Three Kings Day - Epiphany + Recipe for Dad's Sourdough Pancakes

On January 6th of each year, Epiphany is celebrated. This was a well-known fact when I was growing up because my dad was born on Epiphany and he always said he was an "Epiphany baby"...even when he was older.

My dad blowing out the candle on his 

banana sundae ice cream dessert on his 78th birthday. 

One special thing that my parents did each year was have the priest from church come over to bless our home. I remember the chalk letters and numbers above our front door that the priest wrote after he gave a blessing. My parents, sister, brother, and I would stand by the front door as he did this.

Front entry way of my parents' home. 

The door to the right is where the chalk blessing was written.

I found a pin on Pinterest that led to Liturgy that explained the chalk house blessing in more detail. The website said, "On Epiphany (or New Year) you can bless your house. You can make this as simple or as intricate as you like; include (liturgical) greeting (eg. “The Lord be with you…”), song or carol, holy water (sprinkling door, each room), reading (eg. Epiphany Gospel, start of John’s Gospel), more prayers, Lord’s Prayer, incense, assigning parts to different members of the household, collect for Epiphany. Many homes are the dwelling for one person – the blessing of a home is equally appropriate."

The next part is about what is written in chalk: "Take (blessed) chalk (of any color) and mark on the lintel of your front door 20 + C + M + B + 11 [for 2020 you would change the 11 to 20: 20 + C + M + B + 20] saying:

The three Wise Men,
C Caspar,
M Melchior,
B and Balthasar followed the star of God’s Son who became human
20 two thousand
11 and eleven years ago [for 2020: “20 and twenty years ago].
++ May Christ bless our home
++ and remain with us throughout the new year. Amen.

God is love, and those who abide in love abide in God, and God abides in them. Christ, God’s incarnation, is present in the love and care we manifest to each other in our ordinary daily lives together.

From A New Zealand Prayer Book page 762
C M B above the door, also stands for Christus Mansionem Benedicat, Latin for “May Christ Bless this House.”

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My dad died the day before the Epiphany in 2012. He was 79 years old. Had he made it just one more day, he would have reached 80 years old. In some ways, I'm happy his birth and death are not on the same day. One day is more somber and sad, while the other is a bittersweet reminder of all the wonderful birthdays we could celebrate with my dad.

My dad and mom on my dad's last birthday: January 6, 2011.

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One thing I did this year was make a batch of sourdough starter at the end of 2019 and then made sourdough pancakes on January 5th in memory of him.

He would make this starter periodically and we would have the pancakes. They were a treat for us. The recipe below is from one he wrote on his typewriter. The words used are typed below just like he did including the word "till" for "until."

SOURDOUGH STARTER

1 package active dry yeast
1 1/2 cups warm water
2 cups sifted all-purpose flour
1 tablespoon sugar

Dissolve yeast in 1/2 cup o the water; stir in remaining water, flour, and sugar. Beat until smooth. Cover with cheesecloth; let stand at room temperature for 5 to 10 days, stirring 2 to 3 times a day. (Time required to ferment will depend upon room temperature; if room is warm, let stand a shorter time than if room is cool.) Cover and refrigerate till ready to use.

TO KEEP STARTER GOING

Add 3/4 cup water, 3/4 cup sifted all purpose flour, and 1 teaspoon sugar to remaining starter after some is used. Let stand at room temperature till bubbly and well-fermented, at least 1 day. Cover and refrigerate till used again. If not used within 10 days, add 1 teaspoon sugar. Repeat adding sugar every 10 days.

SOURDOUGH PANCAKES

Great served with whipped butter and melted jelly or syrup.

1 cup sifted all-purpose flour
2 tablespoons sugar
1 1/2 teaspoons baking powder
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
1 beaten egg
1 cup Sourdough Starter
1/2 cup milk
2 tablespoons cooking oil

Combine flour, sugar, baking powder, salt, and soda. Combine egg, sourdough starter, milk, and oil; stir into flour mixture until combined. Using 2 tablespoons batter for each pancake, bake on hot, lightly-greased griddle till golden, turning once. Makes about 28 pancakes.

Dad with Sophia and Olivia on July 18, 2008, 

after we went to a stamp show on Olivia's half birthday.