The Epiphany
3 January
2016
The Gathering of the Community
Prelude
Processional Hymn
‘We Three Kings of Orient Are’
The Hymnal 1982 #128
During the singing
of the Processional Hymn the Magi shall be carried in procession through the
church until they reach the Crèche.
Introductory Responses for Epiphany
At the Crèche the Presider
shall greet the People, saying
Blessed be the Lord, the God of Israel.
May all the earth
be filled with the glory of God.
Light has sprung up for the righteous,
and joyful gladness
for those who are true-hearted. [i]
The Presider shall
remain at the Crèche until the Collect of the Day is said.
Hymn of Praise
Collect
Let us pray.
Creator of the heavens,
who led the Magi by a star
to worship the Christ-child:
guide and sustain us,
so that we may find our journey’s end
in Jesus Christ our Lord.
Amen. [iii]
The Proclamation of the Word
First Reading
A Reading from the prophet Isaiah (60.1-6)
Arise, shine;
for your light has come, and the glory of the Lord
has risen upon you. 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. Nations shall come
to your light, and kings to the brightness of your dawn.
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. 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. 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.
Hear what the Spirit is saying to the church.
Thanks be to God.
The Psalm
Psalm 72.1-7, 10-14 with
the refrain from Songs for the Holy One
Refrain (sung
twice): May
the Holy One guard and guide all rulers.
1
Give the king your justice, O God, *
and
your righteousness to the king’s son;
2
that he may rule your people righteously
*
and the poor with justice;
3
that the mountains may bring prosperity to the people, *
and
the little hills bring righteousness.
4
He shall defend the needy among the people,
*
rescuing the poor and crushing the
oppressor.
Refrain: May the Holy One guard and guide
all rulers.
5
He shall live as long as the sun and moon endure, *
from
one generation to another.
6
He shall come down like rain upon the
mown field, *
like showers that water the earth.
7
In his time shall the righteous flourish; *
there shall be abundance of peace till the
moon shall be no more.
Refrain: May the Holy One guard and guide
all rulers.
10
The rulers of Tarshish and of the isles shall pay tribute, *
and
the rulers of Arabia and Saba offer gifts.
11
All rulers shall bow down before him, *
and all the nations do him service.
12
For he shall deliver the poor who cries out in distress *
and
the oppressed who has no helper.
13
He shall have pity on the lowly and poor
*
and shall preserve the lives of the
needy.
14
He shall redeem their lives from oppression and violence, *
and dear shall their blood be in his sight.
Refrain: May the Holy One guard and guide
all rulers.
Second Reading
A Reading from the Letter to the Ephesians (3.1-12).
This is the
reason that I Paul am a prisoner for Christ Jesus for the sake of you Gentiles —
for surely you have already heard of the commission of God’s grace that was
given me for you, and how the mystery was made known to me by revelation, as I
wrote above in a few words, a reading of which will enable you to perceive my
understanding of the mystery of Christ. In former generations this mystery was not
made known to humankind, as it has now been revealed to his holy apostles and
prophets by the Spirit: that is, the
Gentiles have become fellow heirs, members of the same body, and sharers in the
promise in Christ Jesus through the gospel.
Of this gospel I have become a servant according to the
gift of God’s grace that was given me by the working of his power. Although I am the very least of all the
saints, this grace was given to me to bring to the Gentiles the news of the
boundless riches of Christ, and to make everyone see what is the plan of the mystery
hidden for ages in God who created all things; so that through the church the
wisdom of God in its rich variety might now be made known to the rulers and
authorities in the heavenly places. This
was in accordance with the eternal purpose that he has carried out in Christ
Jesus our Lord, in whom we have access to God in boldness and confidence
through faith in him.
Hear what the Spirit is saying to the church.
Thanks be to God.
The Gradual Hymn
‘The First Nowell’ Common Praise #139 vv. 1, 2, 3
The Gospel
The Lord be with you.
And also with you.
The Holy Gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ according to Matthew (2.1-12).
Glory to you, Lord
Jesus Christ.
In the time of
King Herod, after Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judea, wise men 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 pay him homage.”
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 wise men 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 pay him homage.” 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
paid him homage. 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.
The Gospel of Christ.
Praise to you, Lord
Jesus Christ.
The Sermon
The Nicene Creed
We believe in one
God,
the Father, the
Almighty,
maker of heaven and
earth,
of all that is,
seen and unseen.
We believe in one
Lord, Jesus Christ,
the only Son of
God,
eternally begotten
of the Father,
God from God, Light
from Light,
true God from true
God,
begotten, not made,
of one Being with
the Father;
through him all
things were made.
For us and for our
salvation
he came down from
heaven,
was incarnate of
the Holy Spirit and the virgin Mary
and became truly
human.
For our sake he was
crucified under Pontius Pilate;
he suffered death
and was buried.
On the third day he
rose again
in accordance with
the scriptures;
he ascended into
heaven
and is seated at
the right hand of the Father.
He will come again
in glory to judge the living and the dead,
and his kingdom will
have no end.
We believe in the
Holy Spirit, the Lord, the giver of life,
who proceeds from
the Father,
who with the Father
and the Son is worshipped and glorified,
who has spoken
through the prophets.
We believe in one
holy catholic and apostolic church.
We acknowledge one
baptism for the forgiveness of sins.
