Worship Order for Sunday
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Long Green Valley Church of the Brethren
Epiphany
Beginning with Praise
(9:50 am)
"Bright and glorious is the sky"
219 *Beginning with the Word in motion
Isaiah 60:1-7 *Hymn
"As
with gladness men of old"”
218
Sharing
a joy, a concern, a word of testimony or praise *Hymn
"We
three kings"
(see insert) *Postlude *Rise in body or in spirit #'s are from Hymnal: A Worship Book Worship leaders - see basic guidelines |
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Beginning with the Word in motion
On this first Sunday of the year 2013, on this very day of
Epiphany, we celebrate that the twelve days of Christmas are past
and that the light of Christ shines out beyond the manger into all
the world. It is fitting to do more than sit as we respond to the
good news. Let us, instead, embody the Word of God. Isaiah 60 is
full of action, so let us stretch our body’s muscles. As I read
this scripture, phrase by phrase, please follow what you see
me/Robyn do. This is the Word of God calling us into worship. 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. All the flocks of Kedar shall be gathered to
you, the rams of Nebaioth shall minister to you; they shall be acceptable on my altar, and I will glorify my glorious house.
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God of all time, we praise and adore you for breaking into the
darkness of this world with the glorious light of your presence.
A light which made your love for the world visible in the
babe born in Bethlehem - Jesus Christ, your Son, our Savior.
A light which guided those gift-bearing travelers from afar
to find and worship the Christ-child.
A light which leads us to you, now revealed in Jesus
Christ. We pray that
you will accept our worship for it arises from hearts and minds in
awe over the enormity of your gift to us of pure love. In Jesus’
name we pray. Amen
by
Rev Moira Laidlaw, Uniting Church in Australia |
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(simplify, if younger children are
present)
Most, if not all of you, have done something here in church that
is important for today. You have served as an acolyte. You have
come forward at the beginning of worship and done what? That’s
right, you have lit the candles on the worship table. Why do we
light these candles? They remind us of God, of Jesus, of the Holy
Spirit.
1 John 1:5 says that, “God
is light; in him there is no darkness at all.” Jesus said, “I
am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in
darkness, but will have the light of life.” On the day of
Pentecost, when the church was born, it says that the Holy Spirit
came noisily from heaven and filled everyone. When they tried to
tell what it looked like, all they could say was that it “seemed
to be tongues of fire that separated and came to rest on each”
person. A “tongue of fire,” like on a candle. Light!
When you light the candles up front, you remind all of us that God
is here. What we do in worship isn’t just a bunch of talk about
us. God is very near. The light of the world is with us. The fire
of the Lord is upon us. All of that from just lighting these
candles. That’s a pretty important job! It’s an “epiphany” job.
Today is Epiphany. Yes, we remember the wise men who followed a
star to Jesus on this day, but we also celebrate how the light of
Christ shines out to all people everywhere. And every person who
loves and follows Jesus, no matter where they live, carries the
light with them.
That’s also what you tell us at the end of worship. You come
forward and light your candle off the Christ candle and take it
with you. Even after you put out the light up front, you carry
your light out through the congregation. In doing this, you remind
us that the light does not stay here in this room when we leave.
God goes with us wherever we go. And wherever we are this coming
week, this light can shine in us. We can be radiant. Of course,
sometimes we forget about Jesus, and then the light of Christ
doesn’t shine out in us very well. We aren’t radiant.
Would you assist me as I lead the congregation in a prayer
of confession, asking God to help us to let our light shine? After
each prayer you help me read, _______*
(a not-yet-reader) will
hold up his candle as a sign for all of us to sing:
(response:) *use or omit, depending on which children
are present. Adapt to fit. |
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God, I want to let my let my light shine.
(response:) Sometimes I say things that hurt other
people. Sometimes I forget to share. Sometimes I insist on doing things MY way. Sometimes I am afraid. God, I want to let my let my light shine. AMEN! |
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Sing together
first a chorus based upon Psalm 27:1 –
O God, whose star led wise men to the manger, grant strength and
courage to all who look to you for light and salvation. Sustain
them along their journey, whether they travel the speed of a
camel’s gait or a nurse’s walk, a race to completion or a long
wait. Protect them from
danger along the way. However, if trouble intrudes, surround them
with angels, seen or unseen, silent or sounding out glory. Lead
them to you.
As we pray for others, we pray for ourselves. We, too, grow
afraid, for just as wise men and women still seek, so also do
those who desire harm instead of good. We, too, have our fears, as
we examine our years, and give in to our aches and pains, and
wander away from the light. Lead us to you, that your flame within
us might brighten and our light shine. Then, like that star over
Bethlehem long ago, may we – through who we are, as well as by our
words and deeds – play a role in your ongoing gospel story of
"kingdom come and will be done on earth as it is in heaven.
Continue blessing this worship with your presence. Thank you for
including us in the simple, open mystery of the gospel, and for
ears to hear and minds to ponder and feet to journey in the
direction you lead. This we pray in the name of the One whom you
sent to show the Way. Amen. |
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Returning our Tithes and Offerings
Of any Sunday in the church year, today seems most suited for a
time of offering. We have the example of the Magi, who came
bearing their gifts. Like them, we have treasure to offer, though
probably not any gold, frankincense, or myrrh. Our treasure has
not ridden with us for many miles on the back of a camel. Still,
in response to the gift of God’s grace, what we bring can be just
as meaningful, especially if it is more than a piece of paper
tossed without thinking into a plate passed before us.
On this sixth day of a brand new year, we are grateful for
the gift of our days. Will we offer our time to the Lord in
return? We have been given ability and energy, in varying degree
depending on our own unique personality and stage of life. Will we
offer our actions to the Lord in response? We have been blessed
with relationships all around us. Will we return to God our open
hands and hearts, extended to loved ones, neighbors, as well as
even strangers?
As the ushers lead us in our offering, ponder how you have
already, like the apostle Paul, “become
a servant according to the gift of God’s grace that was given
(you) by the working of God’s power”
(Ephesians 3:7). Then, be a
wise man or woman of the Lord, and bring your gift to Jesus. Ushers? |
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Epiphany is an unveiling, May the God of all grace be the strength in
your hands,
adapted from Benediction by
Bruce Prewer, |
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Interested in Sunday School? |
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International Lesson: |
International Lesson: |
International Lesson: |
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International Lesson: |
International Lesson: |
International Lesson: |
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While one of our adult classes follows the International
lesson above (see
also), using |
For children and youth, we use the new |
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©2012 Peter
L. Haynes
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