Someone asked me, fairly recently, “Are we doing the Star Words this year? Because my family loved them!”
“Yes we are!” I replied, excitedly – excited that they were excited.
For those of you who might be unfamiliar with the practice of “Star Words,” here’s a little background:
January 6 marks the end of the season of Christmas (twelve days after Christmas Day, if you’re counting) and on January 6, we mark Epiphany – the day on the Liturgical Calendar that commemorates the arrival of the Wise Men from the East who come to visit Jesus, bearing gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh). For the ease of everyone at Bedford Presbyterian, we hold “Epiphany Sunday” on the day closest to January 6.
And, on Epiphany Sunday in 2025, we started a new tradition: choosing “Star Words” that set a theme or intention for the year. Whether or not you make a New Year’s Resolution, setting a “Star Word” can be a very interesting – and hopefully, spiritually enriching – practice.
This Sunday, there will be words printed on small cards and placed in the front of the sanctuary. And, during the service, you will be invited forward to pick up a card – at random – and see what “word” you have been given for the year.
My own word for 2025 was “Empower” and I kept the card that said “Empower” on it in the folder that holds my worship materials each week. Each Sunday, I would look down and think, “What have I done to empower those around me to feel like they are offering their best?” I confess that some weeks, I did this better than other weeks.
The family from the top of this article who loved getting “Star Words” last January put their words on the refrigerator all year. They found that each word suited the person who chose it to a “t.” Maybe some of you still have – or remember – the card you drew, as well and it really resonated with you.
There is something wonderfully random – and, perhaps, Spirit-led – about the gift of a word that that can set an intention for your year. It’s not like a New Year’s Resolution which can be easily broken. Instead, setting an intention or theme for the year can be constantly revisited – and even begun anew, again and again.
This coming Sunday, when you are invited to come forward to receive the Lord’s Supper, there will be a table with “Star Words” cards and you are invited – once you receive the Lord’s Supper – to go and choose a word, at random. If you aren’t going to be here this Sunday, that’s okay! We will have the “Star Words” out in the sanctuary for a couple of weeks. Oh, and if someone needs you to pick up a word for them, you can do that as well.
I want to wish you a very Happy New Year! And I want to wish you every blessing as you set an intention for 2026.
See you in church!
Grace and Peace,
John
Prepare for Worship
This Week: “Lift Up Thine Eyes – What Do You Fear? – Week 6”
Read Matthew 2:1-12
Read or sing Hymn # 152 – “What Star is This, with Beams so Bright”