Worship
Service for January 7, 2024
Prelude
Announcements:
Call to Worship
L: May the Lord give strength to His people!
P: May the Lord bless His people with peace.
L: May God be gracious to us and bless us.
P: And may God’s face shine upon us.
L: May God continue to bless us.
Opening Hymn – What Star Is This With Beams So Bright #68 Blue
Prayer of Confession
Forgiving God, we are guilty
of failing to make our blessings count.
We are ungrateful children who never seem to have enough or to be satisfied
with what we have. We want more, and yet
we have not done everything we can with what we already have. Worst of all, we have not shared what we have
with others so that they, too, might be as blessed as we are. We confess that we have not always been aware
of our spiritual blessings. Too often we
only ask You for material things and temporal blessings, forgetting that what
we really need is for You to nurture our spirits and souls. Forgive us, and give us another chance, just
as You have given us another year and another day. Heal, restore, and bless us, we pray, for the
sake of Jesus Christ, our Savior and Lord.
(Silent prayers are offered)
AMEN.
Assurance of Pardon
L: Jesus said, “You are the light of the
world. A city built on a hill cannot be
hid. No one after lighting a lamp puts
it under a bushel basket, but on the lampstand, and it gives light to all in
the house. In the same way, let your
light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory
to your Father in heaven.” Friends, this
is the good news of the gospel.
P: In Jesus Christ we are forgiven. Thanks be to God!
Gloria Patri
Affirmation of Faith/Apostles’
Creed
I believe in God the Father
Almighty, Maker of heaven and earth; And in Jesus Christ His only Son our Lord;
who was conceived by the Holy Ghost, born of the Virgin Mary, suffered under
Pontius Pilate, was crucified, dead, and buried; He descended into hell; the
third day He rose again from the dead; He ascended into heaven, and sitteth on
the right hand of God the Father Almighty; from thence He shall come to judge
the quick and the dead.
I believe in the Holy Ghost,
the holy catholic Church; the communion of saints, the forgiveness of sins; the
resurrection of the body; and the life everlasting. AMEN
Pastoral Prayer and Lord’s
Prayer
Almighty God, we gather
as your people, and we gather as those who live in hope. Our lives provide us many opportunities to
speak words of peace and reconciliation, but often we don’t have the courage. Draw us together in our Lord Jesus Christ,
that we may proclaim the good news of hope and salvation to our communities and
world. Make us bold not only to speak
the word, but also to live it.
O Great God of Light,
we give you thanks that all creation is blessed by your faithful and forgiving
love – always overcoming our sins of pride, blindness, and despair. In times of abundance give us grateful
hearts, that we may rejoice in your great kindness. In times of suffering give us eyes to see
your light shining, that we may live in hope and faithful service.
By your Spirit empower
us to reach out to all of your children who are suffering in physical,
emotional, or spiritual pain, injustice, living in poverty, or those without
hope. May we work and pray together in
the light of your grace. Hear our prayer
requests this morning…
And also the desires of
our hearts that we lift up to you today in silence….
O Lord, you are
faithful and true, full of compassion and abounding in steadfast love. We acknowledge your shining star as it guides
our own way to the Christ child and we pray together saying, “Our Father…”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. Forgive us our debts as we forgive our
debtors. And lead us not into
temptation, but deliver us from evil.
For Thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, forever. AMEN.
Hymn – We
Three Kings #66/288
Scripture Reading(s):
First Scripture Reading – Isaiah
60:1-6
Second Scripture Reading – Matthew
2:1-12
Sermon – “What is Epiphany?”
So, what exactly is Epiphany? For the Church, the term/word Epiphany and
the season of Epiphany reminds us of how the light of Jesus Christ continues to
guide our lives every day —even after we put away the bright and cheery Christmas
lights. Epiphany is a Christian holiday
celebrated on January 6 and Epiphany Sunday is celebrated on the Sunday closest
to that date. The word “Epiphany”
originates from the Greek epiphaneia, meaning “manifestation” or
“appearance.” Often translated in
English to that “aha” moment, when something becomes clear for the first time.
