The Celebration of the Gospel
January 5 , 2020 —Sunday of the Epiphany
“Where is he who has been born king of the Jews?
For we have seen his star in the east and have come to pay him homage.”.
—Matthew 2.2
______We Are Received as Children of God____
GREETING
PRELUDE – Poème – Edvard Grieg, arr: Mark L. Williams
[As we listen to the music we quiet our minds and bodies,
listen for our hearts’ deepest desires,
and become present to the Holy One who is lovingly present for us.]
*CALL TO WORSHIP
Reader: People of faith, look! In our darkness a light shines: the star is love.
All: Alleluia! In gratitude we follow the star of love.
The star moves ahead of us, and leads us faithfully.
Alleluia! In wonder we follow the star of love.
The star hides itself in each of us: in everyone we meet, in all God’s people.
Alleluia! In devotion we follow the star of love.
* SONG – The First Noel – Blue hymnal #245
_____We Are Transformed by the Love of Christ____
(10:30) CHILDREN’S TIME
(10:30) THE WORD IN SONG – Fantasia on Greensleeves – R. Vaughan Williams
PRAYER
Holy Mystery, your light shines in the darkness. The bright star of your loving presence hovers over us, shines within us, and leads us steadfastly. We pause now to watch and listen, to take our reckoning by your star, that we may continue to follow faithfully, to seek you in this world, and to give you our gifts. Speak your Word, for we are listening. Amen.
(10:30) HEBREW BIBLE – Isaiah 60.1-6
[The prophet proclaims that light has come upon God’s people in the midst of the world’s darkness. This light enables us to see the abundance of God’s grace—so much so that other nations will also be drawn to this light. This passage uses images that Matthew may have had in mind in the visit of the magi.]
Arise, shine; for your light has come,
and the glory of God has risen upon you.
For darkness shall cover the earth,
and thick darkness the peoples;
but God will arise upon you,
and God’s glory will appear over you.
Then you shall see and be radiant;
your heart shall thrill and rejoice.
Nations shall come to your light,
and leaders to the brightness of your dawn.
They shall bring gold and frankincense,
and shall proclaim the praise of God.
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NEW TESTAMENT – 1 Peter 1.13-16, 2.9
[We’ve been brought out of darkness into God’s light and made a royal priesthood. Therefore we should be obedient not to our desires but to the divine light in us. ]
Prepare your minds for action; discipline yourselves; set all your hope on the grace that Jesus Christ will bring you when he is revealed. Like obedient children, do not be conformed to the desires that you formerly had in ignorance. Instead, as he who called you is holy, be holy yourselves in all your conduct; for it is written, “You shall be holy, for I am holy.
For you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, God’s own people, in order that you may proclaim the mighty acts of him who called you out of darkness into his marvelous light.
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GOSPEL – Matthew 2.1-12
[Magi from the east seek the newborn king. Though they are from another nation and practice a different religion, they see Jesus as having influence and even sovereignty over their own lives.]
In the time of King Herod, after Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judea, magi from the East came to Jerusalem, asking, “Where is the child who has been born king of the Jews? For we observed his star at its rising, and have come to honor him.”
When King Herod heard this, he was frightened, and all Jerusalem with him; and calling together all the chief priests and scribes of the people, he inquired of them where the Messiah was to be born. They told him, “In Bethlehem of Judea; for so it has been written by the prophet: “And you, Bethlehem, in the land of Judah, are by no means least among the rulers of Judah; for from you shall come a ruler who is to shepherd my people Israel.”
Then Herod secretly called for the magi and learned from them the exact time when the star had appeared. Then he sent them to Bethlehem, saying, “Go and search diligently for the child; and when you have found him, bring me word so that I may also go and honor him.”
When they had heard the king, they set out; and there, ahead of them, went the star that they had seen at its rising, until it stopped over the place where the child was. When they saw that the star had stopped, they were overwhelmed with joy. On entering the house, they saw the child with Mary his mother; and they knelt down and honored him. Then, opening their treasure chests, they offered him gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh. And having been warned in a dream not to return to Herod, they left for their own country by another road.
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SERMON – Three kinds of kings
SONG – ‘Twas In the Moon of Wintertime – Blue Black hymnal # 244
THE PRAYERS OF THE PEOPLE
SHARING THE PEACE OF CHRIST
___________We Share at Christ’s Table_________
OFFERING OUR GIFTS – Grosser Gott, Wir Loben Dich – Max Reger
* COMMUNION SONG (Tune: What Child Is This)
O Christ, you call to your table here
your blessed children, your people dear.
