Star Words

Star words or star gifts are a practice connected to the celebration of Epiphany, when a star in the sky guided the magi to baby Jesus. A list of words are written on the back of a star shape (either paper or wood cutout) and then arranged face down on a table or large basket. On the Feast of the Epiphany, participants are invited to draw a star from the table and trust the word they receive as offering guidance for their life in the coming year.

After you receive your word, you might ask:

• How do I feel about my word?
• How does the word connect to my life?
• What is one way I could live into my word in the coming week?
• What scripture, phrase, or song can I carry with me to help me focus on my word?

Another suggestion is to lookup your word in the dictionary; we hear the word grace all the time, but what exactly does it mean? A word that seemed unclear at the beginning may gain new meaning as the year goes on.  

My hope is that you will hang up your star word where you are sure to see it every day—on your bathroom mirror, or next to your computer screen or on the door of your bedroom. When you look at it – I hope you will see it as a chance to reflect on how God may be speaking to you through it. As you move through the season of Epiphany – when we celebrate Christ’s revelation to the whole world – what treasured wisdom might your star word hold for you? And as you move through the year, how might its meaning evolve and change?

May your star gift remind you of our generous giving God, all year through.

PRAYER 

God, we acknowledge that we are not always ready to receive your best gifts for us. 

You have given us an epiphany star 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.

Prayer for Younger Children

Thank-you for my star word gift.

I wonder what message it might have for me?

Just like the star the Magi followed led them to Jesus,

may my star word help me discover Jesus speaking to me in unexpected ways. Amen.