Bulletin – Sunday, January 8, 2023 – Epiphany

Sunday, January 8, 2023
Epiphany

Approach

Lighting the Christ Candle

Gracious and all loving God, as we light this candle today we hear you call to us across deep waters and dark places. Yours is the light which guides us and the voice which we follow. We pray that you would reveal yourself to us as we worship you. May those without hope be encouraged; those who are sad, cheered; those who are seeking, find you; and may all things be according to your will. As we light this candle we come together in the name of your beloved son, the bringer of light to the world, to worship you.

Call to Worship

One:   We gather:
All:      a community of faith in God’s subversive world.

One:   We gather to celebrate
All:      that no darkness can extinguish light,

One:   to remember
All:      that love will always be more powerful than death,

One:   and to trust that
All:      peace will always be stronger than violence.

One:   We gather,
All:      people of faith in the light of God’s world.

One:   Welcome to worship.
All:      Let us worship God in word and song this day and every day.

Hymn – “Arise, Your Light is Come”

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

Arise, your light is come!
All you in sorrow born,
Bind up the broken-hearted ones
And comfort those who mourn.

Arise, your light is come!
The mountains burst in song!
Rise up like eagles on the wing;
God’s power will make us strong.

Prayer of Approach and Confession

Eternal God, you brought the wise ones out of the east, you sent Mary on a journey to Egypt, and led Hagar through the desert. You lit the wilderness way for Moses and produced manna for his family. Send us into this new year with fire to see by, bread to live by, and family to travel with, as we follow your voice in the world.

Where you go, O God, we will go; and where we lodge, you will lodge, for we are your people, and you are our God. You ask us to follow and to be your people, to bring the word of your goodness to the world. God, you share with us words of hope, words of Good News. But sometimes we are unable to hear them because the source is too familiar. You call us to share the Good News with those around us. But sometimes we are unable to share, because the people know us too well. You encourage us to follow where you lead, calling us to other places, where we might be heard better, but we are afraid to truly follow, we are afraid to step out of our comfort zones. We can even work to keep the Good News to be for us, not for others.

In the multitude of ways we can and have subverted your message of freedom and healing, in all the ways we have kept the coming of your kingdom from happening, we have left the path of true wisdom and call upon your Grace to lead us back on track. We ask this in the name of your son, Jesus. Amen.

Words of Assurance

Hymn – “What Child is This”

What child is this, who laid to rest, on Mary’s lap is sleeping?
Whom angels greet with anthems sweet while shepherds watch are keeping?
This, this is Christ the King,
Whom shepherds guard and angels sing;
Haste, haste to bring him laud,
The Babe, the Son of Mary!

Why lies he in such mean estate where ox and ass are feeding?
Good Christian, fear; for sinners here the silent Word is pleading.
This, this is Christ the King,
Whom shepherds guard and angels sing;
Haste, haste to bring him laud,
The Babe, the Son of Mary!

So bring him incense, gold, and myrrh;
Come, one and all, to own him.
The King of Kings salvation brings; let loving hearts enthrone him.
This, this is Christ the King,
Whom shepherds guard and angels sing;
Haste, haste to bring him laud,
The Babe, the Son of Mary!

Time for All Ages

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, ² 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 pay him homage.” ³ When King Herod heard this, he was frightened, and all Jerusalem with him; ⁴ and 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 – “A Matter of Perspective”

Offering / Response

When heaven’s bright with mystery and stars still lead an unknown way,
When love still lights a gentle path where courts of power can hold no sway,
There with the Magi, let us kneel,
Our gifts to share, God’s world to heal.

The Response

Prayers of the People

One:   Bright Star, Holy One
All:      hear our prayer.

One:   Bright Star, Holy One be with those who suffer struggle, cry out weep, are in pain of heart or soul or mind. Hear the names of those whom we lift up to you this day…from the darkness may the glory of God arise! Bright Star, Holy One
All:      hear our prayer.

One:   Bright Star, Holy One fill the hearts of leaders, nations, cities, and faith communities. With wisdom and grace may the glory of God arise! Bright Star, Holy One
All:      hear our prayer.

One:   Bright Star, Holy One lead our leaders in your way, your hope, your love, and your peace. Enlighten the pathways with the Glory of God, arise! Bright Star, Holy One
All:      hear our prayer.

One:   Bright Star, Holy One laugh with those who laugh this day, lift up our joys, our hope is found in You. May the Glory of God arise! Bright Star, Holy One
All:      hear our prayer.

One:   Bright Star, Holy One help us in all we do, and say, and are to be your love shining forth—may the glory of God arise! Bright Star, Holy One
All:      hear our prayer.

One:   Bright Star, Holy One hear our prayer.
All:      Amen.

Hymn – “As With Gladness Men of Old”

As with gladness men of old did the guiding star behold,
As with joy they hailed its light, leading onward, beaming bright,
So, most gracious Lord, may we evermore your splendour see.

As with joyful steps they sped, to that lowly manger bed,
There to bend the knee before Christ, whom heaven and earth adore;
So may we with eager pace ever seek your throne of grace.

As they offered gifts most rare at that manger crude and bare,
So may we with holy joy, pure and free from sin’s alloy,
All our costliest treasures bring, Christ, to you, our heavenly King.

Holy Jesus, every day keep us in the narrow way;
And, when earthly things are past, bring our ransomed souls at last
Where they need no star to guide, where no clouds your glory hide.

In the heavenly country bright none shall need created light;
You its light, its joy, its crown, you its sun which goes not down;
There forever may we sing hallelujah to our King.

Benediction

Go now as a light to the nations. Honour God and share the Good news of Christ’s coming. And may God strengthen you and bless you with peace; may Christ Jesus bring forth justice for you and among you; and may the Holy Spirit alight on you and affirm you as God’s beloved ones.

We go in peace to love and serve God, in the name of Christ. Amen.

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.