Epiphany is the Christian holiday on which believers honor the magi that followed a star to visit young Jesus. Sometimes, communities observe the day by receiving star words. Each randomly-distributed paper star has a word on it, and is meant to guide its recipient in the year to come. (The ones in this picture are face down.) The words aren’t a mandate of what to do, but an invitation to notice God’s presence in a different way. For example(s): in January 2021 my word was “time,” and I remember thinking “Are you kidding me? There’s a pandemic and all I’ve had is too much much time in my house by myself!” But it ended up being an invitation use my time more intentionally, both at home and as we found our way back out into the world. This year my word is “bloom,” and I’ve been thinking about hope but also the hard work it takes to grow into our most fully-flourishing selves.
Although the campus ministry I serve doesn’t start back until a couple weeks after actual Epiphany day, a belated celebration with star words has become one of my favorite UKirk days of the year. Here’s a handout we used this past January to reflect on our then-new words for 2024. (Folks were invited to write their word in the big star at the top.)
PS – There’s a full order of worship for Epiphany, including this worksheet, in UKirk National‘s updated UWorship resource, available here!
Rev. Allison Wehrung 
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