Hail Gladdening Light: Eighth Sunday after Epiphany
Blessed Epiphany, friends!
It’s the final Sunday of Epiphany and it’s been a joy to share with you through these weeks of revelation and witness. I'm looking forward to moving deeply into Lent with you daily Daybook devotional posts for for the coming 40+ days of prayerful repentance. You can see more at the bottom of today’s meditation.
Look: Crucifixion with Transfiguration, 2019, Greta Leśko. - Source | Hat tip and wonderful commentary
Listen: Hail Gladdening Light (Phos Hilaron), - Lyrics | Spotify | YouTube
Here’s a brief description of the ancient hymn known as the Phos Hilaron.
Enjoy the playlist I made for this week: Phos Hilaron: Epiphany 8, 2022
Read: Exodus 34:29-35; Psalm 99; 1 Corinthians 12:27—13:13; Luke 9:28-36
Monday: Psalm 25; Psalm 9, 15; Proverbs 27:1-6,10-12; Philippians 2:1-13; John 18:15-18,25-27
Tuesday: Psalm 26, 28; Psalm 36, 39; Proverbs 30:1-4,24-33; Philippians 3:1-11; John 18:28-38
Pray: Book of Common Prayer, Collect for the Last Sunday of Epiphany - Transfiguration Sunday
O God, who before the passion of your only-begotten Son revealed his glory upon the holy mountain: Grant that we, beholding by faith the light of his countenance, may be strengthened to bear our cross, and be changed into his likeness from glory to glory; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen
Do: Lent begins on Wednesday!
First things first: Lent is mostly about recognizing God’s heart for us and the gaps between what we understand about His heart and what we actually receive. You may or may not need any additional resources beyond meeting regularly with your church for worship.
I’m someone who relishes the “community” of the written word, art, and other resources. I’m also just as likely to avoid God’s heart for me by losing myself in a pile of devotional resources. You might decide that this year you need one Psalm and a good hiking trail or empty journal or a small group of trusted friends to consider God’s heart together. You might only need a Scripture verse to meditate through the 40 days (plus 6 blessed Sundays!) of Lent, and a special candle and bouquet of flowers to catch your attention each morning.
You’ll begin receiving daily meditations this week on Ash Wednesday
If you decide you’d like some companions for your Lenten journey, each day of Lent (March 2 - April 16) I invite you to lean into the Daybook Meditations arriving in your email inbox each day. In the spirit of Lent’s invitation, I welcome you to walk through the 40+ days of prayerful repentance with us.
Invite your friends!
If you enjoy the Lent Daybook series, please invite your friends to subscribe, too! The Daybook Meditations provide a beautiful experience to be able to share and talk about together. If becoming a Daybook Meditations member isn't a good fit right now, the Lent Daybook 2021 pdf download is the next best thing. Because of space limitations, there are some minor differences from the blog format, but all of the art, song, Scripture, prayer links are included for all 40 days of Lent.
Join me for a virtual Lenten retreat this Thursday, March 3
Register for the retreat below (or through my shop here). You’ll receive a Retreat Guide in a download bundled with the Lent Daybook in a .pdf download.
Please feel free to email me your questions.
I’ll see you before the sun rises on Wednesday morning,
Tamara
p.s., If you’re new to Lent, here's a simple introduction.
48 meditations + a Practice Lament retreat guide to prepare our hearts, minds, and bodies for Christ’s arrival
WHAT’S INCLUDED
48 meditations for each day of Lent and the first 8 days of Easter 2022
registration for a two-hour virtual Lent retreat led by a trained spiritual director and experienced facilitator
retreat guide and access to the recorded retreat so you can revisit or use as a self-guided retreat
guidance for spiritual practices of Lent’s prayer, fasting, and almsgiving and Easter’s celebration of resurrection
step-by-step instructions on the spiritual practice of lectio divina to help you read and receive God’s word in transformative ways
specially curated playlists to companion you through the season
ideas to help you integrate the themes of Lent and Eastertide into your everyday life - including lists of our favorite books and poems to read
* Sunday Scripture readings are taken from Year C of the 2019 Book of Common Prayer. Daily Scripture readings are taken from the 1979 Book of Common Prayer and include both Morning and Evening Psalms (Year 2)