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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
How brightly shines the Morning Star,
With sudden radiance from afar, To cheer us with its shining!
God’s brightness dawns upon our night,
And fills our darkened souls with light, Which long for truth were pining.
Your word, Jesus, truly feeds us, Surely leads us, Life bestowing:
Praise such love for ever flowing.
Through you alone can we be blest,
Then deep be in our hearts impressed The love which you have borne us;
So make us ready to fulfill With fervent zeal your holy will,
Though some may mock and scorn us.
Savior, may we never lose you, For we choose you, Thirst to know you;
All we are and have we owe you.
All praise to Christ who came to save, Who conquered death and scorned the grave;
Forever sing Christ’s praises!
Adore the Lamb who once was slain, The Friend whom none shall trust in vain,
Who fills us with such graces!
Highest heavens, tell the story Of Christ’s glory,
Till his praises Flood with light earth’s darkest places!
Text: Wie Shoen leuchtet der Morgenstern, Philipp Nicolai (1556-1608); Tune: WIE SCHOEN LEUCHTET. 887887224448
Psalmody
Antiphon
Beginning all, before all time the Word was God;
the Same today is manifest to us, the Savior of the world.
Canticle from Isaiah 62
For Zion’s sake I will not be silent,
for Jerusalem’s sake I will not be quiet,
Until her vindication shines forth like the dawn
and her victory like a burning torch.
Nations shall behold your vindication,
and all kings your glory;
You shall be called by a new name
pronounced by the mouth of Adonai.
You shall be a glorious crown in the hand of Adonai,
a royal diadem held by your God.
No more shall others call you “Forsaken,”
or your land “Desolate,”
But you shall be called “My Delight,”
and your land “Espoused.”
For Adonai delights in you,
and takes your land as a spouse.
As a young man marries a young woman,
your Builder shall marry you;
And as a bridegroom rejoices in his bride
so shall your God rejoice in you.
Say to daughter Zion, “Your savior comes!
Bringing both recompense and reward!
They shall be called the holy people,
the redeemed of Adonai,
And you shall be called “Frequented,”
a city that is not forsaken.
Glory to the Abba and to the Word
and to the Breath of Love
as always before
so now and evermore. Amen.
Beginning all, before all times the Word was God;
the Same today is manifest to us, the Savior of the world.
READING Isaiah 4:2-3
On that day,
The branch of Adonai will be luster and glory,
and the fruit of the earth will be honor and splendor
for the survivors of Israel.
Those who remain in Zion
and those that are left in Jerusalem
Will be called holy:
each one marked down for fulness of life in Jerusalem.
Responsory
R. Many came from distant lands, Alleluia, Alleluia!
V. Bringing frankincense and gold. Alleluia, Alleluia!
V. Glory to the Abba, and the Word and the Breath of Love.
R. Many came from distant lands, Alleluia, Alleluia!
Canticle of Zachariah
Antiphon
Seeing the star, the Magi said:
“This signals the reign of a great king.
Let us go seek him and offer him gifts of
gold, frankincense and myrrh.”
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
Seeing the star, the Magi said:
“This signals the reign of a great king.
Let us go seek him and offer him gifts of
gold, frankincense and myrrh.”
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 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 Adonai. ~Thanks be to God.