Bulletin – Sunday, January 2, 2022 (Epiphany / Communion)

Sunday, January 2, 2022
Epiphany

Approach

Lighting the Christ Candle

We light this candle, honouring the One who said “I am the Light.”

Response

Arise, your light is come! The Spirit’s call obey.
Show forth the glory of your God, which shines on you today.

Call to Worship

One:   Arise! Shine!
All:      For our Light has come!

One:   The glory of the Lord is in this place.
All:      The glory of the Lord is in you, in me.

One:   See! Be radiant!
All:      Our hearts thrill and rejoice!

One:   Let us worship in gratitude, in joy, together.

Hymn – “Will You Come and See the Light”

Will you come and see the light from the stable door?
It is shining newly bright, though it shone before.
It will be your guiding star, it will show you who you are;
Will you hide, or decide to meet the light?

Will you step into the light that can free the slave?
It will stand for what is right, it will heal and save.
By the pyramids of greed there’s a longing to be free;
Will you hide, or decide to meet the light?

Will you travel by the light of the babe new born?
In the candle lit at night there’s a gleam of dawn,
And the darkness all about is too dim to put it out,
Will you hide, or decide to meet the light?

Prayer of Approach and Confession

God of all gifts, we give you thanks for the joy of worshipping together this day.

Throughout time and space, you have called to us to rise up and shine, to be light for the world. Today, you continue to call us, that we might inspire others by our rising—that our gifts might join with others as we rediscover that we are yours. May this time of worship help us to follow the Light, that we might be reenergized and recharged to be your disciples. Holy One, on this day of Epiphany, we hear a story of travelers who bring extravagant gifts to Jesus, which sometimes causes us to think that our gifts are not good enough.

We hold ourselves to the world’s standards of what gifts should be and fail to see that what we offer is like those early gifts—what we offer is the best that we have. So, forgive us when we compare ourselves with others. Forgive us when our fear stops us from rising up to shine. Inspire us to look at what we have in gratitude, so that we might then share these parts of ourselves for your glory and for the transformation of the world that you love so much.

We long to be reflections of your Light, in whose name we pray. Amen.

Words of Assurance

Time for All Ages

Hymn – “The First Nowell”

The first Nowell the angel did say was to certain poor shepherds in fields as they lay,
In fields where they lay akeeping their sheep on a cold winter’s night that was so deep.
Nowell, Nowell, Nowell, Nowell,
Born is the King of Israel.

They looked up and saw a star, shinning in the east, beyond them far,
And to the earth it gave great light, and so it continued both day and night.
Nowell, Nowell, Nowell, Nowell,
Born is the King of Israel.

And by the light of that same star three wisemen came from country far,
To seek for a king was their intent, and to follow the star wherever it went.
Nowell, Nowell, Nowell, Nowell,
Born is the King of Israel.

The Word

Scripture Reading:           Isaiah 60:1-6

¹ Arise, shine; for your light has come, and the glory of the LORD has risen upon you.
² For darkness shall cover the earth, and thick darkness the peoples;  but the LORD will arise upon you, and his glory will appear over you.
³ Nations shall come to your light, and kings to the brightness of your dawn.
⁴ Lift up your eyes and look around; they all gather together, they come to you; your sons shall come from far away, and your daughters shall be carried on their nurses’ arms.
⁵ Then you shall see and be radiant; your heart shall thrill and rejoice, because the abundance of the sea shall be brought to you, the wealth of the nations shall come to you.
⁶ A multitude of camels shall cover you, the young camels of Midian and Ephah; all those from Sheba shall come. They shall bring gold and frankincense, and shall proclaim the praise of the LORD.

Scripture Reading:           Matthew 2:1-12

¹ In the time of King Herod, after Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judea, wise men from the East came to Jerusalem, ²asking, “Where is the child who has been born king of the Jews? For we observed his star at its rising, and have come to pay him homage.” ³When King Herod heard this, he was frightened, and all Jerusalem with him; ⁴and calling together all the chief priests and scribes of the people, he inquired of them where the Messiah was to be born. ⁵ They told him, “In Bethlehem of Judea; for so it has been written by the prophet:
⁶ 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.’”
⁷ Then Herod secretly called for the wise men and learned from them the exact time when the star had appeared. ⁸ 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 pay him homage.” ⁹ 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. ¹⁰ When they saw that the star had stopped, they were overwhelmed with joy. ¹¹ On entering the house, they saw the child with Mary his mother; and they knelt down and paid him homage. Then, opening their treasure chests, they offered him gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh. ¹² And having been warned in a dream not to return to Herod, they left for their own country by another road.

