Epiphany Staff Kicks Off the Year at HALSA Opening Worship

Epiphany’s faculty joined schools from across the region this week for the annual Houston Area Lutheran Schools Association opening worship service, hosted this year by St. Mark Lutheran Church.

The service brings together teachers and staff from Houston-area Lutheran schools each year to begin the school year in worship and prayer. Epiphany has taken part every year for at least the past eight.

“It doesn’t always feel like the school year has really started until we do that,” said Mikayla Eifert, who teaches fourth grade.

St. Mark built the morning around its theme for the year, “Rooted and Rising,” a variation on the broader “Rooted in Christ” theme, with a mix of traditional hymns and contemporary worship music.

Pastor Matt Popovits of St. Mark preached on setting goals for the year ahead, encouraging teachers to keep Christ at the center of them. Dr. Bill Hinz, director of school ministry for the LCMS Texas District, followed with a reflection on 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18, leading the room in reciting it together:

“Rejoice always, pray continually, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.” (NIV)

Every school year is a fresh start, he reminded them, and so is every day.

The classrooms are quite finished yet. Neither was the summer. But the year has started where it was supposed to, Rooted in Christ and surrounded by people doing the same work.