We look for the
resurrection of the dead,
The Prayers of the Community
Intercessions, Petitions and Thanksgivings
The Exchange of the Peace
May the peace of Christ be always with you.
And also with you.
The Holy Communion
The Offertory Hymn
‘On This Day Earth Shall Ring’
Common Praise #150
Prayer over the Gifts
Let us pray.
Good and loving God,
we rejoice
in the birth of Jesus,
who came
among the poor
to bring
the riches of your grace.
As you have
blessed us with your gifts,
let them be
a blessing for others.
With the
trees of the field,
with all
earth and heaven,
we shout
for joy at the coming of your Son,
Jesus
Christ our Lord. Amen. [v]
Thanksgiving at the Table
The Lord be with you.
And also with you.
Lift up your hearts.
We lift them to the
Lord.
Let us give thanks to the Lord our God.
It is right to give
our thanks and praise.
It is indeed right, our duty and our joy,
that we should at all times and in all places give thanks and
praise to you,
almighty and merciful God, through our Saviour Jesus
Christ.
In the wonder and mystery of the Word made flesh
you have opened the eyes of faith to a new and radiant vision
of your glory,
so that beholding the God made visible,
we may be drawn to love the God whom we cannot see.
And so, with all the choirs of angels,
with the church on earth and the hosts of heaven,
we praise your name and join their unending hymn:
Holy, holy, holy
Lord,
God of power and
might,
heaven and earth
are full of your glory.
Hosanna in the
highest.
Blessed is he who
comes in the name of the Lord.
Holy One, the beginning and the end, the giver of life:
Blessed are you for the birth of creation.
Blessed are you in the darkness and in the light.
Blessed are you for your promise to your people.
Blessed are you for the prophets’ hopes and dreams.
Blessed are you for Mary’s openness to your will.
Blessed are you for your Son, Jesus, the Word made flesh.
In the night in which he was betrayed,
our Lord Jesus took bread, and gave thanks;
broke it, and gave it to his disciples, saying:
Take and eat; this is my body given for you.
Do this for the remembrance of me.
Again, after supper, he took the cup, gave thanks,
and gave it for all to drink, saying:
This cup is the new covenant in my blood,
shed for you and for all people for the forgiveness of sin.
Do this for the remembrance of me.
[Therefore let] us proclaim the mystery of faith:
Christ has died.
Christ is risen.
Christ will come
again.
With this bread and cup we remember
your Word dwelling among us, full of grace and truth.
We remember our new birth in his death and resurrection.
We look with hope for his coming.
Come, Lord Jesus.
Holy God, we long for your Spirit.
Come among us. Bless
this meal.
May your Word take flesh in us.
Awaken your people. Fill
us with your light.
Bring the gift of peace on earth.
Come, Holy Spirit.
All praise and glory are yours, Holy One of Israel,
Word of God incarnate, Power of the Most High,
one God, now and for ever.
Amen.[vii]
The Lord’s Prayer
As our Saviour taught us, let us pray,
Our Father in
heaven,
hallowed be your
name,
your kingdom come,
your will be done,
on earth as in
heaven.
Give us today our
daily bread.
Forgive us our sins
as we forgive those
who sin against us.
Save us from the
time of trial,
and deliver us from
evil.
For the kingdom,
the power,
and the glory are
yours,
The Breaking of the Bread
We break the bread of life,
and that life is the light of the world
God here among us,
light in the midst
of us,
bring us to light
and life.
The gifts of God for the people of God.
Thanks be to God.
The Communion
The Hymn after Communion
‘How Bright Appears the Morning Star’ Common
Praise #622
The Sending Forth of the Community
Prayer after Communion
Let us pray.
Radiant God,
with our
eyes we have seen your salvation,
and in this
meal we have feasted on your grace.
May your
Word take flesh in us,
so that we
may be your holy people,
revealing
your glory made known to us
in Jesus
Christ, our Saviour and Lord. Amen.
[ix]
Glory to God,
whose power,
working in us,
can do infinitely
more
than we can ask or
imagine.
Glory to God from
generation to generation,
in the Church and
in Christ Jesus,
for ever and
ever. Amen.
Blessing
May the God of infinite goodness
scatter the darkness of sin
and brighten your hearts with holiness;
and the blessing of God almighty,
the Lover of creation, the Beloved of God
and the Love that unites them,
be among you and remain with you always. Amen.
Closing Hymn
‘The First Nowell’ Common Praise #139 vv. 4, 5, 6
Dismissal
Go forth in love to proclaim the birth of Christ.
Thanks be to God.
[i] The Book of Alternative Services (1985),
96 alt.
[ii] Lang Carol Mass.
[iii] Liturgy Task
Force, ‘Trial Use Collects and Prayers over the Gifts and after Communion for
Year C: Advent 1 through Epiphany 6,’ 8.
[iv] Evangelical Lutheran Worship (2006), p.
104.
[v] Liturgy Task
Force, ‘Trial Use Collects and Prayers over the Gifts and after Communion for
Year C: Advent 1 through Epiphany 6,’
13.
[vi] Lang ‘Carol
Mass’.
[vii] Evangelical Lutheran Worship (2006), p.
110.
[viii] Common Worship #744.
[ix] Liturgy Task
Force, ‘Trial Use Collects and Prayers over the Gifts and after Communion for
Year C: Advent 1 through Epiphany 6,’
13.
