Weekly message & Upcoming Events

Dear friends and members of Highland and Big Canoe Lutheran Churches,

Before the festival of Christmas became more widely celebrated (only toward the end of the fourth century), the festival of the Epiphany (“manifestation”) of Our Lord was the more important day. The feast day of Epiphany, which is celebrated on January 6, originated in the Eastern Church, where it is called “Theophany” (“appearance of God”) or “The Lights.” It is associated with various events in Christ’s life that could be regarded as manifestations of his divine nature: his baptism in the Jordan River, the wedding at Cana in Galilee (the beginning of his “signs” by which his glory was revealed), and his transfiguration (where his uncreated divine light shone brighter than the sun).

            The festival of Epiphany was introduced into the Western Latin-speaking Church in the fourth century. In the Western Church, the focus shifted a little from the baptism of Jesus to include his nativity, especially his manifestation (his epiphany) to the Gentiles in the persons of the Magi, the wise men, who brought gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh to the infant Jesus.

            The date of January 6 to celebrate Christ’s nativity may have been chosen because April 6, on which date the early Eastern Church celebrated Easter, was also understood to be the date of Jesus’ conception. Nine months after April 6 is January 6. That’s the assumed timeframe for Mary’s pregnancy, too. (Because the Western Church celebrates the Nativity of the Lord on December 25th, the conception of Jesus is observed on March 25.)

            The First Sunday after the Epiphany focuses on the baptism of our Lord—and, by extension, on our baptism into his death and resurrection. The Second Sunday after the Epiphany underscores the “manifestation” or “revelation” of Jesus to the world. He is “the Light of the world,” the One who shines in the darkness and who is not overcome by that darkness. The season ends with Transfiguration Sunday.

            Enlightened by the incarnate Light of God, we are called to reflect his light and glory in all we say and do throughout the year. That’s why Jesus says to you, too, “You are light to the world.” Don’t let the light of Christ’s love and grace be hidden! Let it shine!

            Tonight, we will celebrate the Feast of the Epiphany of Our Lord with a festival worship service at Big Canoe Lutheran Church, which will begin at 6pm. Included in the service will be a special blessing of chalk that can be used to write “20 + C + M + B + 26” above the main door of your home. Detra and I marked the parsonage door this morning with these initials, while we said a special house-blessing prayer for the new year. See photo attached.) These initials stand for “May Christ bless this house in 2026.” As you may have read in the Winter 2025 issue of Living Lutheran, marking your door with such initials on January 6 is an ancient custom. I’ll explain more about it in tonight’s service.

            Here are some wise words for this festival day, written by W. H. Auden (1907-73):

            Star of the Nativity

            I am that star most dreaded by the wise,

            For they are drawn against their will to me…

            I shall deprive them of their minor tasks.

            The First Wise Man… To discover how to be truthful now is the reason I follow this star.

            The Second Wise Man… To discover how to be living now is the reason I follow this star.

            The Third Wise Man… To discover how to be loving now is the reason I follow this star.

            The Three Wise Men… To discover how to be human now is the reason we follow this star.

            See you in church!

            Pastor Becker

            1-6-2026

            P.S. Once again, in the Epiphany season, I would like to offer a prayer of blessing for your family and home for this new year. Contact me to set up a convenient time for me to visit you!

Upcoming Events:

Tue, Jan 6 (6pm): Epiphany worship service w/Holy Communion (Big Canoe)

Wed, Jan 7 (afternoon): Pastor Becker has an appointment in La Crosse

Thurs, Jan 8 (morning): Pastor Becker has an appointment in Decorah

Thurs, Jan 8 (5pm): Youth confirmation class (via Zoom)

Fri, Jan 9 (9:30am): Gather Bible study at Highland

Fri, Jan 9 (10am): Pastor Becker leads the worship service at Green Lea Manor (Mabel)

Sun, Jan 11 (8:45m): Bible class (First John) meets in the Fellowship Hall at Highland

