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Although I usually focus on the Gospel for my sermon, today I would like us to take another look at Paul’s Epistle to the Corinthians and to really listen to its message for us, right now, right here at St. Cyprian’s.    We heard :
 
For just as the body is one and has many members, and all the members of the body, though many, are one body, so it is with Christ.

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Last night I had a dream where I was talking with friends.  As I left I said, “My sermon has some holes in it.  I’ve got to go and stitch it together.”  I know my unconscious was telling me something, and my sewing skills are not that good, so here goes.

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On several occasions I have had people ask me about our church with a curious question, “What denomination is the Cyprian Church?” or “Tell me about the Cypriot Church.”  Obviously, they did not see the “Episcopal Church” designation in our title, and some assumed that the church was somehow related to the eastern Mediterranean island of Cyprus.  Of course, I explained to them that St. Cyprian’s Episcopal Church was part of the Episcopal Church in the United States, the Episcopal Diocese of Florida and is related to the Church of England and the worldwide Anglican Communion.  I also tell them that our patron … our namesake, Cyprian … was a third century bishop in Carthage, North Africa in what is now the country of Tunisia.  Cyprian of Carthage … the man … was martyred in 258.  He was killed by the Romans for not renouncing his Christian faith … the faith into which he was baptized.  A number of traditionally Africa American Episcopal churches … as well as some African American Roman Catholic churches … are named after Cyprian because it is assumed that he was a person of color.

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Happy New Year!  The first Sunday after New Year’s Day.  And, today is the Feast of the Epiphany.  The twelve days of our Christmas season are over.  The Advent wreath and the Christmas candle are back in the closet until next year.  Yet we are still hearing part of the Christmas story in the Gospel reading this morning … the visit of the Three Magi … the Three Wise Men … those Wisdom Seekers. ​