Epiphany is also known as “Three Kings Day,” the Western
church largely celebrates the visit of the three Magi to the newly-born Jesus
in Bethlehem that is detailed in Matthew 2:1-12. More broadly, the day of Epiphany commemorates
the revelation of Christ as the eternal Savior of all humankind. Not only did Christ reveal himself as the Son
of God to the three Magi, but also through his baptism (Mark 1:9-11), marked by
the descending dove and the voice of God saying, “You are my Son, my beloved
with whom I am well pleased.” It is the season when we usually celebrate the
Christ’s first miracle in the turning of the water to wine at Cana (John
2:1-11). The liturgical season of
Epiphany stretches from January 6 through to the beginning of Lent on Ash
Wednesday, highlighting all these “epiphanies” of Christ’s divinity to the
world.
If you remember the song, the Twelve Days of Christmas, well, the
Twelve Days of Christmas traditionally refers to the period of 12 calendar days
between Christmas Day, December 25, and Epiphany on January 6. In addition to Christmas and Easter, Epiphany
is one of the three oldest Christian feast days.
There
can be a bit of confusion between Western
Christians, such as Roman Catholics and Protestants, and Eastern Christians,
such as Russian and Greek Orthodox churches.
Each follows a different calendar when it comes to deciding feast days
and liturgical seasons. In the West, we
follow the Roman Calendar and Christmas is celebrated on December 25 and the
feast of Epiphany is celebrated on January 6.
Additionally, the feast day of Epiphany in the Western church
principally focuses on the visit of the Magi to baby Jesus and how this visit
revealed Jesus’ divinity. Eastern
Christian traditions follow the Julian calendar in which Christmas Eve falls on
January 6 and the feast day of Epiphany falls on January 19. In the East, the feast of Epiphany
principally focuses on Jesus’ baptism, and how this act revealed Christ’s
divinity.
Regardless of when Epiphany falls during the calendar
year for the Western or Eastern Church, all Christians around the world
celebrate Epiphany: Protestants, as well as Roman Catholics and Eastern
Orthodox.
Historically, the celebration of Epiphany is even older
than Christmas. As a result, its history
is complicated and has no one pervading theory of origin. But perhaps the earliest reference for
Epiphany dates all the way back to 215 AD (or CE) in Egypt, which Philip
Pfatteicher cites in his book, Journey into the Heart of God: Living the Liturgical Year. Some historians believe
that the church’s observance of Epiphany was established to replace local pagan
feast celebrations which is something that the church did quite often.
There are still other accounts of early Christians in
places like Alexandria, Egypt, celebrating Epiphany without any mention of
Jesus’ birth narrative at all. In
Alexandria, the Gospel of Mark was the available Scripture. Since the Gospel of Mark notably omits the
story of Jesus’ birth, the Eastern Church Epiphany celebrations focused on the
baptism and miracle stories of Jesus, which is one reason why this important
feast day came along before the celebration of Christmas and Easter.
In Journey into the Heart of God: Living the Liturgical
Year, Philip Phatteicher notes that a
gradual “exchange of feasts” took place between the Eastern and Western Church
in the mid-to-late fourth century. The
Western church received the Eastern observance of Epiphany and the Eastern
church adopted the Western observance of Christmas. When the Western church in Rome adopted the
Eastern celebration of Epiphany, the story of the three Magi was the focus of
their celebration. Jesus’ baptism would
later be commemorated on a Sunday after the Sunday of Epiphany, as it is today
in the West. In the West, Epiphany,
known also on this day as “Three Kings Day” in some regions, especially among
Latin American Countries, is most commonly associated with the journey and
gifts of the three Magi. Because it
predates the celebration of Christmas, in some cultures it is also, even today,
a more significant celebration than Christmas.
I’ve mentioned in the past how
important Three King’s Day is in Puerto Rico, in some ways surpassing the
importance of Christmas. As cultures
change and grow, Christmas is celebrated as a more Holy Day – a time for worship
in church and understanding the meaning of Christ as Savior, while Three King’s
Day celebrates the gift that God gave to us, and the gifts that we are to one
another. So, it is a day of family and
friend celebrations. When I went to
Puerto Rico for Three King’s Day a number of years ago, I was pleasantly
ensconced in family gatherings and joyous meals shared with friends. It was a time of huge celebrations in the
streets with parades and light shows, a more festive reflection of Christ’s
birth in our lives. Again, in Puerto
Rico, as well as many Latin American Countries, on Epiphany Eve, the Three
Kings come on horseback and leave gifts for the children.
