King Puppets visit Epiphany

The following is another item in our Epigram series of articles.

WE THREE KINGS

by Barbara Aubrey

In St. Matthew’s gospel narrative, Three Kings journey from afar, bearing gifts to the Infant Christ Child.

On its feast day, January 7-8, 2012, the Community of Epiphany also received a most amazing gift- a gift of the Kings themselves. Three giant king puppets journeyed around the exterior of the Worship Center, carefully ducked through the door of the building and slowly processed down each aisle to the altar. Two children accompanied the kings, moving their arms, enabling them to present symbolic gifts to Fr. Randy. It was truly a beautiful, magical, awe-inspiring sight.

The story of how the king puppets came to be has its own long journey. It all began more than 25 years ago when parishioner Hub Daugherty witnessed large king puppets at UK’s Newman Center in Lexington. She thought how perfect the kings would be for a feast day liturgy at a community named Epiphany. It was a great idea but it was not until she became Co-chair of the Worship Committer in 2005 that she brought the idea to the group. They too thought it was an interesting idea but nothing ever came of it. Finally, in 2010 Hub went back to Lexington and took pictures of the old king puppets that the Newman center was still using at their Epiphany liturgy.

She knew it would take some very special people to tackle this huge undertaking. All at once the Youth Group popped into her head. Teens are creative, imaginative, energetic and have the ability to think outside the box. Plus she thought it would be a good way to get the teens more involved. So, in October, 2010, she attended the Youth Parents’ Meeting, presented the idea and shared the pictures. They accepted the challenge but they realized there was not enough time to have them ready for Epiphany, 2011. And who in the world would oversee this project with the teens?

Enter Melani McDonell, a member of the Youth Parents’ Group, a Recreational Therapist and a woman with a passion for creating things. She agreed to take on the project. She says it was a providential journey beginning with the fact that she really hadn’t planned on attending that meeting but changed her mind at the last minute. Her creative mind began working but Spring and Summer of 2011 passed and not much progress was made. A member of the Healing Blanket Committee donated nineteen bags of beautiful upholstery fabric but it sat in Hub’s closet. Hub felt the project might not get off the ground after all. Then one Saturday liturgy in the Fall Melanie reassured her it would indeed happen but she herself did not know where to begin. From that point forward it was almost like God saying to her, “Now here is what you need to do.”

Inspired and reinvigorated Melani made a trip to Jo-Ann Fabrics. An employee, whose nametag read “Tunky,” asked if she needed help. Did she ever. She explained the giant puppet kings project and it turned out he was a costume designer. He knew exactly what she needed: large skeleton heads (available in the Halloween Department at Walgreens), cloth bunting, double knit fabric, plastic juice bottles for the shoulders and light bamboo sticks. She could not believe she met this man. The Spirit was truly working. She was now on her way.

Next, back to the Youth Group. The teens decided that the king puppets should have a European, an African and an Oriental look. The girls spent hours designing the costumes using the nineteen bags of beautiful donated fabric. The boys worked on the actual structure of the puppets. Slowly the puppets were coming to life. They measured approximately seven feet from waist to top of head. The person carrying the puppets would provide the legs and be totally covered by the costume. The entire king would stand more than ten feet tall. But the puppets weighed 30 pounds. How could they be carried safely and securely? Someone came up with an idea. What about the security belts that students use in marching bands? A call to Eastern High School and three belts soon arrived. The bamboo poles fit perfectly. It was all coming together and none too soon.

The kings, with unfinished faces, made their first appearance traveling from afar on the outside of the Worship Center during Christmas Midnight Mass and then again on January 1st. Their journey was beginning. It was one hour before the Saturday evening Feast Day liturgy was to begin and Melani was still working on the faces. At last everything was in place-just in the nick of time.

Let the Feast Day Eucharistic celebration begin—the strong group recitation of the Epiphany Mission, Vision and Commitment Statement, the glorious music, the handballs, the choir, the women and children dancers leading the procession of live kings bearing the gifts. And then the magnificent giant puppet kings. All of this leading to our Eucharist table to receive the Body of Christ. Then off to the Community Center for food, drink, music and fun. If you were not part of this Feast Day liturgy and celebration you missed a most sacred, joyful, awe-inspiring experience.

Melanie truly feels that the Community of Epiphany is so committed, so alive, so talented. It took hundreds of parishioners to make the Feast Day so special. It would not be wise to mention names for fear of leaving someone out. You know who you are. The teens from the Youth Group should be especially proud of their contribution.

As for Melani and Hub? Melani never made it into the Center to see the king puppets enter. She was busy making sure that everything was in perfect order. Hub was so happy she was smiling and crying at the same time. Her dream had come true. They were both overwhelmed by the response from the community. Someone told them that Epiphany began as a pilgrim church on a journey and the kings were a beautiful reminder that our journey continues. Sr. Mary felt the people were so touched and the emotions reached deep into their hearts and souls. Fr. Randy called the puppets “magnificent.” They could not stop saying “Thank you, thank you.”

I know the entire community joins them in thanking Hub, Melani and the entire team for a Feast Day to remember and a gift we will never forget- our own glorious, magical giant puppet kings.

Click here to see more pictures of our feastday celebrations, includings the Kings Puppets.