Epiphany Day/The Baptism Of The Lord
Worship
Lectionary Worship Workbook
Series II, Cycle C Gospel Texts
Liturgical Color: Green
Gospel: Matthew 2:1-12; Luke 3:15-17, 21-22
Theme: The Coming of the Wise Men; the Manipulation by King Herod; the Warning to Jesus' Parents; the Response of John the Baptist; the Baptism of the Multitudes; and the Coming of the Holy Spirit. Focus on both the political and theological truths of these passages.
The Gathering
Choral Invitation
"Let's Go!" Richard Avery and Don Marsh, from The Avery and Marsh Songbook. (See Appendix I for address.)
Pastoral Invitation
In the name of the newborn Jesus, welcome to this first Sunday of Epiphany. I invite you to share what you know about this church season. (Give plenty of time; silence is fine. Print the information about the Epiphany season in your newsletter after this first Sunday.) The word "Epiphany" means "to show," "to manifest," and refers to the demonstration of God's glory sending Jesus the Christ into the world. If not for Epiphany, we would be somewhere else today, and every Sunday. This season is no less important than the others. Unfortunately, we have allowed the culture to determine the "important" church holy days, which have become holidays.
Hymn of Epiphany
"Brightest and Best of the Stars of the Morning," Reginald Heber, 1811; alt.; James Proctor Harding, 1892.
Prayer of Praise
Bring together the importance of Advent, Christmas, Epiphany, the earliest years of Jesus' life. In a real sense, we cannot have one without the other.
The Introspection
Introduction to the Act of Recognizing Our Humanity
For two minutes, consider your reason for coming today. (Pause.) Now, for two more minutes, consider your reason for becoming a Christian and uniting with the church. (Wait the full time!) Is anyone willing to share? (Wait. Offer your own reasons.) Do your motives have more to do with what you will get or give? (Silence.) Write down your responses, and offer them to God for clarification and cleansing.
Introduction to the Act Of Receiving New Life
Pastor and Ministers
If we come and join with less than pure motives (notice King Herod's desire to see Jesus), are we willing to let the Spirit of God change us, to redirect us from the doing of our will to the doing of God's will? If we are, what form and shape will our life take from this moment forward? Because, "it is the set of the sail, and not the gale, that determines the way we go." Which way will you go when you leave this sanctuary? (Two minutes of silence.)
P: God will change us if we want to change.
M: We want to change, yet we are fearful of change.
P: God promises us the presence and power of the Christ no matter what happens.
M: Thank you, Lord, for that promise. We know that we are new persons through Christ. As transformed, renewed, released people, we celebrate with praise this Epiphany season.
The Teaching
Message with the Children of All Ages
If you have baptism, have it at this time. If you don't, explain it carefully, especially the magical view that many people have of it. At the end of the message, hand-sprinkle the children with water, and then, hand-sprinkle the rest of the congregation. As you sprinkle the water, invite those who have been baptized to put their hand on their head and affirm, "I am baptized." Those who have not been baptized can place their hand on their head and say, "I am a child of God."
Dramatizing the Scripture
Enact the two Scriptures in two parts of the sanctuary. (1) This scene includes the "Wise Men," a group representing the chief priests and scribes, and "Herod." Make certain that Herod comes off as a scheming con artist, who feigns friendship, but who really wants to do Christ in. Have the actors put the scene in their own language. (2) Scene two involves a group of people, "John the Baptist," "Jesus," in a nonspeaking part, and a "Voice," representing Holy Spirit. Yes, this takes more time, and people will remember it.
Proclamation of the Good News
Begin with your latest example of grandparents who want their grandchildren baptized, even though the parents have no relationship with the church. Explore and explode the magical view of baptism, especially for children. In many denominations, baptism is not the dedication of a child to God by the parent. We cannot dedicate to God what already belongs to God. Such an event can have meaning only to parents committed to Christ and the church, only to those who understand what Jesus meant when he called his disciples to deny themselves, take up their cross, and follow him.
Response
"Passed Thru the Waters," Richard Avery and Don Marsh, from The Avery and Marsh Songbook. (See Appendix I for address.)
The Dedication
Stewardship Challenge
In what ways does your baptism influence the way you live out your life, your home, job, school, recreation, neighborhood life? (One minute of silence before receiving the offering.)
