The Epiphany Of Our Lord
Worship
Lectionary Worship Workbook
Series IV, Cycle A
Hymns
Arise, Your Light Is Come (NCH164, PH411)
Jesus Shall Reign (UM176, PH423, NCH300)
Hail To The Lord's Anointed (CBH185, UM203, PH205, NCH104)
God Is Working His Purpose Out (CBH638)
As With Gladness Men Of Old (PH63, CBH218, NCH159)
On This Day Earth Shall Ring (CBH192, UM248, PH46)
We Three Kings (UM254, PH66)
T'was In The Moon Of Wintertime (CBH190, PH61, UM244, NCH151)
Brightest And Best Of The Stars (PH67, LBW84, CBH221, NCH156--157)
What Star Is This? (PH68)
O Morning Star, How Fair And Bright (LBW76, PH69, UM247, NCH158)
Anthems
Epiphany Alleluias, John Weaver, Boosey and Hawkes, SATB
Hail To The Lord's Anointed, Allen Pote, CGA, SAB, SATB
See The Glowing Star, (Puerto Rican), arr. Helen Kemp, CGA
Arise, Shine, For Thy Light Is Come, Kenneth Jennings, Augsburg, SATB
Call to Worship
Leader: Arise, shine, for our light has come.
People: We come bringing gifts in praise of the newborn Prince of Peace.
Leader: But where might we find this wonderful child - so that we might pay homage to him?
People: He is everywhere - in our hearts, minds, souls. He is in the people we meet.
Leader: Let us spread the light of Jesus Christ as we worship together.
Call to Confession
We say, "Jesus is the light of the world," and yet we continue to live in darkness. Let us confess our reluctance to move forward into the light of Christ as we pray together our prayer of Confession.
Prayer of Confession
Merciful and ever--loving God, we profess our love for you - our desire to follow you and to live in the light of your dear son Jesus Christ. Yet we do not do so in our everyday actions. On this Epiphany Sunday we seem unable to bring the gift of ourselves to the stable. We continue to succumb to what the material world offers. We want to love you, but we have trouble showing that love to others - even to those in our own families. Come to us, God; help us to gather our resources and come to you - that our hearts might be radiant and filled with the joy that loving you brings.
Assurance of Forgiveness
God loves us and has shown that love through his son Jesus Christ. Come to God in boldness and confidence, knowing that our sins are forgiven through our constant faith in Christ's abiding love.
Scripture Readings
Isaiah 60:1--6: Have five people sitting scattered in the congregation. Each one will read one verse from this passage. Have them stand with vigor, one at a time, and read their verses in order. When each has finished his/her verse, each walks to the front of the sanctuary and stands close together in a single line. The person who reads the fifth verse should be seated at the front so he/she does not have far to move after reading. The five readers will recite the sixth verse in unison.
Ephesians 3:1--12: This would be very effective if memorized by a single individual and recited. That person would start from the lectern and then slowly move forward into the congregation, looking into the eyes of individuals - as Paul might have done in trying to get his point across. Simply reading the passage in the same style could also be effective.
Matthew 2:1--12: Have three individuals dressed as early Astrologers enter from the back of sanctuary and travel around the congregation singing the first three verses of What Star Is This With Beams So Bright, and ending at the front of the sanctuary. You will also need a Narrator, King Herod, several Chief Priests/Scribes, and a small Child with his mother Mary. Each astrologer will have a small treasure chest.
Narrator: In the time of King Herod, after Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judea, astrologers from the East came to Jerusalem, asking,
Astrologers: (Ask different people in the congregation and ask the ministers) Where is the child who has been born king of the Jews? We have observed his star at its rising, and have followed it so that we might honor this special child.
Narrator: When King Herod heard this (Herod comes forward from standing behind the pulpit), he was frightened that there might be another king, and all Jerusalem was worried also. So Herod called together the leaders of the synagogue (come up from side) and asked them where this king, or messiah, was to be born. The religious leaders told him,
Priests/Scribes: In Bethlehem of Judea, for it tells us in scripture.
One Priest: (Reading from a scroll) "And you, Bethlehem, in the land of Judah, are by no means the least among the rulers of Judah; for from you shall come a ruler who is to shepherd my people Israel."
Narrator: (Herod sends one person to bring the Astrologers to him. They talk together quietly) Then Herod called for the strangers and learned from them the exact time the star had appeared. Then he sent them to Bethlehem, saying,
Herod: Go, search for this child, and when you have found this king, send me word so that I may also go to honor him.
Narrator: After listening to what Herod had to say, they set out and followed that star until it stopped over the place where the child was staying. (Mary and Child come forward from behind communion table or altar) The astrologers were overcome with joy, and went into the house. There they saw the child with Mary his mother. They knelt down to see him and offered him their gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh. These were gifts meant for a future king. (Open the chests so that the Child might look in. Mary takes them from the Astrologers and thanks them. Astrologers take their leave and begin moving through the congregation to the back.) Having been warned in a dream not to return to King Herod (Still pacing in place), they left for their own country by another road.
(Congregation sings last verse of What Star Is This With Beams So Bright as Magi leave sanctuary. When hymn is finished, Herod leaves the sanctury)
Benediction
Leader: Go out into the world searching diligently for the child, and when you have found him, spread the joy of this knowledge to all you meet.
Left Side: We will continue our search.
Right Side: We will find Jesus in our hearts.