Our gifts we bring, and your praise we sing,
as we gather in joy at your coming.
Christ, Christ, Emmanuel,
your love we share, your grace we tell.
Christ, Light of the World, we come!
fill us, Love, with your brightness!
THE GREAT THANKSGIVING
Beloved, God is with you.
And also with you.
Lift up your hearts.
We lift them up to God.
Let us give thanks to the Faithful One, our God.
It is good to give God thanks and praise.
We thank you and praise you, Divine Mystery,
Creator of all that is and all that shall be.
Stars of your making sparkle above us,
and to those who are wise and attentive they reveal your presence.
With starlight and pillars of fire you have led us out of darkness and into light;
through prophets and poets you have led us in wonder and love.
And you have given us gifts, that we may live fully and richly in grace.
As magi knelt before the Christ child and offered their gifts
we kneel in humble gratitude and offer you gifts,
in one voice with all creation singing your praise.
(Tune: We Three Kings)
Holy, Holy, Holy One, God whose love is bright as the sun,
all Creation sings your praise! Hosanna we sing as one!
O, Blessed is the one who comes in your name, O Holy One.
Praise! Hosanna in the highest! Peace on earth, to everyone.
Blessed are all who come in your name, and blessed is Jesus, your Christ.
He bore your love to all people, including those of foreign lands and religions.
He offered us gifts from the treasure chest of his faith:
he forgave and taught; he fed the hungry and healed the broken;
he proclaimed a new Realm of grace and justice.
The rulers of Empire sought him and killed him, but you raised him from the dead.
This is the wisdom that leads us, the star that lights our way.
[The Blessing and Covenant …]
Jesus said, “Do this in remembrance of me.”
As often as we break this bread and share this cup
we remember his death and resurrection until he comes again.
Remembering these, your mighty acts in Jesus Christ,
we offer ourselves in praise and thanksgiving
as a living and holy sacrifice, in union with Christ’s offering for us,
as we proclaim mystery at the heart of our faith:
Dying, Christ destroyed our death. Rising, Christ restores our life.
Christ will come again in glory, leading us all to life.
O, God of mercy, God of light, God whose love in us burns bright,
lead us, guide us, walk beside us, fill us with your gentle light.
Pour out your holy Spirit on these gifts of food,
that those who receive them may experience your love and grace.
Pour out your Holy Spirit on these gifts of bread and cup,
that they may be for us the body and blood of Christ.
Pour out your Holy Spirit on us,
that we may be for the world the Body of Christ.
Open up your treasure chest in us, that we may be a royal priesthood of your love.
Guide us by the light of your love to do justice, to practice mercy,
to kneel humbly before you in every child of yours.
And you, children, will be called prophets of the Most High,
for you will go before God to prepare God’s ways,
to give knowledge of salvation to God’s people by the forgiveness of their sins.
By your tender mercy may your dawn from on high break upon us,
to give light to those who sit in darkness and the shadow of death,
and to guide our feet into the way of peace.
Amen! Your will be done. Amen, O Holy One.
Make us now the living Body of Christ, our Love, your Son.
O, praise be yours, and glory be all throughout eternity!
Alleluia! Alleluia! Thanks and praise we sing to thee.
THE PRAYER OF JESUS
Our Father, who art in heaven, hallowed be thy name.
Thy kingdom come, thy will be done, on earth as it is in heaven.
Give us this day our daily bread, and forgive us our trespasses,
as we forgive those who trespass against us.
And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil.
For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, forever. Amen.
SHARING THE HOLY MEAL [Everyone is welcome at the table of Christ’s self-giving love.
The bread is wheat-, soy- and dairy free. We dip the bread in the juice.]
PRAYER OF BLESSING
Gracious God, we thank you for this mystery in which you have given yourself to us. Send us now into the world, attentive to the star of your love, following it with faithfulness, seeking its glory in all we meet, and shining with its light through our humble giving of the gifts you give us, in the name and Spirit of Christ. Amen.
___We Are Sent in the Power of the Holy Spirit___
THE LIFE OF THE CHURCH IN THE WORLD
* SONG – Sing We Now of Christmas – Blue hymnal #237
* THE BLESSING AND SENDING FORTH
RESPONSE We stand and sing to our neighbors:
May the grace and peace of Christ be with you my friends.
Go and share the love of God, love that never ends.
POSTLUDE – God Rest Ye Merry, Gentlemen – arr: Mark Hayes