Chalking the Door: Marking Epiphany with Blessings and Purpose

The chalking of the door is typically done on or around January 6, the Feast of the Epiphany. It is seen as invoking God's blessing not only on a physical place but also on the people who live there and those who visit.  

Epiphany (“revealing”) commemorates the Magi who came from the four corners of the world bearing gifts and following a star to meet the child who would become king, baby Jesus. We celebrate Epiphany to remember that we, too, are invited to be a witness of God’s love and to remember that we are blessed as we begin a new year.

The “Chalking the door” is a way to celebrate and literally mark the occasion of the Epiphany and God’s blessing on our lives. We invite God’s presence into our gathering places and upon all who live, work, or visit throughout the coming year. Each year around the world, people use chalk to mark the doorposts of their homes, chapels, and places of worship with an inscription of the new year separated by C+M+B. This year, the inscription is 20+C+M+B+25.

C+M+B stands for the Latin words Christus Mansionem Benedicat, which means “May Christ bless this house.” The letters can also represent the traditional names of the Magi who visited Christ: Caspar, Melchior, and Balthazar. Chalk is used in this tradition because it is an ordinary substance of the earth, “dust,” put to holy use. It reminds us that we are of the dust of the earth, the most ordinary of substances, and yet are fashioned as holy beings for holy purposes.

Chalk will not permanently mark the dwelling. The weather may cause the marking to fade. But each time we view the inscription upon entering this place, we remember its reason and rededicate ourselves to a unified purpose.

The Liturgy
At the end of these days of Christmastide, we keep the Feast of Epiphany. We celebrate Christ being made known to the Magi, and Christ made known to us! Peace be to this place and all who enter here. Amen! People:  Amen!
 

Prayer: O God, by the leading of a star, you revealed your love to the peoples of the earth: Lead us to your presence, where we may also see your glory. Amen. People:  Amen!

Nations will come to God’s light and kings to the brightness of each new dawn. The Magi, Caspar (C), Melchior (M), and Baltasar (B) came from the East to Bethlehem to visit the Messiah. Please use the chalk to mark a C, M, and a B in the center of the doorframe.

On coming to the house, they saw the child with his mother, Mary, and they bowed down and worshiped him. Then, they opened their treasures and presented him with gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh.

This was two thousand and twenty-four years ago. Please now mark a 20 before the C and a 25 after the B, signifying our current year.

Now, please add a cross between each number and letter.  

The Blessing: May this chapel be blessed with God’s love, and may our love for one another be visible here.  May we manifest God’s love to each other and to all whose lives we touch. May we grow in grace and in the knowledge and love of God. Guide, comfort, and strengthen us in peace. Go in peace to love and serve! Amen!