See Epiphany Stars information on page 37.
Response to the Offering
Pastor and Ministers
P:
God, we acknowledge that we are not always ready for your best gifts.
M: At times, we turn aside, stumble over, or even reject experiences and encounters in our human adventure which we later understand to have been precious gifts encountered along life's pathways.
P:
Today, as every day of our lives, we have received another gift from you, a quality of life, a spiritual value, a dimension of being.
M: We acknowledge that we do not yet fully understand the gift, but we receive it from you, with thanksgiving. We pray that your spirit will enable us to make it our very own.
All: O, Lord, teach us to understand, to be grateful, to be ever learning, ever open, to receive your best gifts.
Charge to the Congregation
Once again, what difference does your baptism make in how you face and live your life? Someone began the act of faith for us, even as parents begin everything else for their children: piano lessons, fishing, tap dancing, skiing, hunting, you name it. Children learn to believe what's supposed to be important to them by listening to and watching closely what's important to their parents.
Response
"Lord, When You Came to Jordan," Brian Wren, 1979; Genevan Psalter, 1542; and "When Jesus Came to Jordan," Fred Pratt Green, 1973; Frederik August Mehrtens, 1922-1975.
Meditation
(1) "Baptism is not some religious act which makes a Christian what he or she is; baptism is a participation in the suffering of God in the world" (Dietrich Bonhoeffer, slightly revised). (2) Contrast that statement with mine: "Baptism is accepted by a majority of church members as a minor tribal rite, somewhat secondary in importance to the taking of children to see Santa Claus at the local department store." (3) From this anonymous author, "In every child, who is born, under no matter what circumstance, and of no matter what parents, the potentiality of the human race is born again ... the human person is the clearest reflection of God's presence in the world."
Music Possibilities In Addition To Those Already Suggested
Music for Preparation: Medley of Epiphany or Baptism hymns; or, "Come, Redeemer of Our Race," J. S. Bach.
Hymns of Praise and Hymn of Commitment: Select from the Epiphany hymns.
Music for Dismissal: Medley of Epiphany hymns. (Invite the people to stay and become acquainted with them, perhaps for the first time in their lives.)
Gospel: Matthew 2:1-12; Luke 3:15-17, 21-22
Theme: The Coming of the Wise Men; the Manipulation by King Herod; the Warning to Jesus' Parents; the Response of John the Baptist; the Baptism of the Multitudes; and the Coming of the Holy Spirit. Focus on both the political and theological truths of these passages.
The Gathering
Choral Invitation
"Let's Go!" Richard Avery and Don Marsh, from The Avery and Marsh Songbook. (See Appendix I for address.)
Pastoral Invitation
In the name of the newborn Jesus, welcome to this first Sunday of Epiphany. I invite you to share what you know about this church season. (Give plenty of time; silence is fine. Print the information about the Epiphany season in your newsletter after this first Sunday.) The word "Epiphany" means "to show," "to manifest," and refers to the demonstration of God's glory sending Jesus the Christ into the world. If not for Epiphany, we would be somewhere else today, and every Sunday. This season is no less important than the others. Unfortunately, we have allowed the culture to determine the "important" church holy days, which have become holidays.
Hymn of Epiphany
"Brightest and Best of the Stars of the Morning," Reginald Heber, 1811; alt.; James Proctor Harding, 1892.
Prayer of Praise
Bring together the importance of Advent, Christmas, Epiphany, the earliest years of Jesus' life. In a real sense, we cannot have one without the other.
The Introspection
Introduction to the Act of Recognizing Our Humanity
For two minutes, consider your reason for coming today. (Pause.) Now, for two more minutes, consider your reason for becoming a Christian and uniting with the church. (Wait the full time!) Is anyone willing to share? (Wait. Offer your own reasons.) Do your motives have more to do with what you will get or give? (Silence.) Write down your responses, and offer them to God for clarification and cleansing.
Introduction to the Act Of Receiving New Life
Pastor and Ministers
If we come and join with less than pure motives (notice King Herod's desire to see Jesus), are we willing to let the Spirit of God change us, to redirect us from the doing of our will to the doing of God's will? If we are, what form and shape will our life take from this moment forward? Because, "it is the set of the sail, and not the gale, that determines the way we go." Which way will you go when you leave this sanctuary? (Two minutes of silence.)