In Italy, Epiphany has a totally different story. On Epiphany Eve, children anticipate the
visit of a mythical figure who carries a broomstick and brings gifts. She’s a woman known as La Befana. Sources date that the legend of La
Befana has been observed as early as the 13th century,
easily pre-dating Santa Claus. The
Italian legend blends with biblical tradition. The story goes that the three Magi stopped at
the home of an old woman on their way to visit the baby Jesus. She offered them rest and hospitality. In exchange, they invited her to join them on
their journey, but she turned down their offer, saying that she had too much
housework to do. She later regretted her
decision. Each year, on Epiphany
Eve, La Befana sets out on her own search for
the Christ Child, visiting the homes of children, leaving
toys and sweets. A much later adaptation of that myth story even
has La Befana leaving gifts of carbone — candy made to
resemble coal.
Today, tradition continues on Epiphany with the passing
out of “star words” which became a regular practice in Protestant churches only
for about a decade. This annual ritual
derives from the story of the luminous star that led the three Magi to the
Christ Child. “Star words” are intention
words that are printed or written out on paper stars. Each year, during Epiphany worship, members
of churches are invited to take a paper star, often either from a basket or
from the Communion Table. Without
knowing the word written on their paper star ahead of time, worshippers are
invited to place their trust in the word they have drawn and to allow that word
to reflectively guide them. The word we
choose helps us prayerfully set our intention for the coming year. Star words are a lovely liturgical practice
that encapsulates so well the spirit of Epiphany: our ever-present hope that
God is an illuminating presence in our daily lives, calling us, loving us, and
leading us forth into our world together.
This year, I’d like to add a bit of the original intent,
in the English sense of the word, of Epiphany to your “star word”. So, if Epiphany today in English means an
“aha moment”, I’d like you to take your “star word” this year and find the “aha
moments” surrounding that word as it illuminates God’s presence in your daily
life.
Offertory –
Doxology –
Prayer of Dedication –
God of
the nations, long ago the magi brought gifts to Christ, rich and costly gifts,
each one a unique expression of the giver.
Help us to bring gifts today that will express our love and dedication,
not only gifts of gold, but gifts of talent, time, and energy. We lay these gifts at your feet, trusting
that you will find a use for all that is given in Jesus’ name. Amen.
Holy Communion
Invitation
In coming to the Lord’s Table,
we intentionally take our place in the story. We come not on our own, or only
as this congregation, but with the Body of Christ throughout the world and the
saints in heaven. We come as real
people, loved for all our real or perceived faults. We come as those who are an essential part of
the story, because there is room for everyone in this story. We also come to the Lord’s Table as those
invited. Our welcome does not depend on
how good we are. It does not depend on
whether we feel like we are worthy or not. It is an open invitation to all, as a gift of
great joy for all people.
The Lord Jesus on the night of
his arrest, took a loaf of bread, and when he had given thanks, he broke it and
said, “This is my body that is for you.
Do this in remembrance of me.”
Christ’s body was broken that
we might be made whole. Take and eat.
In the same way he took the
cup also, after supper, saying, “This is the cup of the new covenant in my
blood. Do this, as often as you drink
it, in remembrance of me.” For as often
as you eat this bread and drink the cup, we proclaim the Lord’s death until he
comes again.
Christ’s blood was shed that
we might be healed. Take and drink.
Prayer After Communion
Holy God, from generation to
generation, we are nurtured at Your banquet feast. As we once again tell Your story of
forgiveness and love, we proclaim our adoption into Your family tree of kings,
carpenters, foreigners, disregarded women, and second sons. May our lives testify that there is a place
for everyone in Your story of salvation. Amen.
Closing
Hymn – As With Gladness Men of Old #63/290
Benediction –
Arise,
people of God, go forth to shine like the Star of Bethlehem for all the world
to see. And as the Magi of old, go forth
in trust and excitement transformed by the presence of the child of light. May God’s blessings be upon you. AMEN.
Postlude
No comments:
Post a Comment