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Journey of the Magi – James Tissot (1895)
Apertis thesaurus suis obtulerunt Magi Domino
Aurum, Thus, et Myrrham, Alleluia!
(Third Antiphon for Epiphany)
Service of Light
Greeting/Invocation
We light the Christmas/Epiphany Candles and say or sing:
Light and Peace in Jesus Christ our Lord!
~Thanks be to God!
The rulers of the Earth will fall prostrate, Alleluia!
~and all nations will serve him. Alleluia!
EPIPHANY CAROL
Ev’ry nation sees the glory Of a star that pierced the night.
As we tell the wondrous story We are bathed in radiant light.
Star sent forth from highest heaven Dancing light of God’s design,
Shine upon the Gift that’s given: Word-made-flesh now born in time.
Ev’ry tongue shall sing the praises Of his birth in deepest night.
He is healing for the ages; He is Christ, our God’s delight.
He proclaims within his being All our hopes, our great desires;
He shall die to rise redeeming All who follow with their lives.
Once again may we discover Word-made-flesh sent from above,
In our neighbor, sister brother In the lonely and unloved.
May we touch him, may we hold him, May we cradle him with care
As we learn to love each other, Bringing hope from our despair.
Gather God, the world together In the brightness of your day.
Fill our hearts with joy forever, help us walk the holy way.
May your justice rule the nations; May all people live as one.
Now we see our true Salvation In the glory of your Son.
Text: Francis Patrick O’Brien; Tune: BEACH SPRING
SERVICE OF THE WORD
PSALMODY
Antiphon
Begotten before the Daystar,
and Lord before the stirring of time,
today our Savior has appeared to the world.
Psalm 134/135: 1-7, 12-21
Praise the Name of Adonai,
sing praise, servants of our God,
who stand in the courts of God’s dwelling
gathered in the house of Adonai.
Sing hymns, for God is good,
Sing a psalm to the Name of Love.
For Adonai has chosen this people,
Israel, as a precious treasure.
I know Adonai is great,
surpassing every god and idol.
Whatever God wills, God does
in heaven, on earth, in the seas.
God blankets the Earth with clouds,
strikes lightning to produce the rain,
from the storehouse releases the winds.
God gave us the lands of the nations
a gift that we should treasure.
Your name, Adonai, stands for ever,
your glory will never be forgotten
for you give your people justice
and attend to each of their needs.
Many people worship silver and gold:
idols that mortals have crafted.
Their mouths cannot speak,
their eyes do not see.
Their ears can hear no sound,
no breath is ever on their lips.
Those who make and rely on things
become hollow like the idols themselves.
Bless God, O house of Israel.
House of Aaron, bless Adonai,
House of Levi, sing God’s praises
with everyone who reveres the Holy One:
Blest be Adonai of Zion
who calls Jerusalem home.
Glory to the ONE and to the WORD
and to the BREATH of Love;
as always before,
so now and evermore. Amen.
Begotten before the Daystar,
and Lord before the stirring of time,
today our Savior has appeared to the world.
Reading Revelation 12:10-12
Now have salvation and power come,
The reign of our God and the authority Of the Anointed One,
For the accuser of our siblings is cast out,
Who night and day accused them before God.
They defeated him by the blood of the Lamb
And by the word of their testimony;
Love for life did not deter them from death.
So rejoice, you heavens, And you that dwell therein!
Silent Prayer
Responsory
R. Behold, God’s reign begins; for Christ who rules over all has come! And in his hand he holds the signs of royal rule and might *For his is the power, his the might, his the reign and the glory. V. O God, give your judgement to the king, to the king’s son your justice. *For his is the power, his the might, his the reign and the glory. V. Glory to the Abba, and the Word, and the Holy Breath of Love.
Canticle of Mary
Antiphon
The people of Saba shall come
bringing gold, frankincense and myrrh, alleluia.
It is customary to make the sign of the cross at the beginning of the Gospel Canticle.
My heart + is radiant with Adonai,
My whole being delights in God my Savior.
All people now will call me blessed
For God has loved this humble handmaid.
The Almighty has shown me great favor
Holy is the NAME,
Whose mercy embraces the faithful,
From one generation to the next.
The mighty arm of God,
Scatters the proud in their own conceit,
Pulls tyrants from their thrones
While lifting up the lowly:
Fills the famished with bounty,
And reveals the emptiness of riches.
Rescues lowly Israel,
Sharing such loving kindness,
As promised to our ancestors
To Abraham and Sarah, and their descendants forever.
Glory to the ONE and to WORD
And to the BREATH of Love!
As always before,
so now and evermore. Amen
The people of Saba shall come
bringing gold, frankincense and myrrh, alleluia.
Service of Prayer
Intercessions
As a newborn announced by angels and signaled by a star, you were a source of joy and wonder for shepherds and sages
~ give hope to the poor and marginalized and perseverance to those who search for justice, wisdom and truth.
As eternal high priest you established self-giving love as the fullest expression of worship,
-sanctify the liturgy of the church that it may bear fruit in the liturgy of the neighbor.
As great physician you healed the sick and renewed the spirits of all who were suffering,
– bless the efforts of all who work to restore mental, spiritual and physical health.
As King who reigned from the tree of the cross you cut the bonds of our slavery to selfishness and sin,
– release those chained still by addictions, injustice, poverty or oppression.
As the Way to Truth and Life, you call everyone to fullness of life,
– guide all who have died into the reign of heaven.
Teach us to pray…
Prayer of Jesus
Our Dear Abba …
Closing Prayer & Blessing
O Holy One, Source, Guide and Goal of all that is, by the light of a star you revealed to the nations that something new and wonderful had taken place in the birth of Jesus, your Word-made-flesh. Fill us with His Light so that our lives may reflect the majestic beauty of your Wisdom and Love and all people and all creation will be drawn to freedom and fullness of life. Amen.
May the Word made flesh, full of grace and truth + bless us and all of creation. ~Amen
Let us bless Adonai. ~Thanks be to God.
Those who wish may end evening prayer with the Marian Antiphon for Epiphany.
Marian Antiphon
Loving Mother of our Savior, holding open heaven’s only hope, Star for steerage in this vastness, rise to help us, save the sinking. Nature’s greatest Wonder: you have borne your own true Maker, giving human life to him. Virgin ever, before and after, that Good News from Gabriel, Word of Life for living, tell it now: mercy to all people!
The angel of the Lord brought the message to Mary. ~ And she conceived of the Holy Spirit.
Let us pray. God of light and life, you have made us glad through the fruitful virginity of Blessed Mary; let us join her in praising you for the great mystery of your Word made flesh in Jesus, our Emmanuel. Amen.