Epiphany Of Our Lord
Worship
Lectionary Worship Aids
Series VI, Cycle C
Theme: Tell The Good News Of What The Lord Has Done
Call To Worship
Leader: When Jesus was born he was recognized as King of kings and Lord of all.
People: He came to rule with righteousness and justice.
Leader: Our King judges the poor fairly, and he helps the needy.
People: We will worship him as long as the sun shines, as long as the moon gives light.
All: Praise be to God! Amen.
Collect
O God, we give you thanks for the light that brightens our lives because your only Son, Jesus, came to earth to rule over us. We pray for that day, foretold by the prophet Isaiah, when nations will be drawn to your light and kings to the dawning of your new day. Make us instruments of that great peace, we pray in Jesus'Êname. Amen.
Prayer Of Confession
Lord, we must confess that we have often been reluctant to share with others what great things you have done for us. Forgive our silence. Loosen our tongues and heighten the fires of enthusiasm within us that we may boldly proclaim to the world the Good News of how you have enriched our lives. Amen.
Offertory Prayer
Eternal God, if the nations of the world are to be drawn to you, they must first hear the Good News. Use these gifts and us, we pray, to spread the message of your redeeming love. Amen.
Hymns
"Go, Tell It On The Mountain"
"Christ Is The World's Light"
"As With Gladness Men Of Old"
Epiphany Of Our Lord
Second Lesson: Ephesians 3:1-12
Theme: God's Blessings Are For All People
Call To Worship
Leader: We've a story to tell to the nations,
People: a story of truth and light.
Leader: For the darkness shall turn to dawning,
People: and the dawning to noonday bright,
Leader: and Christ's great kingdom shall come on earth,
People: a kingdom of peace and light.
Collect
Lord of the nations, we bow before you to pledge our allegiance to your kingdom. Send us forth, empowered by your Spirit, to tell the Good News of your love and concern for all people, and your willingness to give to those who ask the wisdom that will lead to peace on earth. Amen.
Prayer Of Confession
O God, Creator and Ruler of the universe, we seek the unity of the nations, and pray for that day when people everywhere will turn to you as the source of all truth and knowledge. At the same time, we have failed to show by our own lives that we are your children, and that our lives are directed by you. We come now seeking your forgiveness and asking that you will strengthen us as we seek to demonstrate your love to everyone we meet. Amen.
Offertory Prayer
Lord, bless these gifts and those who give them that they both may be used by you to reach out to those who do not know you, and to share with them the knowledge that your love knows no boundaries of nationality, race, creed, or color. Amen.
Hymns
"Earth Has Many A Noble City"
"O Morning Star, How Fair And Bright"
"Christ, Whose Glory Fills The Skies"
Epiphany Of Our Lord
Gospel Lesson: Matthew 2:1-12
Theme: The Wise Men From The East Visit Jesus
Call To Worship
Leader: Like the Wise Men of old, let us, too, come seeking the Lord Jesus.
People: We have come to inquire where we might find him.
Leader: Follow the guiding light, and it will surely lead you to him.
People: What joy is ours, for we have found our King.
All: We will bow down and worship him.
Collect
O Lord, our God, you have revealed yourself to us in the infant Jesus, who grew to be a man, shared your love, was crucified, and rose again on the third day. Through Jesus we know that you are always with us, and when we leave this time of worship, we pray that like the Wise Men of old we may go home to walk a different way -- the way of love and forgiveness. Amen.
Prayer Of Confession
Forgiving Father, there have been times when we have ignored the Light that leads us into your presence, and we have been lured by false gods into ways of selfishness, greed, and deceit. Cleanse us of all impure desires, we pray, and help us to remain faithful to our King. Amen.
Offertory Prayer
O God, like the Wise Men at the time of Jesus' birth, we bring our gifts to pay homage to our King, and to renew our vows of loyalty to Jesus Christ. Amen.