Sun, Jan 11 (10am): Service w/Holy Communion (Highland) – Baptism of Our Lord (white)

Sun, Jan 11 (after the service): The Highland Church Council will meet (Highland)

Jan 12-20: Pastor and Detra will be visiting his sister in Phoenix (traveling to/from Arizona)

Thurs, Jan 15 (9am): Shared Ministry meeting at Hesper (to discuss Lenten midweek services)

Sun, Jan 18 (8:45am): Bible class (First John) meets in the nave at Big Canoe (Pr. Gies)

Sun, Jan 18 (9am): Children’s Sunday school meets in the Fellowship Hall at Big Canoe

Sun, Jan 18 (10am): Service of the Word (Big Canoe) – Confession of Peter (white) – Pr. Gies

Sun, Jan 18: Auditing Committee meets at Big Canoe

No youth confirmation instruction on Jan 18.

Wed, Jan 21 (9:30am): Pastor Becker meets with his ELCA colleague group (Lime Spring)

Fri, Jan 23 (all day): Pastor Becker has an appointment in La Crosse

Sun, Jan 25 (8:45am): Bible class (First John) meets in the Fellowship Hall at Highland

Sun, Jan 25 (10am): Service of the Word (Highland) – Conversion of Paul (white)

Sun, Jan 25 (after the service): Annual meeting of Highland Lutheran Church (Highland)

Tues, Jan 27 (10am): Pastor Becker has a Zoom meeting with leaders of Lutheran Quarterly

Fri, Jan 30 (all day): Pastor Becker has an appointment in Rochester

Sun, Feb 1 (8:45am): Bible class (First John) meets in the nave at Big Canoe

Sun, Feb 1 (9am): Children’s Sunday school meets in the Fellowship Hall at Big Canoe

Sun, Feb 1 (10am): Service w/Holy Communion (Big Canoe) – Fourth Sun. after Epiphany (green)

Sun, Feb 1 (after the service): Annual meeting of Big Canoe Lutheran Church (Big Canoe)

No youth confirmation instruction on Feb 1. Confirmation instruction will take place via Zoom this week.

Sat, Feb 7 (10:30am-noon): Annual spiritual retreat for both congregations (Big Canoe)

Sun, Feb 8 (8:45m): Bible class (First John) meets in the Fellowship Hall at Highland

Sun, Feb 8 (10am): Service w/Holy Communion (Highland) – Fifth Sun. after Epiphany (green)

Fri, Feb 13 (10am): Pastor Becker leads the worship service at Green Lea Manor (Mabel)

Sun, Feb 15 (8:45am): Bible class (Gospel of Matthew) meets in the nave at Big Canoe

Sun, Feb 15 (9am): Children’s Sunday school meets in the Fellowship Hall at Big Canoe

Sun, Feb 15 (10am): Service of the Word (Big Canoe) – Transfiguration of Our Lord (white)

Sun, Feb 15 (after the service): Youth confirmation instruction will take place at Big Canoe.

Wed, Feb 18 (5:30pm): Shared Ministry soup/sandwich meal and Ash Wed worship service (Big Canoe)

Sun, Feb 22 (8:45am): Bible class (Gospel of Matthew) meets in the Fellowship Hall at Highland

Sun, Feb 22 (10am): Service of the Word (Highland) – First Sunday in Lent (purple)

Wed, Feb 25 (5:30pm): Shared Ministry meal and Lenten service (Pr. Becker preaching) (Burr Oak)

August 9-14, 2026: Luther League/Shared Ministry Youth trip to the Boundary Waters

Matthew L. Becker, STS, B.A., M.Div., M.A., Ph.D.

Pastor, Big Canoe and Highland Lutheran Churches, Decorah, IA

Treasurer, Lutheran Quarterly

Senior Research Professor of Theology Valparaiso University College of Arts & Sciences Room 314
1400 Chapel Drive Valparaiso, IN 46383 Phone:  219-916-8535 E-mail: matthew.becker@valpo.edu