For the past three years, we at United Presbyterian Church have celebrated Epiphany by receiving Star Words – a word on a paper star. The idea is based on the story of the Magi who were seeking Jesus by following a star (Matthew 2:1-12). We too seek to be closer to Christ, and trust that God can and does use many signs (or stars) to guide us.
This year, since we are not meeting in-person, we have set up a wheel of words here. At this link, click to spin the wheel and receive your word. After you get your word, click “close.”
For last year’s words belong to last year’s language and next year’s words await another voice.
– t s eliot
Print this page to use as a worksheet and guide for inquiring of God about your star word. Write your word on the star above, or cut out a star from something you have on hand. You could use a Christmas card or an index card, or a post-it note, or get creative!
Over the coming year, watch and listen for God’s guidance related to your word.
- Pray about, meditate on, and ask God about your word.
- Is this word a comfort or a challenge to you? What might be the reason for your response to it?
- Does this word connect with any of your previous Star Words?
- What images does this word bring to mind?
- Look it up in the dictionary or on Google
- Words have a variety of meanings. Is there a meaning that surprises you?
- Look it up in the Bible
- A digital search on Bible Gateway or Youversion might give you different answers because they search differently.
- How do these scriptures add to your understating of your word?
- How do these scriptures add to your understanding of God?
- Continue to pray about your word and take note of new understandings that God reveals to you about Himself, your faith, and about your journey with Jesus.
- Consider sharing your insights with family and friends.
- Write about your insights and consider sharing your writing with the church by emailing Pastor Melissa.
Can God really speak to us through a word on a paper star? Yes, if we’ll let him. When he was here on earth, Jesus told us that he is always with us. He’s right here, right now. The problem isn’t him, it’s us. We aren’t always listening or paying attention. God is always trying to tell us that he cares about us, and that he wants to stay in touch with us. He said that loud and clear when he sent us Jesus.
God, we acknowledge that we are not always ready to receive your best gifts for us. You have given us an epiphany word in order that our searching will bring us to you. It is often our habit to turn aside, stumble over, or even reject experiences and encounters that we later understand to have been precious gifts.
Help us to be open to the gift that you offer us now through our star words. We acknowledge that we do not fully understand what this word might mean for our faith, but we receive it from you with gratitude and pray that your Spirit will enable us to live into our word with intention and faithfulness. Amen.[1]
May God bless you as you seek him through your word and throughout the coming year.
Yours in Christ,
Pastor Melissa
I pray that God, the source of hope, will fill you completely with joy and peace because you trust in him. Then you will overflow with confident hope through the power of the Holy Spirit.
–Romans 15:13
[1] Michelle Thomas Bush https://revgalblogpals.org/star-words/ accessed 1/13/2021
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