Hymns
"We Three Kings"
"Sing We Now Of Christmas"
"We Would See Jesus"
Call To Worship
Leader: When Jesus was born he was recognized as King of kings and Lord of all.
People: He came to rule with righteousness and justice.
Leader: Our King judges the poor fairly, and he helps the needy.
People: We will worship him as long as the sun shines, as long as the moon gives light.
All: Praise be to God! Amen.
Collect
O God, we give you thanks for the light that brightens our lives because your only Son, Jesus, came to earth to rule over us. We pray for that day, foretold by the prophet Isaiah, when nations will be drawn to your light and kings to the dawning of your new day. Make us instruments of that great peace, we pray in Jesus'Êname. Amen.
Prayer Of Confession
Lord, we must confess that we have often been reluctant to share with others what great things you have done for us. Forgive our silence. Loosen our tongues and heighten the fires of enthusiasm within us that we may boldly proclaim to the world the Good News of how you have enriched our lives. Amen.
Offertory Prayer
Eternal God, if the nations of the world are to be drawn to you, they must first hear the Good News. Use these gifts and us, we pray, to spread the message of your redeeming love. Amen.
Hymns
"Go, Tell It On The Mountain"
"Christ Is The World's Light"
"As With Gladness Men Of Old"
Epiphany Of Our Lord
Second Lesson: Ephesians 3:1-12
Theme: God's Blessings Are For All People
Call To Worship
Leader: We've a story to tell to the nations,
People: a story of truth and light.
Leader: For the darkness shall turn to dawning,
People: and the dawning to noonday bright,
Leader: and Christ's great kingdom shall come on earth,
People: a kingdom of peace and light.
Collect
Lord of the nations, we bow before you to pledge our allegiance to your kingdom. Send us forth, empowered by your Spirit, to tell the Good News of your love and concern for all people, and your willingness to give to those who ask the wisdom that will lead to peace on earth. Amen.
Prayer Of Confession
O God, Creator and Ruler of the universe, we seek the unity of the nations, and pray for that day when people everywhere will turn to you as the source of all truth and knowledge. At the same time, we have failed to show by our own lives that we are your children, and that our lives are directed by you. We come now seeking your forgiveness and asking that you will strengthen us as we seek to demonstrate your love to everyone we meet. Amen.
Offertory Prayer
Lord, bless these gifts and those who give them that they both may be used by you to reach out to those who do not know you, and to share with them the knowledge that your love knows no boundaries of nationality, race, creed, or color. Amen.
Hymns
"Earth Has Many A Noble City"
"O Morning Star, How Fair And Bright"
"Christ, Whose Glory Fills The Skies"
Epiphany Of Our Lord
Gospel Lesson: Matthew 2:1-12
Theme: The Wise Men From The East Visit Jesus
Call To Worship
Leader: Like the Wise Men of old, let us, too, come seeking the Lord Jesus.
People: We have come to inquire where we might find him.
Leader: Follow the guiding light, and it will surely lead you to him.
People: What joy is ours, for we have found our King.
All: We will bow down and worship him.
Collect
O Lord, our God, you have revealed yourself to us in the infant Jesus, who grew to be a man, shared your love, was crucified, and rose again on the third day. Through Jesus we know that you are always with us, and when we leave this time of worship, we pray that like the Wise Men of old we may go home to walk a different way -- the way of love and forgiveness. Amen.
Prayer Of Confession
Forgiving Father, there have been times when we have ignored the Light that leads us into your presence, and we have been lured by false gods into ways of selfishness, greed, and deceit. Cleanse us of all impure desires, we pray, and help us to remain faithful to our King. Amen.
Offertory Prayer
O God, like the Wise Men at the time of Jesus' birth, we bring our gifts to pay homage to our King, and to renew our vows of loyalty to Jesus Christ. Amen.
Hymns
"We Three Kings"
"Sing We Now Of Christmas"
"We Would See Jesus"
