4). Stars (1) twinkled overhead and the brightest star (1) led the three men (2) toward Bethlehem (1). Finally, the star (1) stopped over a stable (6) where Baby Jesus (5) lay in a manger (6).
The Wise Men (2) got off their camels (4) and went into the quiet stable (6). There the Wise Men (2) found Mary, Joseph, and the Christ child (5). The Wise Men (2) worshiped the Baby Jesus (5) and left precious gifts of gold, frankincense and myrrh by the manger (6).
The Wise Men (2) were warned by God in a dream that they (2) should not return to King Herod (3). The Wise Men (2) mounted their camels (4) and rode away from the stable (6) where the Baby Jesus (5) slept on the hay. Under a star dappled sky (1), the Wise Men (2) took a different route homeward.