You can read the scriptures for this service here.
Sermons and audio content from the Episcopal Church of the Ascension in the City of New York
Listen to the sermon preached by the Rev. Liz Maxwell on the First Sunday after Epiphany, January 11, 2026.
This week, Mother Liz reflects on the Epiphany story’s blend of wonder and peril: the Magi’s awe-filled journey guided by a star, set against Herod’s fear-driven violence. She connects this ancient “realpolitik” to our own moment, naming contemporary acts of state violence and the ongoing harm to immigrant communities. Epiphany’s revealing light exposes both the world’s cruelty and God’s vulnerable, self-giving love. In that light, we are asked to choose what kind of power claims our allegiance—and to seek courage, compassion, and solidarity with our most vulnerable neighbors as we build beloved community together.