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Venit lumen tuum, Jerusalem,
et gloriam Domini super te orta est,
et ambulant gentes in lumina tuo, Alleluia!
(Second 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 HYMN
O tyrant Herod, why this fear That tears your tortured soul apart?
He has not come to strip your pow’r Who brings a kin-dom of the heart.
The Magi see the sudden star And follow as it shows the way,
They come with gifts and journey far To reach the final Light of Day.
The sinless Lamb by John is led To Jordan’s water and baptized.
He bears the burden of the dead, Enabling all who fall to rise.
At Cana there is joy and calm, With wedding laughter as they dine.
His mother speaks without alarm, He hears and water flows as wine.
O echo songs! Be loud with praise! The Abba’s Son is now revealed.
Whose Spirit, gentle, unafraid, Now welcomes all who would be healed.
Text: Hostis Herodis impie, Coelius Sedelius (5th cent.0 ; tr. Ralph Wright, OSB Tune: TYRANT HEROD LM, David N Johnson
SERVICE OF THE WORD
PSALMODY
Antiphon
Shine, O Jerusalem! Your Light has come!
The glory of Adonai has risen on you,
and the nations will walk in your light, alleluia.
Psalm 96/97
Adonai reigns! Let Earth rejoice,
let all the coastlands be glad.
God is wrapped in the thunderclouds,
enthroned on justice and right.
Fire marches on ahead
burning up all resistance;
Overhead God’s lightening flashes,
Earth trembles to see it.
Mountains melt like wax
before Adonai, who rules over all.
The skies proclaim this justice–
a glory all people can see.
Those who serve mammon are fools,
they brag about their worthless gods.
All spirits, worship Adonai!
Zion hears and is glad.
The cities of Judah rejoice
because of your judgment Adonai.
For you, Adonai, are Most High
in majesty high above the Earth
far higher than any other god.
Those who love Adonai, hate evil;
God shields their faithful lives
and breaks the grip of the oppressor.
Light will shine down on the just
and joy on the loyal hearts.
Rejoice in Adonai, O you just;
give glory to this Holy Name!
Glory to the ONE and to the WORD
and to the BREATH of Love!
As always before,
so now and evermore. Amen
Shine, O Jerusalem! Your Light has come!
The glory of Adonai has risen on you,
and the nations will walk in your light, alleluia.
Reading Colossians 1: 2-8
God rescued us from the power of darkness
and brought us into the kingdom of the beloved Son.
Through Christ we have redemption, the forgiveness of our sins.
For He is the image of the invisible God, the first-born of all creatures.
In him everything in heaven and on earth was created, things visible and invisible.
All were created through him; all were created for him.
He is before all else that is. In him everything continues in being.
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 kin-dom and 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 kin-dom and glory. V. Glory to the Abba, and the Word, and the Holy Breath of Love.
Canticle of Mary
Antiphon
Herod questioned the Magi:
What is this sign of which you speak, this sign of a newborn king?
We saw a brilliant star in the heavens; its splendor filled the world.
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
Herod questioned the Magi:
What is this sign of which you speak, this sign of a newborn king?
We saw a brilliant star in the heavens; its splendor filled the world.
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.