P: God will change us if we want to change.
M: We want to change, yet we are fearful of change.
P: God promises us the presence and power of the Christ no matter what happens.
M: Thank you, Lord, for that promise. We know that we are new persons through Christ. As transformed, renewed, released people, we celebrate with praise this Epiphany season.
The Teaching
Message with the Children of All Ages
If you have baptism, have it at this time. If you don't, explain it carefully, especially the magical view that many people have of it. At the end of the message, hand-sprinkle the children with water, and then, hand-sprinkle the rest of the congregation. As you sprinkle the water, invite those who have been baptized to put their hand on their head and affirm, "I am baptized." Those who have not been baptized can place their hand on their head and say, "I am a child of God."
Dramatizing the Scripture
Enact the two Scriptures in two parts of the sanctuary. (1) This scene includes the "Wise Men," a group representing the chief priests and scribes, and "Herod." Make certain that Herod comes off as a scheming con artist, who feigns friendship, but who really wants to do Christ in. Have the actors put the scene in their own language. (2) Scene two involves a group of people, "John the Baptist," "Jesus," in a nonspeaking part, and a "Voice," representing Holy Spirit. Yes, this takes more time, and people will remember it.
Proclamation of the Good News
Begin with your latest example of grandparents who want their grandchildren baptized, even though the parents have no relationship with the church. Explore and explode the magical view of baptism, especially for children. In many denominations, baptism is not the dedication of a child to God by the parent. We cannot dedicate to God what already belongs to God. Such an event can have meaning only to parents committed to Christ and the church, only to those who understand what Jesus meant when he called his disciples to deny themselves, take up their cross, and follow him.
Response
"Passed Thru the Waters," Richard Avery and Don Marsh, from The Avery and Marsh Songbook. (See Appendix I for address.)
The Dedication
Stewardship Challenge
In what ways does your baptism influence the way you live out your life, your home, job, school, recreation, neighborhood life? (One minute of silence before receiving the offering.)
See Epiphany Stars information on page 37.
Response to the Offering
Pastor and Ministers
P:
God, we acknowledge that we are not always ready for your best gifts.
M: At times, we turn aside, stumble over, or even reject experiences and encounters in our human adventure which we later understand to have been precious gifts encountered along life's pathways.
P:
Today, as every day of our lives, we have received another gift from you, a quality of life, a spiritual value, a dimension of being.
M: We acknowledge that we do not yet fully understand the gift, but we receive it from you, with thanksgiving. We pray that your spirit will enable us to make it our very own.
All: O, Lord, teach us to understand, to be grateful, to be ever learning, ever open, to receive your best gifts.
Charge to the Congregation
Once again, what difference does your baptism make in how you face and live your life? Someone began the act of faith for us, even as parents begin everything else for their children: piano lessons, fishing, tap dancing, skiing, hunting, you name it. Children learn to believe what's supposed to be important to them by listening to and watching closely what's important to their parents.
Response
"Lord, When You Came to Jordan," Brian Wren, 1979; Genevan Psalter, 1542; and "When Jesus Came to Jordan," Fred Pratt Green, 1973; Frederik August Mehrtens, 1922-1975.
Meditation
(1) "Baptism is not some religious act which makes a Christian what he or she is; baptism is a participation in the suffering of God in the world" (Dietrich Bonhoeffer, slightly revised). (2) Contrast that statement with mine: "Baptism is accepted by a majority of church members as a minor tribal rite, somewhat secondary in importance to the taking of children to see Santa Claus at the local department store." (3) From this anonymous author, "In every child, who is born, under no matter what circumstance, and of no matter what parents, the potentiality of the human race is born again ... the human person is the clearest reflection of God's presence in the world."
Music Possibilities In Addition To Those Already Suggested
Music for Preparation: Medley of Epiphany or Baptism hymns; or, "Come, Redeemer of Our Race," J. S. Bach.
Hymns of Praise and Hymn of Commitment: Select from the Epiphany hymns.
Music for Dismissal: Medley of Epiphany hymns. (Invite the people to stay and become acquainted with them, perhaps for the first time in their lives.)
