Today’s Word from Pastor Katrina…
On recent walks through the neighborhood, I have started to detect the distinct smell of fires burning in a fireplace. We are entering a season where fires are lit and lights come on earlier as daylight wanes with the onset of winter. In my home, this also includes the lighting of candles at the dinner table. Winter is coming!
This Wednesday, November 11, is Veterans Day. THANK YOU to all our TLC veterans who have served our country! November 11 is also our church calendar day for St. Martin of Tours (who had also served in the Roman military!). St. Martin passed away on November 8, 397 and was buried a few days later, which is why his Feast Day is celebrated on November 11th. We recently celebrated Reformation Sunday, and Pastor Jim told the story of Martin Luther, who was named Martin because he was baptized on November 11th, and the custom at that time was to name the baby after the Saint celebrated on the date of baptism- in this case, St. Martin (if he had been baptized a few days later, he might have been named Justinian Luther!).
St. Martin was a bishop who was so well known that they had to build a bigger church for all the pilgrims who wanted to visit his burial site! One of the legendary stories of St. Martin goes something like this: Martin was serving in the Roman army when he came upon a naked beggar. Martin’s heart went out to this poor man who was so destitute in the cold weather- he took his sword and cut his cloak in two in order to give the man some warmth. Later Martin had a dream that the beggar was Jesus who said, “he clothed me with his robe.”
Martin’s cloak became a relic, and priests who were charged with caring for his cloak became known as cappelani. This word in French is linked to the word “chaplain,” and the word for small temporary churches built for the cape is “chapel”- both words we use often today, tracing back to Martin’s cape that he cut in two for the poor beggar.
St. Martin’s day is celebrated as Martinsmas in Europe, and one way that children celebrate is by walking with lanterns throughout their towns. This is similar to the custom for Sta. Lucia (on December 13) where a girl wears a crown of candles after the fashion of Lucia who needed both of her hands free to bring as much food as she could to hungry people. Both customs for Martin and Lucia celebrate two people who shared light, warmth, and provisions for those in need.
Here on Whidbey, we have our own community Lantern Walk. Though our local tradition has no religious ties, Shannon Arndt (who started the annual walk) loved the idea of coming together to bring a parade of light to the community. This year the parade will be on December 4th. People will meet at Healing Circles (534 Camano Ave in Langley) and will walk 0.8 mile through the town to end at Soundview Center (432 Third Street) for cookies, warm drinks, and music. All are welcome to bring a lantern and join in the festivities!
As you light your fires, pull on your winter coats, and place candles on your tables, may you be inspired by St. Martin (and Santa Lucia!) who clothed the naked, fed the hungry, and who still light our hearts ablaze with their stories!
Warmly,
Pastor Katrina
image credit: By anonymous – Paris Musées, Public Domain
