Epiphany Thursday

Invitation to  Worship

The Lord, manifest today, come let us adore him!

O Holy One,+ open my lips.

~And my mouth will proclaim your praise.

 

The rulers of Earth will fall prostrate, alleluia!

~and all nations will serve him, alleluia!

 

Epiphany Morning Hymn

The Holy One from heaven Foretold by ancient seers,

By God our Abba given, In human form appears.

No sphere his light confining, no star so brightly shining

As he, our Morning Star.

 

O time of God appointed, O bright and holy morn!

He comes the King Anointed! The Christ, the virgin-born,

Grim death to vanquish for us, To open heav’n before us

And bring us life again.

 

Dear Abba here, before you With God the Holy Ghost,

And Jesus we adore you, O pride of angel host;

Before you mortals lowly sing: Holy, Holy, Holy,

O Blessed Trinity!”

 

 Psalmody

Antiphon

The kings of Tarshish and the sea coasts
shall bring and offer their riches to Christ the Lord.

Psalm 71/72a

O God, give our leader right judgment

your justice to those who rule,

that they may judge your people with justice,

and do right for those without power.

 

May the mountains bear peace for the people;

the hills, bring forth justice.

May the ruler defend the poor

and set all their children free.

 

May God’s chosen live as long as the sun

as long as the moon, forever.

May God’s anointed be like rain on the meadow,

like showers that soak the earth.

 

In whose days justice shall flourish

and peace till the moon be no more.

May this rule be from sea to sea

from the Great River to the ends of the Earth.

 

Enemies will stumble and fall,

foes will lick the dust.

The kings of Tarshish and the islands

will bring and offer their riches.

 

Kings of Sheba, and Seba

will carry their gifts.

All rulers of peoples lie prostrate;

and nations be ready to serve.

 

Glory to the ONE and to the WORD

And to the BREATH of Love;

as always before,

so now and evermore. Amen. 

The kings of Tarshish and the sea coasts
shall bring and offer their riches to Christ the Lord.

 

 READING   Isaiah 12: 2-6

God indeed is my savior;
I am confident and unafraid.
My strength and my courage is Adonai, who  has always been my savior.

With joy you will draw water  at the fountain of salvation, and say on that day:
‘Give thanks to Adonai, acclaim God’s Name;
among the nations make known God’s deeds,
proclaim how exalted is God’s Holy Name.

Sing praise for this glorious achievement;
let this be known throughout all the earth.

Shout with exultation, O city of Zion,
for great in your midst is the Holy One of Israel!

 

Responsory

R.  All who rule on earth will bow down in worship, Alleluia, Alleluia!
V. Men and women of every race will serve him.  Alleluia, Alleluia!
V.  Glory to the Abba, and the Word and the Breath of Love.
R.  All who rule on earth will bow down in worship, Alleluia, Alleluia!

 

Canticle of Zachariah

Antiphon

Three gifts the Magi offered the Lord–
gold, frankincense, and myrrh:
gifts for the Son of God, the mighty King, Alleluia!

Blessed + be Adonai, the God of Israel,

Who visits this people to set us free

Raising for us a sign of salvation

In the house and family of David.

 

God promised throughout past ages

In words of holy prophets

To save us from our enemies,

And from the control of our oppressors.

 

Adonai favored our ancestors

And remembered the sacred covenant.

The pledge to Abraham and Sarah

Is now renewed for us;

 

That freed from the grip of our foes

We might worship without fear

And be both just and holy

For the rest of our days.

 

And you, child, called “prophet of the Most High,”

Will go ahead to prepare the way,

By teaching this people of salvation

Through forgiveness of their sins.

 

For the loving compassion of the Holy One

As the Rising Sun will shine upon us

To illumine the darkness and dispel death’s shadow

To guide our feet on the way of peace.

 

Glory to the ONE and to the WORD

And to the BREATH of Love!

As always before,

so now and evermore.  Amen

Three gifts the Magi offered the Lord–
gold, frankincense, and myrrh:
gifts for the Son of God, the mighty King, Alleluia!

 

Litany of Intercession

Manifest by the light of a star to seekers from foreign lands,

~open our eyes to your presence among all who are neglected and poor.

 

Manifest by the Voice from above and the hovering of a Dove,

~open our ears to hear when you call us to follow you today.

 

Manifest by an abundance of wine at a wedding feast of love,

~open our lives to share the bounty your love provides today and everyday.

 

Manifest in the healing of hearts, minds, bodies and souls,

~heal us and make us instruments of your healing peace.

 

You taught us to pray.

 

Prayer of Jesus

Our Father …

 

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.