Hear what the Spirit is saying to the Church.
Thanks be to God!

Meditation – “Will We Shine?”

Hymn – “In the Darkness Shines the Splendour”

In the darkness shines the splendour of the Word who took our flesh,
Welcoming in love’s surrender, death’s dark shadow at his creche.
Bearing every human story, Word made flesh reveals his glory.

Broken bread, sustaining us in sorrow, wine poured out to toast our joy,
Exodus and new tomorrow, life’s full promise to enjoy!
Gladdening every human story, Word made flesh reveals his glory.

All God’s people, sing in jubilation of the birth that sets us free,
Telling of the revelation: Jesus, God’s epiphany.
Celebrate the human story! Word made flesh reveals our glory.

The Response

Communion

One:   Here at this table and in this sanctuary, let the Divine Spark enter our lives.
All:      Let the Holy Light aid us in seeing the Christ in our midst.

One:   The Brightness of Jesus the Christ will illuminate our way.
All:      The Radiance of the Christ will warm our hearts.

One:   God is shining upon you!
All:      And God’s light streams upon you!

One:   Open your hearts.
All:      We open them to the brilliance of God.

One:   Let us give thanks for the light and love of God.
All:      We come to this place in praise to our Creator with joy and thanksgiving.

One:   We have come asking for the child—wondering where that love might be born, seeking that joy that might satisfy our thirst, wandering through the darkness of so many mistakes.

One:   We have come to this place where wisepeople and shepherds and young women met. We have come to this place called Bethlehem. To this place where our hearts rise like yeast. To this place where we meet our newborn hope. To this place where we taste our deepest joy. In Bethlehem, where we assumed the worst, imagining that no good can come, we somehow missed its name.

One:   Bethlehem. Lehem meaning bread. Bethel meaning house. There is something here that will satisfy our hunger. No matter how long we have wandered. Here our hearts arise. Our light has come.

One:   On the night before Jesus died, when some were plotting to extinguish the Holy Light, warmth was shared between friends. Jesus took bread, gave thanks to you, broke the bread, gave it to his disciples, and said: “Take, eat; this is my body which is given for you. Do this in remembrance of me.”

One:   When the supper was over he took the cup, gave thanks to you, gave it to his disciples, and said: “Drink from this, all of you; this is the cup of the new covenant, poured out for you and for many for the forgiveness of sins. Do this, as often as you drink it, in remembrance of me.”

One:   Holy Spirit, may your Divine Glow bless this bread and cup. Warm our hearts made cold by a chilled world. May this meal inspire us to carry your warmth into our world.

Prayer after Sharing

God of Light and Love, we cherish this table in this season when the nights are long and cold. Through this meal, the Christ, and our neighbours, our hearts have warmed. May the comfort in our souls sustain us through winter and nudge us to create welcoming spaces for our neighbours. With gratitude, we leave here energized to kindle your love in this world. Amen.

(Communion Liturgy adapted from Michelle L. Torigian)

Hymn – “I Am the Light of the World”

“I am the light of the world! You people come and follow me!”
If you follow and love you’ll learn the mystery of what you were meant to do and be.

When the song of the angels is tilled,
When the star in the sky is gone,
When the kings and the shepherds have found their way home,
The work of Christmas is begun.

“I am the light of the world! You people come and follow me!”
If you follow and love you’ll learn the mystery of what you were meant to do and be.

To bring hope to every task you do,
To dance at a baby’s new birth,
To make music in and old person’s heart,
And sing to the colours of the earth!

“I am the light of the world! You people come and follow me!”
If you follow and love you’ll learn the mystery of what you were meant to do and be.

Benediction

May God’s love and grace shine upon you. May the Light of Jesus shine from within you. May the joy of the Spirit shine all around you. And may you and those you love, wherever they might be, remember to share your gifts for all the world to see. Amen, Amen, and may it be so, this day and forever more.

Response

O Light of Nations, fill the earth,
Our faith and hope and love renew.
Come, lead the peoples to your peace,
As stars once led the way to you.