First Lutheran to end Christmas season with Epiphany service, bonfire
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PARKERSBURG -- First Lutheran Church, at 19th and Plum streets, will close the Christmas season with the traditional Epiphany service at 7 p.m. Saturday to be followed by the burning of the greens.
Assisting the Rev. Ian B. Reid, senior pastor at First Lutheran, will be Father Charles Wilson of Trinity Episcopal Church in Parkersburg, Pastor Patrice Weirick of St. Paul Lutheran Church of New Haven and Pastor Tom Darr of Christ Lutheran of Vienna.
Epiphany is the day the wise men, known as the Magi, arrived in Bethlehem to worship the newborn child. They were the first foreigners to recognize Christ as their King and Messiah.
The traditional service of celebration is held on the 13th day after the birth of Christ.
As has become the custom at First Lutheran, the service written by the Lutheran Church in Tanzania will be used for the annual Epiphany celebration. African drum percussionists will participate in the service.
The traditional burning of the greens will follow the service with the annual bonfire in the First Lutheran Community Garden adjacent to the church.
All greens that decorated the church for Christmas and trees contributed by church members and neighbors will be put in the bonfire for the closure of the Christmas season.
The Parkersburg Fire Department is always invited to be on hand for this bonfire as it promises to again be the largest in the region.
Everyone is invited to join in the joyous and inspirational service of celebration and stay for the big bonfire, according to Reid. Ample parking is available and the church is handicap-accessible with the LOOP hearing assistance system in the Sanctuary.
For more information, call the church at 304 428-6174.