All: We will spread the joy.
Choral Response: Refrain from We Three Kings
Arise, Your Light Is Come (NCH164, PH411)
Jesus Shall Reign (UM176, PH423, NCH300)
Hail To The Lord's Anointed (CBH185, UM203, PH205, NCH104)
God Is Working His Purpose Out (CBH638)
As With Gladness Men Of Old (PH63, CBH218, NCH159)
On This Day Earth Shall Ring (CBH192, UM248, PH46)
We Three Kings (UM254, PH66)
T'was In The Moon Of Wintertime (CBH190, PH61, UM244, NCH151)
Brightest And Best Of The Stars (PH67, LBW84, CBH221, NCH156--157)
What Star Is This? (PH68)
O Morning Star, How Fair And Bright (LBW76, PH69, UM247, NCH158)
Anthems
Epiphany Alleluias, John Weaver, Boosey and Hawkes, SATB
Hail To The Lord's Anointed, Allen Pote, CGA, SAB, SATB
See The Glowing Star, (Puerto Rican), arr. Helen Kemp, CGA
Arise, Shine, For Thy Light Is Come, Kenneth Jennings, Augsburg, SATB
Call to Worship
Leader: Arise, shine, for our light has come.
People: We come bringing gifts in praise of the newborn Prince of Peace.
Leader: But where might we find this wonderful child - so that we might pay homage to him?
People: He is everywhere - in our hearts, minds, souls. He is in the people we meet.
Leader: Let us spread the light of Jesus Christ as we worship together.
Call to Confession
We say, "Jesus is the light of the world," and yet we continue to live in darkness. Let us confess our reluctance to move forward into the light of Christ as we pray together our prayer of Confession.
Prayer of Confession
Merciful and ever--loving God, we profess our love for you - our desire to follow you and to live in the light of your dear son Jesus Christ. Yet we do not do so in our everyday actions. On this Epiphany Sunday we seem unable to bring the gift of ourselves to the stable. We continue to succumb to what the material world offers. We want to love you, but we have trouble showing that love to others - even to those in our own families. Come to us, God; help us to gather our resources and come to you - that our hearts might be radiant and filled with the joy that loving you brings.
Assurance of Forgiveness
God loves us and has shown that love through his son Jesus Christ. Come to God in boldness and confidence, knowing that our sins are forgiven through our constant faith in Christ's abiding love.
Scripture Readings
Isaiah 60:1--6: Have five people sitting scattered in the congregation. Each one will read one verse from this passage. Have them stand with vigor, one at a time, and read their verses in order. When each has finished his/her verse, each walks to the front of the sanctuary and stands close together in a single line. The person who reads the fifth verse should be seated at the front so he/she does not have far to move after reading. The five readers will recite the sixth verse in unison.
Ephesians 3:1--12: This would be very effective if memorized by a single individual and recited. That person would start from the lectern and then slowly move forward into the congregation, looking into the eyes of individuals - as Paul might have done in trying to get his point across. Simply reading the passage in the same style could also be effective.
Matthew 2:1--12: Have three individuals dressed as early Astrologers enter from the back of sanctuary and travel around the congregation singing the first three verses of What Star Is This With Beams So Bright, and ending at the front of the sanctuary. You will also need a Narrator, King Herod, several Chief Priests/Scribes, and a small Child with his mother Mary. Each astrologer will have a small treasure chest.
Narrator: In the time of King Herod, after Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judea, astrologers from the East came to Jerusalem, asking,
Astrologers: (Ask different people in the congregation and ask the ministers) Where is the child who has been born king of the Jews? We have observed his star at its rising, and have followed it so that we might honor this special child.
Narrator: When King Herod heard this (Herod comes forward from standing behind the pulpit), he was frightened that there might be another king, and all Jerusalem was worried also. So Herod called together the leaders of the synagogue (come up from side) and asked them where this king, or messiah, was to be born. The religious leaders told him,
Priests/Scribes: In Bethlehem of Judea, for it tells us in scripture.
One Priest: (Reading from a scroll) "And you, Bethlehem, in the land of Judah, are by no means the least among the rulers of Judah; for from you shall come a ruler who is to shepherd my people Israel."
Narrator: (Herod sends one person to bring the Astrologers to him. They talk together quietly) Then Herod called for the strangers and learned from them the exact time the star had appeared. Then he sent them to Bethlehem, saying,
Herod: Go, search for this child, and when you have found this king, send me word so that I may also go to honor him.
Narrator: After listening to what Herod had to say, they set out and followed that star until it stopped over the place where the child was staying. (Mary and Child come forward from behind communion table or altar) The astrologers were overcome with joy, and went into the house. There they saw the child with Mary his mother. They knelt down to see him and offered him their gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh. These were gifts meant for a future king. (Open the chests so that the Child might look in. Mary takes them from the Astrologers and thanks them. Astrologers take their leave and begin moving through the congregation to the back.) Having been warned in a dream not to return to King Herod (Still pacing in place), they left for their own country by another road.
(Congregation sings last verse of What Star Is This With Beams So Bright as Magi leave sanctuary. When hymn is finished, Herod leaves the sanctury)
Benediction
Leader: Go out into the world searching diligently for the child, and when you have found him, spread the joy of this knowledge to all you meet.
Left Side: We will continue our search.
Right Side: We will find Jesus in our hearts.
All: We will spread the joy.
Choral Response: Refrain from We Three Kings
