Yes, it’s Lent. But it’s not just a Christmas star

A paper star remains lit in the Edgewater Presbyterian Church sanctuary. Photo: Gerald Farinas.

There is something deeply moving about the fact that we at Edgewater Presbyterian Church have chosen to keep a star hanging in our sanctuary all year round.

What began as seasonal decoration has become something far more enduring: a spiritual compass, a quiet proclamation of hope, and a reminder of the light that continues to shine even in the darkest of times.

When I sit in the sanctuary of our humble urban Kirk and see the star hanging above, I am filled with a sense of calm and clarity.

This past Sunday, as Pastor Kristin spoke of fig trees and laborers in biblical Palestine, I stared at the star—imagining its presence during that worrisome time in Roman-occupied Jerusalem.

In a world where so much feels chaotic and uncertain, especially in our own turbulent political times in America, the star becomes more than a symbol—it becomes a presence.

It reminds me that amidst polarization, fear, and injustice, we are still called to follow the light, to seek the Christ who leads us toward compassion, truth, and peace.

This star hanging in our Kirk also echoes a deeper tradition, one that is embodied in the spires of the Cologne Cathedral in Germany.

Unlike many other cathedrals that bear crosses atop their towers, Germany’s Cologne Cathedral is crowned with a star during part of each year.

I have always found that striking.

The star points not only to Christ’s death and resurrection but also to the journey of faith—the pilgrimage of seekers and the long arc of God’s redemptive story.

The star places us in the posture of the Magi.

Always watching.

Always moving forward.

Always following.

Within the Reformed tradition, the star holds profound symbolism.

The Reformers were deeply concerned with light—illumination through Scripture, enlightenment of the mind and heart, and the guidance of the Holy Spirit.

The star is not just a Christmas image for us; it is a year-round symbol of God’s revelation.

It reminds us that we do not walk blindly.

God has given us a light to follow, and that light is ever-present, even if it sometimes appears as only a glimmer on the horizon.

At the Edgewater Kirk, we are a people committed to justice, inclusion, and community.

The star in our sanctuary reflects all of that.

It says, “The journey isn’t over.”

It tells us, “Keep seeking, keep hoping, keep going.”

In keeping it up all year, we are making a quiet but powerful theological statement: that the light of Christ does not belong to a single season.

It is for every day, especially the hard ones.

I love that the star is always there.

I love that it reminds us who we are and who we are still becoming.

I love that in a time when so much feels upended, we have chosen to lift our eyes to the heavens and say: we will follow the light.

This little light of mine? I’m gonna let it shine.